The U.S. Department of Education (ED) recently released guidance on the responsible use of
technology in classrooms. In a Dear Colleague letter on Tech in Classrooms, Kirsten Baesler, assistant secretary
for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), urges educators to keep student
academic outcomes at the forefront of decisions about technology use. She advises educators
and technology providers to avoid recreational uses of technology, evaluate whether technology
has demonstrated positive learning outcomes, establish processes for reviewing implementation
and results, support professional learning that integrates technology into effective instruction,
and understand how technology increases access for students whose education needs require
additional supports, including students with disabilities.