[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 6 (Monday, February 9, 1998)]
[Page 176]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

Note: This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.