Students can see and hear things that could only be described before with words. We can show them pictures and movies of places that we could never take them. Videodiscs, CD-ROM, VCRs, TVs, cable TV, modems, and computers are some of the tools we use. The problem is that we don't have enough of these tools to really make a difference. Each elementary student has one modern computer with a CD-ROM, and this is usually found in the library.
Some classrooms have an older computer.
During the past several years, very little general fund money has been spent on technology. The new computers we have were purchased with federal funds, grants or fund raising projects. A typical elementary classroom in our district shares a TV and VCR with two other classrooms. The only phones in the school are found in the office and staff room. Contrast this to the typical home in Minot.