They are also cheap and portable. Through effective cabling and use of line distribution technology the small number of lines into a school does not represent a problem. The combination of the phone with a fax machine allows communication both in oral and visual format as well as the traditional written format. Linking groups of students from different schools within the same phone district is an exceptionally cheap communication option. It also introduces two very powerful genres of language that are fast becoming essential skill bases in the work force for all workers, at all levels.
Computers are a useful tool in the classroom.
Computers have become significantly more user friendly, faster and significantly cheaper over the past three years. Train staff in their use and buy appropriate software. A rough business guide is to spend the same amount as you spent in the purchase price in training and software and build this into your costing at the start. People get tired of fund raising for computers year after year. Computers are brilliant at processing information already on board.