The evolution of technology in just the last generation promises huge potential for education. But technology integration in the classroom isn't without its challenges. There are two obstacles to getting comprehensive technology adoption to become the norm.  One of those is the natural human resistance to change. The good thing about this obstacle is that it's the most easily overcome. 

When teachers and students use a new technology and realize how it can streamline the education process and introduce efficiency into the classroom, they're usually quick converts. The second obstacle that we'll need to fix is how to get technology into every classroom, not just the wealthier well-funded school districts. Trying to get funds for tech acquisitions in a school that can't even afford to pay teachers or do basic building repair is a logical disconnect.

The First Step

There is a problem when the average student is still working with a pencil and paper when their future jobs will require tech savvy. It's not enough to have an occasional computer lab. These kids inhabit a bizarre reality. Some of them have access to laptops and tablet computers at home and inhabit an electronic universe. But when they get to school, for many kids it's like a time transport into the 1970's. Many of these kids will be pursuing online degrees in just a few years but are now stuck in classrooms with little technology beyond an overhead projector. Nearly every piece of technology that can help streamline education requires that students first have a computer for their use in every class.

Building on the Foundation

Once students have computer access, whether desktop, laptop, or tablet, the sky is the limit. Using Moodle to engage with students and get real-time feedback has been invaluable for students and teachers that use it.  And it's not just a place for teachers to post assignments and projects either. Moodle can be an effective tool for writing exercises written from teacher prompts, and teachers have the ability to see what kind of teaching reinforcement a particular student may need. If a student is having a tough time with a specific concept or academic area, a teacher can address it immediately instead of finding out too late on a test that a student's needs just weren't met. Students like Moodle for the same reason. And using it heavily in the classroom can provide students with skill sets more relevant to the modern office workplace as well.



Skype Integration in the Classroom

Skype recently launched "Skype in the Classroom" which is showing initial success. Many of us rely on Skype for instant communication at work and for personal use and have done so for such a long time that we tend to take it for granted. But Skype has not made its way into the classroom in any meaningful way.  The good news about Skype's new push into the education space is that when it came out of beta last March there were around 4,000 teachers in the program. There are now more than 15,000 teachers in the program, and they're using it heavily for collaborating on projects and sharing lesson plans. The potential for student enrichment is high as well. Having a foreign pen pal could take on a whole new significance with Skype. Sister classrooms and the ability to "attend" lectures from influential educators are all possibilities that haven't even been tapped yet. If education can continue to tap into the spirit of innovation through technology integration in the classroom, our education system will just continue to get better.