Dear Colleagues:

How is technology being used to enhance education in New York State?

This is a core question being asked by the New York State Board of Regents. The Regents created a statewide Technology Policy and Practices Council, comprised of 25 individuals from across the State, to study the use of technology in education. The Board has asked the Council to make recommendations on policies that will advance the use of technology in improving the overall effectiveness of teaching and learning. The Council is chaired by Dr. Ellen Meier from Columbia Teacher’s College, and Dr. Donald Jacobs of the University at Buffalo.

Technology has transformed business, commerce, communication, and culture. It can also have a dramatic affect on education. But we need a better understanding of technology issues in New York.

The Council is engaged in a critical phase of its work as it attempts to identify and map technology resources and use across institutions that comprise the University of the State of New York (USNY). The data collection portion of this important research is being conducted by the Metiri Group, under the direction of the Council. The results of this study will have a direct impact on state policies related to the acquisition and use of technologies for education across the State.

You may be randomly selected to participate in surveys over the next few weeks. If so, I urge you to actively participate in the survey process, which will be conducted online, in an easily accessible format.

You may direct any inquiries concerning the work of the Council, the study and survey, to the Department’s CIO, David Walsh, at email address TPPCstudy@mail.nysed.gov. 

The data from these surveys will be available to all educational institutions in the first half of 2007. The results of this study will have a direct impact on state policies related to the acquisition and use of technologies for education across the State. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

	Sincerely,
	Richard P. Mills