Increasing the Level of Education in Native American Communities One of the biggest problems on the reservations is the educational system. One of the most current and recent fights is the fight to bring technology into the classroom, and within the reach of the Native students. The survey taken in conjunction with this report beautifully illustrates the problems associated with technological issues in Native schools. Some schools have lots of equipment, and are beginning to figure out how to incorporate it, but others only have a few computers in the school and no Internet access.
Connectivity is a central issue if students are going to be benefited by digital technology.
Many schools in Native communities that have PCs tend to not use them to the full extent of their capabilities. The teacher's use them as a grade book, or use a few programs to test their students reading level. While these are great uses, they aren't taking advantage of some of the strongest powers of the computer, nor are they helping close the digital divide. Over coming such problems is another task that the Cradleboard Project directly attacks. The Cradleboard Project goes about it by looking to provide curriculum and connections that happen to be using the technological tools available as effectively as possible, rather than using the techno gizmos to incorporate curriculum.