Tasks such as test preparation and grading, record keeping, scheduling, reporting, and decision-making based on data are the workaday functions of school employees. But even more important, teachers and administrators' effectiveness with students can increase when they can work with the new media together with students . For example, reading instruction has been improved in many schools when teachers, using IBM's Writing to Read system, have been able to teach reading in new ways. Teaching of writing may be improved when all involved use word processing because the technology speeds the writing process and makes revision swift and sure. Teaching of communications skills can be broadened by including the making of video reports, now that video cameras have become portable and inexpensive.
Schools are places dominated by words, spoken and in print.
Many subjects, and many students' learning abilities, are enhanced by pictures. Time is saved. Some tasks can be done faster, freeing time for other work. Better decisions are made . Information can be more readily available in a timely way to support decisions.