    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [January 30, 1998]
    [Page 150]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 150]]

    Memorandum on Enhancing Education Through Technology
    January 30, 1998

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Enhancing Learning and Education Through Technology

        The Federal Government continually invests in training its
    employees. Federal agencies have an obligation to provide the best
    training for their employees at the lowest possible cost. Federal agency
    training programs should be model users of new technologies to enhance
    learning. Many agencies are already improving training by using new
    technology effectively, but more can be done. New instructional
    technologies can also make education, at work and at home, easier and
    more convenient for all American workers. Federal programs that provide
    financial support for lifelong learning should adapt to the new
    opportunities technology provides. A Federal Government-wide effort is
    needed to explore how Federal programs and initiatives can better
    support the use of technologies for lifelong learning. Therefore, I
    hereby direct as follows:
        1. The National Economic Council (NEC), in consultation with the
    Chief Information Officers Council (CIOC) as established by Executive
    Order 13011 of July 16, 1996, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM),
    and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), shall
    investigate how to make full use of emerging technologies to improve the
    cost-effectiveness and the quality of Federal training programs.
    Specifically, I direct that within 6 months from the date of this
    memorandum the NEC, in consultation with CIOC, OPM, and OSTP, provide me
    a plan identifying areas in which technology-enhanced training and
    learning may complement conventional Federal training and learning. The
    plan should describe how the agencies, when feasible and appropriate,
    will:
           (a)  make full use of best commercial practices when purchasing
                instructional software;
           (b)  work with businesses, universities, and other appropriate
                entities to foster a competitive market for electronic
                instruction;
           (c)  develop a model technical approach to facilitate electronic
                instruction building on existing agency efforts, such as the
                Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative Partnership; and
           (d)  develop and support a program of research that will
                accelerate the development and adoption of new instructional
                technologies.
        2. The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor shall work
    together to promote adoption of the best new ways of using technology to
    enhance training and education in programs that provide Federal support
    for education and training.
        3. The NEC, in coordination with the Office of Management and
    Budget, the OSTP, and other appropriate Federal Government entities,
    shall develop a national strategy to promote high-quality education and
    training opportunities that can be offered in a manner that is
    efficient, affordable, and convenient. Industry, universities, labor
    unions, and other stakeholders should be consulted in the development of
    the strategy. The strategy shall be completed within 6 months of the
    date of this memorandum.

                                                          William J. Clinton