Academia-industry partnerships abound, but North Carolina's is different, Spires says. It combines research, pilot projects, government support, long-term involvement of tech companies, educational content and teacher professional development, she notes.
"… We're creating a context to address ongoing change," Spires said.
Investor’s Business Daily, “Companies See Technology As Key To Boosting Schools,” May 3,2006

SAS, Cisco, IBM and Nortel Networks are partnering with the Friday Institute to help North Carolina’s public schools compete in the global economy by making math and science more interesting for students.
State Government Radio, Local Government and Economic Development Report, April 14, 2006

Four of the world's leading technology companies – SAS, Cisco Systems, IBM, and Nortel – are collaborating with North Carolina State University's Friday Institute for Educational Innovation to help design and deliver the future of education to teachers and students in North Carolina classrooms today.
The Heller Reports, April 10, 2006

The Friday Institute plans to work with Cisco, SAS, IBM and Nortel to increase technology in rural schools. The effort is expected to provide schools with a number of options, including online lessons and regional teacher conferences.
Raleigh News & Observer, April 10, 2006

Imagine eighth grade students using computer simulations to design an airplane wing or assuming the roles of characters in a video game to discover environmental hazards and eliminate sources of disease in a virtual city. The Friday Institute, in collaboration with the technology companies, are bringing this type of innovation into classrooms to enhance teaching and learning, and to inspire students at all grade levels to compete in the 21st century global economy.
K12Knowledge: Insights for Common Education, April 8, 2006

New, innovative services to enhance education will be developed and delivered through the service delivery platform. Educators across the state will be able to share best practices, collaborate with other educators and researchers, and participate in the development of innovative teaching and learning initiatives.
GridToday, “Tech Companies, Friday Institute to Advance Education Skills,” April 8, 2006

New, innovative services to enhance education will be developed and delivered through the service delivery platform. Educators across the state will be able to share best practices, collaborate with other educators and researchers, and participate in the development of innovative teaching and learning initiatives.
WRAL-TV LocalTechWire, “Friday Institute Teams Up With Technology Firms to Launch Education Initiative,” April 6, 2006

Four of the Triangle's largest employers are collaborating with North Carolina State University's Friday Institute for Educational Innovation to enhance technology in K-12 classrooms.  SAS, Cisco Systems, IBM and Nortel Networks are contributing software, hardware and training to implement technology programs involving scientific modeling, computer visualization, and analytics into high school, middle school and elementary classrooms.
Triangle Business Journal, “Triangle Firms Partner to Support K-12 Tech Effort,” April 5, 2006

Richard Florida … was in Raleigh last week--being provocative--to help NCSU christen its new William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, out there on the new Centennial Campus.
The Independent, “Education Innovation,” March 1, 2006

Fortunately, through creative applications of emerging technologies to enhance teaching and learning, we have remarkable capacity to approach current educational challenges in new and innovative ways. With the creation of the Friday Institute, North Carolina State University's College of Education has taken the mantle of helping create a new future for education.
Threshold: Exploring the Future of Education, “The Building of Ideas,” Winter 2006

A 21st century education is more than achieving grade-level competence in reading, writing and mathematics. Education must go beyond passive absorption and rote memorization of information. Students must learn how to learn – how to actively seek information, create new ideas, make discerning judgments, and apply knowledge to complex challenges.
Charlotte Observer, Dec.1, 2005