Trends and Issues in Library and Information Science

Abstract

Events this year emphasize that education is continuing to embrace technology at a dramatically accelerated pace. In his third State of the Union Address, President Obama called for greater technological literacy among young people in the country (Birch 2012). He subsequently challenged states to meet the goal of adopting the use of digital textbooks for every student by 2017. States are taking measures to integrate digital learning and technology into the educational process as a means to help ensure that all students graduate from high school prepared for college and a career. The majority of states have some type of online learning programs for K-12 students and to date at least five states have laws requiring students to take virtual classes (Davis 2011). Across the country, schools are moving swiftly towards the ultimate goal of 1:1 computing and relying on digital resources for teaching and learning.