Using Technology in the Classroom: Potentials and Pitfalls Over the past decade, increasingly powerful technologies have begun to make their way into classrooms. class across the country. Many classrooms are now equipped with personal computers running educational software to help teach students facts and concepts in a more engaging way than a traditional lecture. Advances in telecommunications technologies have led to almost universal access to the Internet, allowing students and teachers to communicate with people around the world and have access to a wealth of educational materials. New ways of obtaining and presenting information have given students powerful new methods for understanding the world around them. However, although the use of technology in the classroom has been shown to be highly beneficial for students, it is important to note that without a well-planned technology support system, this expensive educational technology is often underutilized or misused. class can significantly improve student performance. Lessons that use computers and technology can be more interactive and hands-on, increasing student engagement and motivation. Schools that have implemented computers and other technology in classrooms report higher attendance and lower dropout rates than in the past (Braun 7). Teachers report that students are more motivated, engaged, and independent when using technology (U.S. Department of Education). A 1995 study funded by the U.S. Department of Education concluded that in the nine technology-rich schools studied, the use of technology resulted in educational gains for all students, regardless of age, race , parental income or other characteristics (Means and Olson). .Also, media-ri...... middle of document...... Final Report: Recommendations for U.S. Education Policymakers. International Society for Technology in Education, 1990. Carlson, S. “The Missing Link in Educational Technology: Trained Teachers.” TechKnowLogia October 2002. Carver, Sharon M. et al. “Learning through hypermedia design: evaluation and implementation issues.” » Educational Psychologist 27.3 (1992): 385. Means, Barbara and Kerry Olson. “Beyond the Classroom: Reshaping Schools with Technology.” » Phi Delta Kappan 77.1 (1995): 69. Spoehr, KT "Using Hypermedia to Clarify Conceptual Structures: Illustrations from History and Literature." Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. San Francisco, California, 1992. U.S. Department of Education. “Using Technology to Support Education Reform.” September 1993. http://ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/TechReforms/index.html. Accessed June 3 2010.