Schools have been entering the wide world of education technology nationwide as part of a movement that is becoming more of a necessity in the modern-day classroom. One Superintendent justifies the move in a recent post that relates to all K-12 administrations.

Superintendent Bill Adams of Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Public Schools in Janesville, Minnesota, wrote a special column for the Janesville Argus in which he stressed the idea of moving tech into the 22^nd century. The article stemmed from the decision for the school board to approve a three-year lease of Chromebooks, increasing the amount that are available to students in the district.

“We want our students to have access to limitless resources,” wrote Adams.

“At anytime during the course of a 24-hour day students may be working on research or homework. By having access to a device we ensure students have the ability to continue with their work. In addition, the World Wide Web provides an abundance of resources for students to further their learning. Albeit, careful education of the usefulness of this information is important and will be conveyed.”

The debate around online safety and security, however, is alive and well, especially given a recent breach in security during a state assessment being conducted in Minnesota.

Nonetheless, the push is ensuring an increased connection between students and the rest of the world, developing the skills of the future and expanding the range of student learning. This is a matter many modern K-12 institutions are expending resources in, considering intense global technological competition.

“JWP is setting the stage for 22nd century learning,” says Adams.

“Many educational experts utilize the term 21st century learning and 21st century skills when talking about technology integration and skill set. However, our belief is that we are 15 years into the 21st century and it is time to develop 22nd century ready skills. By implementing a 1:1 environment, we can begin thinking about future skills and their development.”

Whether or not these pushes are actually aiding students in becoming more globally connected and bigger competitors in the market is a hypothesis that’s continuously being explored. However, schools are arming their students with technology and related skills, just in case that hypothesis is correct.

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Article by Navindra Persaud, Education World Contributor