For immediate release | April 23, 2012
AASL joins CoSN in release of report on mobile technologies and social media
CHICAGO — The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has joined with the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and other leading education associations in releasing a new report aimed at helping inform and guide education decision makers as they revise policies related to the use of mobile technologies and social media in schools. The report, “Making Progress: Rethinking State and School District Policies Concerning Mobile Technologies and Social Media,” was produced by CoSN and the FrameWorks Institute.
The report includes several key observations:
- The use of mobile Internet devices and social media by young people is widely prevalent. The use of student-owned mobile devices for classroom instruction is growing, and more schools are moving from policies that ban their use to integrating them into the classroom.
- Students and schools experience substantial educational benefits through the use of mobile devices and social media.
- There are legitimate concerns about the use of social media that need to be addressed.
- Current federal, state and local policies and procedures need modification or clarification in order to respond to current realities of expanded social media and mobile devices in schools.
- Equity is a vital issue to consider when establishing policy around social media and mobile technologies.
The report can be read in its entirety at www.cosn.org/MakingProgress.
Other collaborating national partners include the American Association of School Administrators, Common Sense Media, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of State Boards of Education, the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Education Association, the National Writing Project, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, the Student Press Law Center and the Technology Leadership Network of the National School Boards Association.
The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.
The Consortium for School Networking is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. The mission of CoSN is to empower educational leaders to leverage technology to realize engaging learning environments. Visit www.cosn.org to find out more about CoSN’s leadership initiatives, annual conference and events, policy and advocacy, membership, and resources.
Contact:
Jennifer R Habley
Manager, Web Communications
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
jhabley@ala.org800-545-2433 ext.4383
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