Modern Technology Updates Education By Karen Mefford

Modern Technology Updates Education

Kids don't often consider school to be 'cool' or 'modern.' Most of us remember school as sitting in a desk covered in 20-year-old graffiti while reading from a history text book that stopped at the Cold War.

Whether a result of a lack of funding or the administration's aversion to change, schools are rarely considered to be on the cutting edge of technology. Yet more school administrators are realizing the educational benefits modern technologies offer students.

This attitude shift began with the introduction of the Internet in the 1990s. The Internet's possibilities in terms of learning and education were quickly realized, and computers with Internet connections soon became widely adopted by many school systems.

Outfitting an educational institution with the latest technology makes sense in many ways. Today's youth is accustomed to technology: they use cellular phones to communicate, mp3 players to listen to music, laptops to do their homework and the latest video game consuls for their entertainment. This generation is comfortable with technology, thus it logically follows that technology may be a useful tool in connecting with and teaching them.

A wide variety of different technologies have been used in classrooms around the country. Software programs such as modeling applications can help students understand math and science. Educators can podcast lessons or text information to reach students who may be ill. Experts can be instantly transported into the classroom via webcam and projected to classes in order to give guest lectures. Many schools have installed flat TVs in their classrooms, auditoriums and lobbies as an unobtrusive way of getting useful information to all students quickly.

Technology opens up a wide avenue of possibilities for making education more interactive, engaging and convenient to students and educators alike. Yet getting new technology in the classroom can be difficult. Educators must often jump through a variety of hoops in order to get their proposals approved.

Fortunately, some technology providers recognize this difficulty and can help school administrators get the technology they need to update their school. Mounting solutions provider Chief Manufacturing provides a variety of tools on its website to facilitate school bids for new technology.

Chief provides an interactive Virtual Classroom which allows educators to design an ideal projection system with projector mounts, flat panel mounts, and mobile flat panel carts. Educators can then get assistance with an easy bid request form to ensure they have all of the information necessary for a quick bid turn.

With new technology in the classroom, educators can engage students in new and exciting learning endeavors and bring education into the modern technological era.