Why support technology in education?
It’s a moral question, in a recent survey. 75% of educators classified themselves as “often in need” or “desperate” for technology resources. How can we close the gap, so that each child has equal access to technology, and thus equal access to the skills they need to thrive?
It’s a question of relevance, 85% of the teens ages 12-17 engage in some form of electronic personal communication, including text messaging emailing or participating in online social networking. How can we use technology to inspire our students to learn, and maintain their interest in their education by providing relevant tools?
It’s an economic question as well. One study estimates that companies and colleges spend upwards of $17 billion per year to train recent graduates in the basic skills they should have gained in school. It is economically beneficial to us all that our children graduate with the technological competence necessary to maintain a skilled and competitive workforce?
It’s a question of globalization. In the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, nearly half of eighth graders scored at the advanced level in math in Taiwan, Korea and Singapore. Compared with 6 percent of American students. How can we remain competitive in global markets, and continue the spirit of productivity and innovation that has long characterized the United State?
Down-4-Tech provides a forum for teachers and their communities to find the answers to these questions. Teachers can get the resources their students need to learn and grow, and communities can support their local schools, watching their children grow up with the skills they’l l need to take the next step.
