(Thanks to Fritz Edelstein for the following announcement.)

Today, Wednesday, July 21, at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., the Department of Education and the Smithsonian Institution convened experts in education and technology to share effective models and innovative practices for improving teaching and learning in rural schools.

Presentations and discussions at the National Rural Education Technology Summit focused on how rural schools can use technology to overcome the challenges of distance and isolation, while capitalizing on the positive opportunities in rural areas.

Speakers and participants include:  U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski; Smithsonian Institution Secretary G. Wayne Clough; U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan; South Dakota State Superintendent Tom Oster; North Carolina State Superintendent June Atkinson; and New Hampshire Commissioner of Education Virginia Barry.

They were joined by over 100 rural education and technology experts from 24 states, discussing how technology can be used to overcome the challenges of distance and provide new opportunities in rural schools.

We will look for follow-up information!  Let us know if you attended by emailing westwind (at) westwinded (dot) com.  The venue suggests to me that American Indian education might be a particular topic of discussion.  Was this the case or was it just a fabulous location for an event?