Critical Issue: Using Technology to Enhance Engage Learning for At-Risk Students

It is especially important that at-risk students have access to technology in the classroom. Students who come from low and lower socio-economic groups need to have the same advantages as all other students. In the past (and even today) students from financially disadvantaged areas have not had the same accessibility to educational technology except for the requisite "drill and kill" programs that are nothing more than glorified video games that teach content area by rote and do not allow students to use collaborative and /or knowledge-building skills in the learning context.

All students should be entitled to explore and produce their own work by using technology instead of schools using technology to instruct students. It is now understood that instruction (with the use of technology) should be interactive, generative, authentic, challenging, etc. How can students be held to a high standard and accompanying expectations when they historically have not been responsible for their own learning? How can we expect them to be energized by learning without the integration of technology?

Unless students can experience challenge and excitement in the learning process, we cannot expect more than what we "put out." Technology is a tool that can be implemented and utilized to help students discover their full potential. I believe Bill Clinton's dream of a computer for every child is an awesome goal; let's do what we can to help realize that dream.