The Research Office at Utah State University recently profiled the work of Mimi Recker and her Instructional Architect research group at Utah State University that is funded by the NSF NSDL program. This is an excerpt from the article: “The goal of digital libraries is to provide instant access to a growing network of high-quality, interactive, and free online resources for teaching and learning,” said Recker. “These libraries give access to a collaborative network that allows teachers and learners to share knowledge freely. They offer tremendous potential for enriching and transforming classrooms.”

“The NSDL may be replete with knowledge, but synthesizing all of the information into an effective lesson plan isn’t always the easiest task. Besides not having enough time, teachers may not know how to integrate the information they find on the NSDL into their lesson plans. America’s youth were born in a digital world, so they are fluent with all kinds of technology,” said Recker, “But teachers need support developing their capacity in regard to effective 21st-century teaching.”