Transforming Learning Through Technology

Tennessee governor Don Sundquist said it all when he stated, "We, as governors, cannot fail to have every child participating in the information age. If we fail, we set our workforce and industry back. If we succeed, we assure that jobs are retained in every community and our children have a bright, prosperous future."

This article, although quite long, explores what we have already learned: the integration of technology in education is a necessity if our children are to be able to live and work in the future, that standards and assessments for such need to be developed and implemented as a means to measure successful learning, and that technology in the classroom cannot take the place of student self-discovery and constructivism; it needs to enhance it.

It is the responsibility of our policy makers to ensure that the long term goals of educational technology are met and monitored accordingly.