The following is a legislative action alert I received today from Jennifer Bergland and TCEA Advocacy. Inform them that HB 6 will be voted on by the House on Wednesday (April 6th) Ask them to vote for HB 6 and Oppose any amendment that might delay the implementation of the Instructional Materials Allotment. HB 6 deletes the word ''''textbook'''' from current education law and updates it to the phrase ''''instructional materials''''. MORE

Despite popular rhetoric along the lines of “you can’t learn from materials you can’t afford,” their rather ingenious experiment showed that increasing access to learning materials by adopting OER instead of traditionally copyrighted resources (TCM) will almost never measurably improve learning. Regardless of the format of the materials students are reading, actively engaging in online interactive practice is more effective than simply reading. MORE

Today, online communities are alight with a Day of Advocacy in support of keeping the current Net Neutrality rules in place. Digital Learning Equity of Access FCC instructional materialsThese rules were. read more. MORE

A new report details the importance of state advocacy in connecting schools, students to broadband internet. A new report from SETDA and Common Sense Kids Action focuses on K-12 broadband and wi-fi connectivity, state leadership for infrastructure, state broadband implementation highlights, and state advocacy for federal broadband support. State Advocacy for Federal Support of Broadband. MORE

Today I gave testimony in favor of the passage of Texas SB 6 , which institutes an Instructional Materials Allotment (IMA) in lieu of the textbook allotment and the former Technology Allotment. SB 6, if passed into law, would give local school districts in Texas more discretionary control over how they spend state monies designated for instructional materials. Everything I accessed was an instructional material with content relevant to my course of study. MORE

Yesterday IHE published an article about the “ inclusive access ” programs offered by most major textbook publishers. These are purchasing programs in which “institutions are signing up whole classes of students to automatically receive digital course materials at a discounted rate, rather than purchasing individually.” ” What problem does the inclusive access model purport to solve? Errors in materials cannot be corrected in a timely manner. MORE

The only way I know that this can be changed is when there’s access to higher education.”. The only way I know that this can be changed is when there’s access to higher education.”. Of those who do enroll at universities on the island, fewer than half earn degrees, even after six years , the advocacy group Excelencia in Education reports, compared to more than 58 percent of college students nationwide. How is it going to be accessible? MORE

And if you click www.coolcatteacher.com/edpuzzle , Edpuzzle will give your school access to the 50,000 best lessons from Edpuzzle, organized in folders and ready to be used by teachers. She’s the 2017 Texas Instructional Technologist of the Year. I am very honored to serve as one of the two national advisors for Future Ready Schools , representing the Instructional Coach strand. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” MORE