Internet access is very limited. Only three percent of the nation's public school classrooms have access to the Internet. Teachers need training with the new technologies. For schools to take advantage of technology, teachers must have more time and opportunity to integrate it into the curriculum. The Congressional Office of Technology Assessment found that a majority of teachers feel inadequately trained to use technology and are not aware of how technology can improve learning or help them do their jobs better.
Funding is a major barrier.
While the Information Superhighway is on the front pages of daily newspapers, lack of funds keeps schools from building their on-ramps. Communities should get involved in deciding how best to pay for technology in schools. Poor resource planning is common. Even when schools have the resources to spend on technology, they often hurry to buy equipment without sufficient planning and without investing in training and support. Provide opportunities for teachers with computers to demonstrate how technology can be applied to classroom teaching and learning.