New Education Conference to Address Issues Surrounding Creation and Delivery of K-12 Instructional Materials

Business Wire, March 27, 2008

CHATSWORTH, Calif. -- T.H.E. Journal, the first magazine to cover technology in education and, for more than 30 years in the forefront of the advancement of the learning process, announces a new initiative aimed at exploring all aspects of K-12 curricular materials.

The Congress on the Future of Content, May 8 - 9, 2008, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Washington, DC, will bring together leaders from all aspects of the educational publishing industry -- print, digital and combined -- including basal publishers, supplemental publishers and companies serving those publishers, to examine and create the future of content in education.

Utilizing a framework of open sessions and smaller interactive work sessions, publishers and educators with responsibility for curriculum, technology, and instructional materials will define alternative visions for these materials and develop steps to overcome extant barriers. Attendees will explore a variety of issues surrounding the creation, delivery and effective use of content in a 21st century learning environment. Topics will include the adequacy of funding for instructional materials, business models for buying and selling instructional materials, adoption systems and vetting models, and the overwhelming need for professional development. As a result of this conference, a series of recommendations for policy makers, publishers and educators will be published and made available for comment and additional dialog from the education and publishing communities at large. T.H.E. Journal will follow and report on the progress made in implementing the recommendations.

This 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 was responsible for curriculum, assessment, textbooks, technology and professional development.

"By utilizing our unique position within the education community we hope to create and foster an on-going dialog between consumers of content (educators), publishers and providers of content that will result in core recommendations beneficial for all," said Dr. Fletcher.

To develop the conference, T.H.E. Journal pulled together an advisory task force including leaders from all facets of the publishing industry and key national education organizations.

The Congress is sponsored by Follett Digital Resources, a provider of software, services and expertise to help publishers and educators meet the unique needs of 21st century learners.

For more information and to register, go to www.contentcongress.com.

T.H.E. Journal and Congress on the Future of Content are part of the Education Group of 1105 Media, Inc.

ABOUT THE 1105 MEDIA EDUCATION GROUP

The 1105 Education Group includes the monthly T.H.E. Journal, Campus Technology and Education Channel Partner publications and their respective online offerings; EducationPlaza, a state-specific marketplace for products and services; EduHound, an online resource for teachers and classrooms; and live events for both the K-12 and higher education markets, including FETC, the Innovative Learning Conference, the annual Campus Technology conference, and the Congress on the Future of Content.