Technology Policy, Research & Planning Information & Resources

Research and Evaluation, Policy and Planning Development

Facilitate and inform the development of regional, state and national policy and planning for educational technology

Current Projects/Activities

Policy Support Program: A component of the WestEd policy program provides the following: 1) development of policy guidelines, 2) policy forums for legislative staff and technology leaders, 3) expert testimony on research findings to policy makers, and 4) dissemination of information to key policy makers at the regional, state and federal levels. WestEd has assisted national and state policy makers by using its own research findings to inform the development of state and federal educational technology legislation.

Technology Planning and Support Program: The OERI technology support program provides general support and management of the WestEd technology initiative. Additionally, this program provides assistance to regional, state and federal agencies in the development of educational technology plans, training and staff development, development and coordination of resources and in providing technical assistance to support the technology plan objectives.

WestEd has prepared several resource guides to serve as a framework and provide suggestions for developing state and local education reform plans and initiatives. Among these resources is Technology Planning to Support Education Reform: Information and Resources to Support the Integration of Technology into State Planning for Educational Reform under Goals 2000. These guidelines include technology and telecommunications as an integral part of education reform. Based on tested and proven successful methodologies, these resources provide an overview of the planning process, suggested components for a plan, and listings of available resources for developing and implementing state and local technology plans..

Telecommunications Research, Evaluation and Development Project: WestEd evaluated the California Telemation Project, which provides training and professional development in the application of telecommunications into classroom instruction. In conjunction with the evaluation, WestEd conducted a meta-analysis of existing research combined with a comprehensive study of the necessary elements of a successful program designed for staff development and subsequent implementation of classroom-based telecommunication applications. A product is a training program with step-by-step planning guidelines.

The Ultimate Electronic Field Trip: The Ultimate Electronic Field Trip is a National Science Foundation funded project, which partners include Monterey Bay Unified School District, Monterey Bay Aquarium and Research Institute, and numerous other regional educational organizations and businesses. The project utilizes telecommunications technology in six pilot schools for interactive, electronic "field trips" to connect students and educators with scientific research communities and collect the curriculum products of each field trip for a regional electronic environmnetal library. WestEd recently completed the Year 1 evaluation for this project and assisted with project planning and development, with particular attention paid to the assessment and informing of project products and practices in preparation for packaging and dissemination for adoption and adaptation by other programs.

Computer Aided Education and Training Initiative (CAETI): CAETI is a project supported by the Department of Defense to develop, implement, and evaluate technologies to expand and enhance teaching and learning opportunities in the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS). CAETI developers have extensive experience in developing high performance training technologies for agencies such as the Departments of Energy and Defense, NASA, and others. WestEd provides education support and resources for both the CAETI technology developers and the DoDDS Pilot and Model Schools participating in the project.

Model-Nets: Far West Laboratory took part in Model-Nets, the first project as part of a collaborative working agreement between the Regional Educational Laboratories and the Department of Energy National Laboratories. Model-Nets is a national study of viable networking models in K-12 education to identify and characterize effective programs and practices. Ultimately, Model-Nets will establish a networking technology template of innovative practices to assist schools in planning, implementing, and evaluating educational telecommunications networks.

Publications & Materials

Publications and Prepared Materials Related to Technology and Telecommunications in Education

Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. Recent Research on the Effects of Technology on Teaching and Learning. Policy Brief. San Francisco, CA: WestEd Regional Educational Laboratory (1996).
Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. Technology as a Catalyst for Education Reform. Policy Brief. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory for the California Department of Education (1996).
Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. Effective Site Level Planning for Technology Integration. Policy Brief. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory for the California Department of Education (1996).
Cradler, John. Implementing Technology in Education. Recent findings from Resarch and Evaluation Studies. Policy Brief. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory for the California Department of Education (1996).
Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. Telecommunications and Technology Education: what have we learned from research and experience?. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory for the California Department of Education (1995).
Cradler, John, et.al. Telemation Project: Evaluation Final Report. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory for the California Department of Education (1995).
Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. Improving America's Schools Act. Overview of Programs Funded in FY 1995. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory (1994).
Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Technology in Education Reform. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory (1994).
Cradler, John. Summary of Current Research and Evaluation Findings on Technology in Education. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory (1994).
Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. State and Federal Educational Technology Programs and Funding Sources for California. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory (1994).
Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. Technology Planning to Support Education Reform: Information and Resources to Support the Integration of Technology into State Planning for Educational Reform under Goals 2000. Executive Summary. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory (1994).
Cradler, John. "Technology: Past Present and Future," THRUST for Educational Leadership. Sacramento, CA: Association for California School Administrators (June/July, 1994).
Cradler, John. Policy Guidelines and the NII with Suggestions and Actions for States. Honolulu, HI: Education Commission of the States National Forum and Annual Meeting (1994). *Presentation by Jack Gibbons, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. 1993-94 State Funding for Technology Comparison. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory (1994).
Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. "Comparison of Educational Technology and Telecommunications Plans", Byting Back: Policies to Support the Use of Technology in Education. Oak Brook, IL: North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (1994).
Cradler, John and Yrchik, John. The National Information Infrastructure: Requirements for Education and Training. Washington, DC: National Coordinating Committee on Technology in Education and Training (NCC-TET) (1994).
Cradler, John. "School-Based Technology Use Planning", Educational IRM Quarterly. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education (Spring/Summer, 1994).
Cradler, John. "Planning for Technology Applications in Education", Monograph #6. San Diego, CA: California League of Middle Schools (1994).
Cradler, John; Bridgforth, Elizabeth; and Cassidy, Sheila. DLRN Profile of Resources of the 1992-94 Star Schools Projects and their Administrative Agencies. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory (1994).
Cradler, John. "California Implements a Plan to Improve Education with the Assistance of Technology", Educational Media and Technology Yearbook. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. (1993). *Published in print and on the California Technology Information Project (CalTIP) gopher server
Cradler, John. "Reform of Student Assessment Procedures and Practices", Government Relations Handbook. Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1994).
Cradler, John. Comprehensive Study of Educational Technology Programs in California Authorized from 1989-1992. San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory (1993).

Articles are published in the following newsletters on a regular basis

Cradler, John and Bridgforth, Elizabeth. "Looking Ahead", THRUST for Educational Leadership. Sacramento, CA: Association for California School Administrators.
Educational Efforts by the 104th Congress (February, 1995)
Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (January, 1995)
National Education Reform Initiatives (October, 1994)
Goals 2000: Educate America Act (May/June, 1994)
National Information Infrastructure (April, 1994)
Educational Reform Efforts in California (January, 1994)
In the Loop. Los Angeles, CA: Alliance for Distance Education in California.
Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Fall, 1994).
Educational Technology Legislative Updates (Current and Arhives)
Education and the National Information Infrastructure (Spring, 1994).
News. Washington, DC: Consortium for School Networking.

Services

The Technology Policy, Research & Planning Information & Resources Program provides information regarding educational technology policy and legislation, educational technology research and evaluation, and technology planning.

Related Internet Sites

Program Contacts

For more information, please contact us at

John Cradler (Legislative Policy Specialist)
Elizabeth Bridgforth (Research Assistant)
Bart Lagomarsino (Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) representative)
Phone:415-565-3016
This page last updated: 10/15/96

Last updated October 20, 1996 For comments and additional information, contact ebridgf@WestEd.org