Lauren Henry
Journal Article Review #2
3/7/04

Vail, K. (July, 2003). American School Board Journal: Technology Focus. Next Generation Divide. 1-7.


 We live in a society that is becoming very dependent on technology.  So dependent, organizations are willing to donate thousands of computers to under-privilege schools for students and teachers to use.  Technology allows a class to step outside its boundary's and explore new worlds.  It gives students the opportunity to escape the textbook and go on a virtual field trip without leaving the classroom.  If used correctly, it can enhance a teacher's lesson and increase student's academic achievements.  The article Next Generation Divide By Kathleen Vail discusses the importance of technology and how different school districts allow students to take computers home so they have access after school hours.

            People believe practice makes perfect.  If students don't' have Internet access at home, how are they expected to practice using technology.  Vail believes technology can "help poor and minority students"(p. 1).  It allows the students to experience different types of culture, travel back in time, and conduct lab experiments that may not have been available before.  Allowing computers to go home with students is the first step.  In order for this to even happen, parents must take an orientation session so they too can become educated with the Internet.  It doesn't help a student to take homework home and no one can answer their questions concerning the material they don't understand.  The same goes for the Internet.  In Chapel Hill North Carolina, they are tracking students who take home "thin clients" to prove technology does enhance academic performance.  (Thin clients are computers without a hard drive or floppy disc.  It only has access to the Net.)  This phenomena provides equal opportunity for every student despite their SES (social economic status.)

            I found this article interesting because I know we're moving towards more technological schools being built in the surrounding areas.  It seems schools that are being built have a requirement that computers need to be added in the classrooms and they have to have a computer lab.  It's important as teachers to realize how technology takes shape in the classroom as lessons because the education department expects teachers to have this type of background and to utilize it with instruction.  I didn't realize that schools are providing students with the opportunity to take home their own computers that were either donated by organizations or computers that are old and the school systems don't use anymore. This allows everyone to have the same opportunity to use and learn on a computer that can be vital in the competitive world of technology that we live in.