Award Winning Technology Editorial

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) should be commended for the technological advances it has brought to schools. Since the 1990s when teachers were given a computer and four laptops as an incentive to embrace computers and the budding Internet, the District has steadily advanced the technology available to faculty, staff and students.

Since 2000, schools in the District have become wireless, which means that all computers in the District are continually on-line. Teachers keep track of grades and attendance via the Internet and most classrooms have more than two to three computers. The latest high tech classroom tool is the Innovation Station, which brings a complete digital presentation system, equipped with a large screen, mounted speakers and a computer, into the classroom. COWs (or computers on wheels) are also being placed in most AISD schools so teachers have access to a movable computer lab, which they can check out. Fulmore has received or will receive eight COWs, each with 30 computers on board.

It is becoming more and more important that students have access to the Internet, both for lessons and to follow teachers on websites like Twitter. Other teachers require students to have accounts with the Internet Movie Database (IMDB).

However, in this economy, it is pretty unrealistic for the District to assume that all students and parents will have access to the Internet, much less have a computer or laptop. According to the 2009 Census, only 39.7 percent of Hispanics, 45 percent of Blacks and 65.7 percent of Anglo families have high-speed Internet at home. While it’s true that students can use the computers at the libraries, it is not realistic to think that they will be able to go to a public library after school.

Parents need the same tools and Internet access that their children do so that the on-line grades and attendance records are available to them, too.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, schools districts in Texas were given the option to choose a percentage of their textbooks online for the 2010-2011 school years. The schools could use that extra money on other electronic devices.

The District is looking into cheaper means of use connectivity. District technology director Dave Sanders said recently that cell phones and apps may be an answer, he pointed out that while not all households have computers, almost everyone has a cell phone.

Much of the technology that the District has been able to provide to schools has come from the citizens of Austin through bond elections. The City and District are to be commended for providing schools and students with the latest technology. The District will do well, however, to remember its most financially strapped families who may already be at a disadvantage. They need access to top-notch technology at home if the playing field is to remain level.