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Technology in the classroom has to be connected to thinking for the new century. Teachers are often struggling with little or no technology in classrooms in many states. Budgets have been cut drastically, and teachers have been assigned double the amount of expectations in respects to testing and accountability that often comes first with the administration.

What has to change? The standards? Testing? Train teachers? Get more updated computers into the classrooms? All this would come about with a different kind of thinking for the 21st century child. All of this has to change to meet the needs of children living in a century that understand computers better than their parents and grandparents.

There has been a push for education to change. Textbook companies are starting to offer CDs for students to take home instead of textbooks. Web-based education services are available to support learning with Reading and Math. But where are schools going to get the money to buy a license to use these resources?

There is plenty of technology available that due to the lack of money to fund is overlooked. Schools often try to use the technology already in the school to run modern programs. Replacing old computers in computer labs can cost thousands of dollars most schools don't have. Some technology bought by a school is stolen, or there isn't enough money for all teachers to have a projection screen or a license. So sharing has to be done or choices made on what is needed. Many teachers really determined to use technology train themselves, learn how to use it, or have to convince administrators to find money in the budget to support the idea. Many principals are behind the move to bring more technology in and train their teachers, but where will they get money when their budgets are being cut so drastically?

Budget cuts are making funding for technology in the classroom difficult. The focus of the educational system has been to help make test scores go up instead of to excel in this new century. As this first decade comes to an end, education needs to change its focus from making those kids work hard and their teachers work harder to preparing children for a future with computers. Our educational leaders need to redirect the learning into skills that will help them in this new century. Hopefully, a call for change will be directed into a new focus for education and our children's futures.

Learn more about this author, Tiffany Turner.
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