We must prepare learners for their future, not for our past. In the 1960s and 1970s, when they were first introduced to schools, computers were set aside in separate labs. Teachers used them largely to teach stand-alone courses on computer programming. Over the past several years, there has been a push to bring computers into each and every classroom. The push today is for teachers to learn ways to technology every day for every lesson.
Educational technology comes in many different forms, from film strips to the Internet.
Most attention regarding technology has focused on computers. According to a report from the Department of Education, only 33 percent of K-12 teachers feel well prepared to integrate technology into their curriculum. The latest research and evaluation studies demonstrate that school improvement programs that employ technology for teaching and learning yield positive results for students and teachers. Given that many schools and classrooms have only recently gained access to technology for teaching and learning, the positive outcomes of these studies suggest a future for education that could be quite bright if the nation maintains its commitment to harnessing technology for education. The adoption of new and emerging technologies by schools and classrooms offers even more reason to be hopeful.