National research indicates that there are five major trends in technology.
These trends are reflected in the Roanoke City Public Schools and provide indicators or guideposts for future development of technology in the Division. The first trend is that technology-based teaching and learning is based upon instructional design and development. This concept is especially prevalent in business, industry, and government contexts. Although this type of evaluation has been seen as peripheral to the education, it is becoming integral to the instructional design process, and as such, an essential element for consideration. This trend focuses on supplementing classroom instruction with the delivery of instruction via telecommunications from remote locations around the globe.