By Mindy Ayala-Diaz

Norfolk, Virginia - Old Dominion University's Darden College of Education and Professional Studies announced it has signed the EPPs for Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge, committing to prepare educators with the skills to successfully use technology for learning in face-to-face, hybrid, and online classrooms.

Dr. Tammi Dice, Dean of the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, said, "We are pleased to sign this pledge and commit to enhancing our efforts to foster use of technology in education in innovative and engaging ways to promote critical thinking and create digital equity for all learners.

The EPPs for Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Education and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

"Knowing how to use technology to support student learning is an essential skill for any teacher to thrive in a post-COVID world," said Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE. "I'm thrilled that the Darden College is committed to embedding tech skills into their program so ODU teacher candidates will be prepared to hit the ground running!"

By signing the pledge, ODU joins more than 60 institutions committed to preparing teachers to thrive in digital learning environments; preparing teachers to use technology to pursue ongoing professional learning; preparing teachers to apply frameworks to accelerate transformative digital learning; equipping all faculty to continuously improve expertise in technology for learning; and collaborating with school leaders to identify shared digital teaching competencies.


About the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies

With a history dating back to the 1960s, the Darden College is accredited by numerous specialized and professional accrediting agencies and is a leader in institutional advanced studies. With a strong commitment to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, the College strives to build a culture of inclusivity which helps our faculty and students thrive in scholarship, knowledge generation and community engagement. These efforts will assist our university in meeting the needs of a rapidly changing world and our success depends upon the robust exchange of ideas across cultures.

About ISTE

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit organization that works with the global education community to accelerate the use of technology to solve tough problems and inspire innovation. Our worldwide network believes in the potential technology holds to transform teaching and learning.

ISTE sets a bold vision for education transformation through the ISTE Standards, a framework for students, educators, administrators, coaches and computer science educators to rethink education and create innovative learning environments. ISTE hosts the annual ISTE Conference & Expo, one of the world's most influential edtech events. The organization's professional learning offerings include online courses, professional networks, year-round academies, peer-reviewed journals and other publications. ISTE is also the leading publisher of books focused on technology in education. For more information or to become an ISTE member, visit iste.org.