It's hard to open an education magazine these days without seeing an article about computers revolutionizing schools. Some praise computers for their ability to deliver effective instruction, customized to an individual's learning style. Others decry technology, citing evidence that students can't possibly learn off the screen. Some fear that the rise of the computer comes at the expense of humanism, that we are raising a nation of automatons unable to relate to each other. General magazines like Atlantic Monthly and others have brought the debate to more general forum.
Politicians pledge to wire every school and every library to the Internet.
And once you're wired, you can go to the Web and find the debate raging there. While we stake out our positions, we all know that truth lies somewhere between the extremes. As educators, we've seen the difference an excellent teacher can make, as well as the failures of the mediocre. We've seen software that truly engages students in active learning and programs that merely digitize learning by rote. I have had the privilege of working for the past thirteen years at Byram Hills High School in Armonk, New York with administrators and faculty that supported me in my journey to understand and use technology for student learning.