Schools across the country plan on integrating advanced technology in K-12 classrooms in an effort to align with the goals of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and help prepare students for life and careers beyond high school. Products ranging from laptops to mobile devices can be found in the hands of millions of young people specifically for academic purposes. The changing landscape of education will most likely affect the academic world for decades.
Schools make use of advanced technology
School district officials also plan on integrating a wide variety of technologies in grades K-12. They believe that helping their students build 21st century skills should be schools' first priority, a feeling that greatly aligns with the purpose of the Common Core. Many education experts support the advancement of technology in classrooms because of the changing educational landscape. When college students enrolled in teacher-education programs graduate, they should be equipped with teaching skills that help them prepare their students for 21st century jobs. Students currently in grades K-12 will be taking college and university courses that will undoubtedly involve the use of computer technology. Administrators and educators also believe that students can benefit from remote learning. Schools are moving away from the traditional computer lab model where students have to go to a dedicated space for computer and Internet use to allowing them to utilize school-approved mobile devices like tablets and laptops. The learning platform promotes self-learning and can be customized based on the abilities and pace of each student.
Types of technology found in classrooms today
One of the most interesting technologies that can be found in today's schools is cloud computing. Cloud computing is the next generation of data storage and application accessibility. In the business world, cloud computing makes file transfers and operational processes simple and easy. In a classroom setting, schools with cloud services can have a fully integrated network that includes email services, shared student and teacher calendars, and multiple collaborative productivity applications. In Santa Fe, N.M., public schools plan to integrate a high-speed fiber optic local area network (LAN) to schools' existing technological infrastrucutres that are specifically designed to meet the demands of 21st century academic environments. The lightning fast data transfer speeds (up to 2-10 gigabytes per second) can create more efficient learning atmospheres, and streamline grading and testing processes while granting large groups of students access to educational materials simultaneously.
