Education Sec Duncan pitches tech as key component of school reform

Education Secretary Arne Duncan pitched a slew of new, technology-based education reforms on Thursday, stressing schools needed to enter the 21st century to keep students engaged.

In a speech to the Association of American Publishers, the Education secretary lamented the reality that many public schools are still "throwbacks to the state of education 50, 20 or even 10 years ago," as many teachers and administrators have failed to "keep pace" with current trends in technology. Consequently, Duncan framed his department's forthcoming National Education Technology Plan as an attempt to prepare students "for the future that awaits them, and the skills the world will require of them." A draft of that plan is due out Friday, according to the Department.