TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES FOR STUDENTS

TRENTON, August 4, 2000—In one short year, the use of technology in schools has increased markedly, according to recent studies. As the 2000-01 school year gets underway, many students will find more classroom computers, faster Internet access, and Web sites that enable their parents to find the school lunch menu and—uh oh—homework assignments.

“In recent years, New Jersey’s schools have pulled ahead of national averages in many areas involving technology,” said Edwina M. Lee, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association.

For instance, a U.S. Department of Education report notes that, nationwide, there was an average of 6 students per computer last year, while New Jersey could claim an average of 5.4 pupils per computer. This year, New Jersey’s average accelerated even further—to 4.6 students for every computer.

“We’ve grown exponentially in the use of technology since the concept of personal computer use in the classroom developed over 15 years ago,” said Lee. “A 1984 state report showed an average of 60 students for every computer.

“Just this summer, the New Jersey State Department of Education reported that 72% of all New Jersey classrooms had Internet access during 1999-2000, while only 46% of classrooms had Internet access the previous year. We can expect that number to grow even more during 2000-01.”

Other advances cited in the education department’s School Technology Survey 2000 include the following:

· High-Quality Access. 91.4% of school computers use high-speed technology, such as dedicated lines, instead of slower dial-up telephone modems.

· Distance Learning. More schools are utilizing distance learning capabilities, where students can take part in programs or courses through a computer. The number of schools with distance learning capabilities rose from 42% last year to 68% in 2000. Distance learning enables students to take part in programs or courses through satellite technology or over computer lines. In some cases, it has allowed smaller districts to join with other school systems to offer specialized programs, such as Mandarin Chinese.

· Internet Controls. Schools are cautious about what students can view over the Internet, according to the state education department report. 98% of New Jersey’s schools had either filtering software to block offensive material, or acceptable-use policies that set specific policies addressing how and when students can use school computers.

“Parents and citizens can also benefit from school technology,” Lee added, citing the education department’s report. “Last year, 56% of schools had a web site, and this year the number rose to 80%. Many of these web sites contain school news, calendars, lunch menus, school closings, parents’ organizations, and even homework help.

“Increasingly, local school boards are recognizing the value of web sites in engaging the community,” she said.

Does It Help Students Learn? One of the first national reports to link technology with higher test scores was issued in 1998 by Princeton-based Educational Testing Service. The study found that, with proper use by students and guidance from well-trained teachers, computers can actually enhance performance on standardized tests.

Reported ETS: “When computers are used to perform certain tasks, namely applying higher order concepts, and when teachers are proficient enough in computer use to direct students toward productive uses…computers do seem to be associated with significant gains in mathematics achievement, as well as an improved social environment in the school.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley has also stressed the value of technology to the classroom.

“We are living in a remarkable time—an age when human knowledge and achievement grow by leaps and bounds every day in virtually every field, from astronomy to zoology,” Riley said in a speech earlier this year. “Increasingly, this information seems to be available on the Internet. Today, more than ever, at the core of the knowledge that sends an individual on his or her way are an understanding of and an ability to use computers, technology, and the Internet in a meaningful and productive way."


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