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Computers have dramatically impacted how today’s students spend their time in school. But, is the enormous investment taxpayers have been making to get schools wired resulting in better-educated students?
Because of the amount of money being spent, KSL believes finding definitive answers to that and related questions must be given priority status.
A recent series of news stories reported jointly by Channel Five and the Deseret News highlight some legitimate concerns.
For example, listen to this comment by 6th grader Jordan Ostmark:
"I know how to use the computer better than my teacher."
The young student’s comment begs the question, is enough attention being given to training teachers to use the costly and complicated new tools they’ve been given?
In days past, a chalkboard was only as helpful as the teacher who used it. And it could hardly be used without chalk.
In many ways, today’s chalk is computer software. Unfortunately there are indications effective software products are lagging behind the hardware capacity now available in most schools.
As schools continue the transition to the age of technology, KSL believes as much attention needs to be directed toward effectively using the expensive new tools as seems to be given to efforts to acquire them.
