Release date: March, 2011
This briefing document has been developed for the California Teacher Advisory Council (Cal TAC),
in support of its proposed initiative entitled "The Digitally Designed Class Room Without Borders."
The initiative is intended to create a dialogue between teachers and companies producing digital
materials and tools as well as academia, federal laboratories, neuroscientists and others to identify
newly emerging technologies offering promising innovations in digitally enhanced education and online
learning with potential to empower student learning and academic performance and build increased
capacity for state-of-the-art instructional design and curriculum content both within the classroom
and in an alternative learning environment.
The document includes a snapshot of leading state-level digitally enhanced education programs
currently in operation serving California's K-12 or K-16 education segments; a brief summary of
digitally enhanced education models in operation in various locations across California and beyond;
and an inventory of California laws, regulations and policies having direct impact on delivery of
digital learning in the State.
In addition, the paper contains examples of new and emerging educational technology tools,
applications, networks and strategies being developed and deployed by private-sector digital-learning
experts; perspectives regarding deployment of digitally enhanced education in California from both
school administrators and educators; and a summary of perceived barriers and potential recommendations
regarding expanded deployment of digitally enhanced education.