Technological Literacy President Clinton's Call to Action for American Education in the 21st Century Technological Literacy J ust as 100 years ago the nation struggled with the transition from an agrarian to an industrial economy, today we confront the transition from an industrial to a global, technological economy. Preparing our children for a lifetime of computer use is now just as essential as teaching them to read and write and do math. Every major U.S. industry has begun to rely heavily on computers and telecommunications to do its work.
Technology also enriches education.
Children with access to computers and trained teachers can learn faster and learn better. In some cases, scores on standardized tests of basic skills for children taught with computers rise by 10 to 15 percent compared to the scores of those taught using conventional instruction. With computers, students can learn at their own pace and practice as much as they need to. For students with disabilities, technology such as word processing and speech recognition can give them the tools they need to participate fully in challenging academic courses. Children master basic skills in 30 percent less time than would normally have been the case.