Infrastructure for Technology

At the very core of 21st Century Education is the infrastructure that will support digital learning and make possible the high-speed communication that is necessary to link the various stakeholders. This includes sophisticated hardware, software and the technical support required to develop and maintain the system.

Both the state and the national long-range plans call for learners and educators to be equipped with 24/7 wireless access to broadband digital communications. This means that every stakeholder will be equipped with a handheld device capable of internet access. The plan includes interoperable connectivity between public schools, colleges, universities, libraries, businesses, medical facilities and individual homes. Architectural models are to be consistent with the FCC’s E-Rate Long Range Plan.

Implementing a plan as comprehensive and as ambitious as this one will require advances to be made in technology and billions of dollars in funding. At a time when the country is in a deep recession, committing the extra funding that will be required for such expenditure may be hard to come by

Perhaps an even bigger concern is the potential affect that such a move could have on the stakeholders currently involved in today’s education. New requirements for advanced technological competencies for educators will surely cause many of the older and more experienced educators to leave the profession. However, the biggest unknown is how this will affect the most vulnerable stakeholders, the students. Many modern day students depend on the school environment to provide the socialization and nurturing needed for normal emotional development. Increased reliance on technology will cause many students to have a heightened feeling of anonymity and isolation. Increased time on the internet will likely subject students to increased attacks of cyber bullying.

Change is going to happen and the long-range plans are only focusing and accelerating and the inevitable. The transition will be much more efficient in the long run if a detailed blueprint is developed and followed, than if natural evolution is allowed to take place. Professional educators must be aware of the affect that this transition will have on our students, and stand ready to provide help when it is needed.