1. Based on your readings, how would you characterize the effectiveness of the use of technology in education today? How would you improve this efficiency? (30 pts) Today I would describe, with optimism, the effectiveness of the use of technology in education in its infancy. When certain conditions are met, computer technology has a positive effect on learning and teaching in the primary and secondary levels of the American school system; the potential therefore exists but has not been exploited (Norris, Soloway and Sullivan, 2002). The problem is ensuring that these conditions are met within a school. Norris et al. (2002) state that the following conditions must be met: • Sufficient access to technology • Adequate teacher preparation • Effective curriculum • Relevant assessment • Supportive school/district administration • Supportive family/community One might think that Access to technology is believed to be the main culprit for teachers' lack of technology use, but according to the eSchool News Staff (2010), only 29 percent of teachers who reported using specific technological devices less than a year times a week in their classrooms cited lack of access as the main reason. The main takeaway is that 49% of teachers felt the technology devices were not necessary. This means that half of teachers voluntarily decide not to use these devices at all. Overall, I think most parents, teachers, and administrators believe that technology can be a valuable educational asset. Why doesn't this translate to practical use in the classroom? I don't think the general public has been convinced of the positive effects of using technology in education. Politics and money aside, there should be a blitzkrieg of information about the benefits of this technology...... middle of paper ......The second technology that can have an impact is l Using collaboration tools such as Smart Boards. Although quite expensive, they have the ability to encourage social collaboration and target multiple learning styles; visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Long-term savings can be made by reducing paper waste and time spent distributing hard copies of documents. Works Cited Norris, Cathleen, Elliot Soloway and Terry Sullivan. “Reviewing 25 years of technology in education in the United States.” ACM Communication 45.8 (2002): 15-18. Print. "Research dispels common myths about educational technology | eSchool News. Web. March 9, 2014. . "The technology factor: nine keys to student success and profitability." Project RED. The Greaves Group, The Hayes Connection, One-to-One Institute. (2010).