Schools stuck in high-tech dilemma

The ever-advancing world of technology and education are sometimes an awkward mix.

On the one hand you have the need to keep pace with developments; on the other, the desire for a uniform approach and equal opportunity to access the latest gizmos.

So with the step taken by Wanganui's St Marcellin School in Tawhero come mixed feelings. It is great that the school has been able to raise the funds for the 15 iPads it makes available to its students. Teacher Stephen Johnston marvels at the enthusiasm and results so far - and the devices have only just been released.

Principal Mervyn Bloor can have some pride in his claim his is the first school in Wanganui to go digital.

But what of the others? Where and how do they fit into the technological race? How do our lower-decile schools who can't fundraise afford the devices, and then the plans to give access to the internet?

Then there is the key issue of the very pace of change that has brought about the introduction of PCs, laptops and now tablet devices into the curriculum. Given that rate of progress, schools must be aware that in all likelihood, the technology they invest in now could well be obsolete in 18 to 24 months. They will have to factor in future-proofing, and whether the considerable investment they will have to make is value for money given technology that is changing so fast.

Another factor is maintaining uniformity across education providers. Anyone remember the Beta versus VHS saga, or DVD zoning issues?

The dilemma, of course, is that if schools don't get on board and keep up, they and their students will be left behind, victims of the community's inability to provide what they need.

We know in our city there are children who go to school hungry because their parents cannot afford to feed them breakfast. How on earth are they expected to be able to pay for the technology that will be required in the modern learning environment? And having shelled out for the device, there is the cost of access to consider.

Yes, the rollout of ultrafast broadband may be government-funded and it is great that this infrastructure is being put in place, but we are yet to learn the cost of connecting, and that may prove a bridge too far for many businesses, schools and individuals. The last thing we need by schools taking the initiative is derailing any progress with focus on a further widening of the gap between the haves and the have-nots. A national education technology strategy should allow all schools and their students equal access to the latest technology as it becomes available.

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