You can read the full press release here: http://bit.ly/yItXdV Citing an ever-widening gap between in-school and out-of-school learning experiences, a team of researchers on Thursday will introduce a model of learning -- 'connected learning' -- that taps into the rich new world of information, knowledge, and online collaboration available to youth and learners. The connected learning model, which is anchored in a large body of research on how youth are using social media, the internet and digital media to learn and develop expertise, also seeks to respond to deepening fears of a class-based "equity" gap in education that, without intervention, is likely to be accelerated by disproportionate access to technology and new forms of knowledge sharing. The introduction of the connected learning model is scheduled to take place during a 5 p.m. Thursday press briefing and reception at a conference at the Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco. The conference, "Beyond Educational Technology: Learning Innovations in a Connected World," is being attended by 1,000 technologists, futurists, researchers and educators. Members of the news media interested in attending the connected learning briefing and reception, can quickly RSVP and get further details here: http://connectedlearning.eventbrite.com