National surveys find similar access for students starting in elementary school. I recently visited one school in the Boston area where nearly all students have computers at home and many use them regularly. In short, each year a higher and higher proportion of students come to school immersed in digital technology. Look up French schools on the Web and write to ask for a penpal. Graphing programs for elementary and secondary students are readily available and easy to use.
Color photos taken by satellite are now within reach on the Web.
While these experiences will surely shape students' understanding of how to access and use information, they will also impact students' understanding of how to learn , in ways that we are just starting to recognize. This push by local districts to acquire computers and Internet connections is supported by the federal government and most state governments, and has drawn the support of industry as well through activities such as NetDay and the Tech Corps. In many communities, parents demand the use of computers in their children's schools. Teachers, some of whom were initially reluctant to even have a computer in their classroom, are feeling the pressure for change because of the new experiences that their students bring into the classroom. At the same time, we are seeing the beginning of a backlash.