What is the Role of the State Government in Ed Tech Policy?

I read the article on Blackboard called “Indiana Plan for Digital-Age Learning”. The Education Technology Council mentioned, “Students in Indiana’s K-12 schools, under the guidance of excellent teachers, will engage in self-directed, lifelong Digital-Age learning -- as individuals, in learning communities, and with their families-- as they strive for rigorous academic excellence in today’s high-tech, global society” (2007). I agree that many teachers in Indiana need to enforce the importance of technology. Students who start using technology at a young age will be able to thrive in their future endeavors in today’s technological society.

After reading that article that coincided with the statement above, I found another article called, “How State Dollars Could Fund Your District’s Next Tech Initiative.” It stated how an Evansville teacher named Brian Bennett has his students use net books. Net books are online textbooks with the same information that a textbook would provide. These net books are provided to the students by their school district, and paid for with state dollars. “In 2009, Indiana education officials decided to let school districts to tap into a $39 million pot of state money — previously reserved for textbooks — to pay for digital curriculum and devices for students” (Stokes, 2012). Not only are these students being able to utilize these technological devices, they are paid for by the state of Indiana. These students are fortunate enough to have the net books to help accomplish their schoolwork. “More than 13,000 Evansville students from Grades 6-12 have a school-owned computer to use this year” (Stokes, 2012). I think it is excellent that many of these students are able to use these devices rather than using pencil and paper. I think net books can make learning enjoyable because they are using hands-on devices to still complete their homework.   

So the question is should every school in Indiana have some sort of device like this? I absolutely believe schools should have these technological devices accessible to them. It is amazing how Indiana can help fund these devices. John Keller, Assistant Superintendent for Technology at the Indiana Department of Education said, “Kids are going to be learning online and with computers. That’s going to characterize their learning in the future, and certainly in many cases, characterizes it now” (2012). I agree with John Keller. Students need to be exposed to these types of devices so they can eventually exemplify how they are tech-savvy individuals. 


 Stokes, K. (2012, May 11). How state dollars could fund your district’s next tech initiative. Retrieved from http://stateimpact.npr.org/indiana/2012/05/11/how-state-dollars-could-fund-your-districts-next-tech-initiative/ 

(2007). Indiana plan for digital-age learning. January 2007, doi: PDF