The school can solicit parents and community businesses for technology donations. School bulletins can highlight students' technological achievements. Perhaps most importantly, principals can demonstrate their willingness to become more knowledgeable in technology use and instructional integration. Another way principals can build a culture of technology use is to provide teachers with models of exemplary technology use and the training necessary to use these models. Such professional development can boost student achievement.
Teachers are practical people.
While a technological vision may capture their imaginations, the opportunity to better their own classroom practice will arouse their professional energies. Technology-savvy parents can reinforce a school's cultural commitment by monitoring and assisting students while they use the computer, or by preparing lists of Internet resources relevant to specific curricular goals. Today, most people recognize that technology alone will not have a positive impact on student learning. This is true whether the technology in question is a computer, a pencil, or an overhead projector. Absent this grounding, which too often is neglected in the rush to glittery application, changes in student performance are unlikely.