ABSTRACT
Computer technologies are a set of dynamic tools that continue to evolve and transform classroom teaching and learning. As new technologies emerge and develop over time, they are often at the forefront of educational innovation and play an increasingly significant role in society. The majority of students have access to an Internet-connected computer in their classrooms today, and almost all students have access to one in their schools. Access to computers, mobile devices, and the Internet is making a significant impact on teaching and learning. A recent Pew Research Center report (2013) states that 92% of surveyed teachers report the Internet has a “major impact” on access to curriculum resources, 69% report the Internet has a “major impact” on collaborating with colleagues, and 67% report the Internet has a “major impact” on parent communication. The impact of technology on our society and our schools is so radical that Darnton (2008) claims the transitional moment we are living in has come to be known as one of only four other times in our history in which learning, communication, and business have changed so dramatically. He argues that our current information age is as transformative as the invention of writing around 4000 BCE, the development of movable type in 10th-century China and 15th-century Europe, the invention of the printing press during the end of the 18th century. It is overwhelming to consider that the changes we are experiencing now with technology are as monumental as such historical moments as the invention of the printing press.
