ABSTRACT
Instructional technology refers to various tools used in and out of the classroom to stimulate students’ interest and engagement, support their comprehension and learning, and augment curricular offerings. While there are many aspects of instructional technology used daily in rural classrooms in the United States, there are some practical challenges to implementing various types of resources and accessing equipment and broadband internet service. Rural teachers who approach technology with student learning in mind do not treat hardware, software, and internet access as a replacement for good teaching. Effective use of technology starts by identifying student learning needs and goals and then selecting the best available tools to meet the goals. Across the country, communities are struggling to find ways to fully fund their schools. This means that there are many rural schools that do not have the financial capacity to purchase cutting-edge tools for robotics or virtual reality, let alone to provide laptops or tablets for every student or classroom.
