When people not born in this generation hear the phrase
"technology in the classroom," they might conjure up images of
kids playing "Oregon Trail" on an Apple 2G in the corner. If
you're of my generation -- that is, ten years out of high school
-- you still remember how exciting it was when those gigantic
laser discs showed up in school one day. Well, the excitement
was short-lived. Whereas it used to be that technology was a
curiosity in the classroom, schools are now acknowledged as (or
at least aspire to be) the vanguards of new resources. In 2009,
the ratio of computers to students was roughly 5 to 1 in
American classrooms [source: NCES]. But aside from just adding
quantity to the classroom, how is the rapidity of technological
change affecting the way classes are taught, students are
engaged and teachers use material? Before we get into some of
the technology that could become an everyday part of the
educational system, let's first discuss what educational system
we're talking about. Because let's be hon