The Congress Process
T.H.E. Journal began this initiative to examine the future of content in education by creating an innovative process that brings to the
table consumers of content (educators), publishers and providers of content, and distributors of content in an on-going dialog both face-to-face
and virtually. The initiative not only is examining the possible future of content in education, but also is providing the opportunity to shape
the future.
The initiative is led by Dr. Geoffrey H. Fletcher, Editorial Director of T.H.E. Journal. Prior to joining T.H.E. Journal, Fletcher was an
assistant commissioner at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) where he had responsibility for curriculum, assessment, textbooks, technology and
professional development. During Fletcher’s tenure at TEA, Texas created the first state-wide long-range plan for technology, enacted a $100
million annual technology allotment, and passed the first “electronic instructional media system” funded by state textbook funds.
Dr. Fletcher has been joined on an information gathering task force by industry leaders from basal textbook publishers, digital content
providers, content delivery companies and professional organizations representing the content industries (AAP, AEP, SIIA), educators (CoSN, ISTE)
and education technology directors from state departments of education (SETDA).
The initiative started with the task force holding hearings in the textbook adoption states of Texas and Florida.
In the hearings, the task force listened to state policy makers and educators discuss two core questions:
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- What is your vision for content over the next five years and how that content should be delivered?
- What are the barriers to implementing that vision?
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Two summaries on the results of the hearings are located on the Hearing Results page.
The hearings were followed by the first Congress on the Future of Content, May 8 – 9, 2008 in Washington, D.C.
In order to maintain an action orientation, the initiative has created a working group to further the goals of the overall initiative. The group
is creating a tool to assist school districts in determining how to assess their use of content. This tool will also provide publishers and policy
makers with crucial information on the extent to which school districts are incorporating digital content.
The Congress on the Future of Content is an initiative designed to improve access to high quality content
for teachers and students and to increase the market for that content.