Prior to becoming governor in 1994, Geringer served as a state legislator from 1982 to 1988. In 1988 he was elected to the state senate. As governor, Geringer has led a successful effort to improve education in Wyoming by establishing high academic standards, comprehensive assessments and technology in schools. Both governors offer valuable insights about technology's role in the education process. Q. Governor Branstad, during your 16-year tenure, you have been at the forefront of incorporating technology into education.
Technology is an important tool that can enhance the learning process.
In the time I've been governor, I've seen the Internet come into existence and become a tremendous new asset to get knowledge and information from throughout the world. The statewide network has advanced the learning process and made it possible for distance learning to occur that wasn't previously available. For example, kids in rural areas can get higher levels of math, science, foreign languages and even college-credit courses that before they could get only by traveling several hundred miles to a college or university community. So often, students know more about technology than the teachers. Just having technology available in the classroom is not going to be any good unless the teacher feels comfortable using it as an effective tool in the learning process.