Our recommendations are based on data gathered from multiple sources during The Road Ahead program and on the research and effective practices literature for educational technology and school change. It is a systemic issue. Although we have discussed our findings under the headings of student learning, professional development, technology use, and systemic change, these areas interact with each other.
Professional development is the key to more effective use of educational technology.
Let desired learning outcomes guide the use of technology. Technology is often installed first, and teachers are left to figure out how to integrate it afterwards. Once fundamental decisions about outcomes have been made, educational stakeholders are in a much better position to select technology and activities. This latter application of technology was more typical of The Road Ahead, but CAI programs such as Advantage Learning Systems' Accelerated Reader were also used at some sites. One student outcome that seems relatively easy to achieve is basic technology skill.