So it is with that box of ceramic chips, wires and metal called a computer. School systems have often budgeted only for technology purchases and not taken into account the additional costs necessary to have the technology installed, used effectively and maintained. Failure to budget appropriately for these will result in little benefit from the technology. Hardware costs amount, at most, to 40 percent of the TCO over a five-year period. Some Stable Data There have been several studies to determine base line costs of acquiring and maintaining technology in schools, but recently begun TCO studies are determining long-term costs of owning computers.
Findings vary widely, depending on location, method of study and costs included.
Not all of the data are comparable, and current findings emphasize what has been spent rather than what should be budgeted to get effective technology use. Costs for staff development are 20 percent of the total cost of technology implementation. Hardware and infrastructure costs are 40 percent of the total cost. Costs for resources and instructional materials are 27 percent of the cost of the technology. Costs for upgrades, maintenance and replacement are 12 percent of the total costs.