NASBE

National Association of State Boards of Education
3. Educational Technology
Infrastructure: Preparing
for the Technology
of the Future
Technology in the classroom is nothing new. Classrooms across the country have experienced varying degrees of
integration with a number of technologies to facilitate learning over the years. In the mid-1900s, it was mimeograph
machines and overhead projectors. In the 1990s, states, districts, and schools worked to ensure all classrooms had a computer
and that teachers knew how to use it. A decade later, states worked to ensure these computers were connected to the
Internet and that teachers could use them as part of their instruction. Moving forward, however, technology integration in
the classroom will need to mean more than a new tool for teaching students in the same old ways. Meaningful technology
integration in the classroom has the ability to transform and personalize learning for all students. To achieve this vision,
however, thoughtful planning and implementation of a robust education technology infrastructure is a must. An up-to-date
education technology plan that proactively tries to anticipate the technology needs of schools in the state will need to be a
vital component of education policy. The ability for a state to develop this vibrant and effective education technology infrastructure
will play a signifi cant factor in being able to connect and engage with students through technology in the ways
that benefi t their learning and via media they prefer.
Without considering the kind of technology infrastructure needed to effectively implement new technologies into schools,
even the best state-level education visions for technology will fall short because there might not be an infrastructure to
support it. This chapter provides the current context regarding education technology infrastructure and some of the major
issues state boards of education will likely face when developing a robust infrastructure for current use while at the same
time preparing for technologies of the future. In particular, this chapter covers the following education technology infrastructure
issues: identifying the current capacity of states to effectively and equitably integrate technology in meaningful
ways; developing data systems that provide timely, meaningful information to stakeholders, educators, and policymakers
alike; navigating the transition to digital instructional materials; and supporting blended and online learning opportunities.
A. Access and Equity in Technology Infrastructure
The state of education technology infrastructure can vary immensely both across and within states. Providing all students
with reliable, connected digital devices that can deliver high-quality content still challenges all states across the
country. Researchers estimate that all public schools have at least one instructional computer with Internet access and the
average ratio of students to instructional computers is approximately 3.1 to 1. 106 In 2009, Maine led the nation by being
the fi rst state to implement a 1-to-1 laptop initiative for all its high school students. 107 With the reduced costs of hardware
each year, more and more states will likely fi nd new ways to get digital devices into the hands of students so this technology
can benefi t learning.
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