Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest has been working with the Iowa Learning and Technology Networked Improvement Community and Iowa Public Television to produce a short, documentary-style program on the research on technology use in schools, highlighting examples from Iowa schools. The program will feature stories from districts across the state framed around the five major themes in the National Education Technology Plan: learning, teaching, leadership, assessment, and infrastructure. The five segments will be combined in a stand-alone, 30-minute program that will be available online later in 2017.
Throughout the five segments, three research experts will discuss evidence on the effective use of education technology and connect classroom stories and practitioner perspectives from Iowa to the research. Dr. Liz Kolb, clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan's School of Education, will discuss the research evidence on effective and ineffective practices for using technology to impact learning. Dr. Leigh Zeitz, associate professor and coordinator of the instructional technology division at the University of Northern Iowa, and Dr. Denise Crawford, associate professor and director of the Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching at Iowa State University, will discuss how and why Iowa's teacher preparation programs are preparing new teachers to use technology in the classroom, including the research evidence that supports their work.
A virtual screening will be held in December to provide viewers with the opportunity to discuss the program with each other and experts featured in the program. Stay tuned for more information on the release of this documentary. </p
