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The Role of Nonprofits in Educational Technology Innovation

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Abstract

For decades, nonprofit organizations have played a vital role in educational technology innovation. Sesame Street, online high schools, probeware for science and mathematics teaching and learning, and many other innovations now widely used both in and outside schools were developed by nonprofits, including not only universities but also independent R&D organizations, such as the Concord Consortium. Within the federal budget, there has been a decade-long trend to reduce both the size and number of awards made specifically for innovation in educational technology. Small grants, including those for basic research, are less likely to lead to transformative innovations in teaching and learning than larger, targeted awards for innovation. At a time when digital tools continue to grow more useful and powerful, and when larger numbers of schools are using them effectively, it is time for federal agencies to focus additional resources on educational technology innovation.

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Notes

  1. Originally TTY stood for teletypewriter. Later, people referred to TDD devices (telecommunications devices for the deaf).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Concord Consortium, 25 Love Lane, Concord, MA, 01742, USA

    Andrew A. Zucker

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  1. Andrew A. Zucker
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Correspondence to Andrew A. Zucker.

Additional information

Adapted with permission from chapter nine of Transforming Schools with Technology: How Smart Use of Digital Tools Helps Achieve Six Key Education Goals, by Andrew A. Zucker (Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press, 2008). For more information, please visit www.harvardeducationpress.org or call 1-888-437-1437.

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Zucker, A.A. The Role of Nonprofits in Educational Technology Innovation. J Sci Educ Technol 18, 37–47 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-008-9129-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-008-9129-z

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