The world we live in today is not the same one we were in 10 years ago. Now, everything is digital and technologically driven. Why, with all of the technological innovations intended to make our lives easier, are our children still carrying backpacks filled with heavy textbooks?
According to a New York Times article, the average middle school student’s backpack weighs 18.4 pounds, while some weighed as much as 30 pounds. If Georgia could transition its 181 school districts from traditional textbooks to electronic texts, students would be able to have all their books in a 2-pound tablet or laptop computer.
Making the switch would not only save our students backs but also save our wallets. The FCC states that we spend more than $8 billion a year on textbooks. Having textbooks provided on tablets or laptop computers would allow for updates and edits to be made instantly without the added cost or wait of printing. In order to successfully make the transition from traditional paper textbooks to electronic texts, the legislature is willing and ready to assist the 181 local school districts pay for any additional costs by allocating funding using the textbook bond money. The FCC goes on to say that switching to a digital classroom can save schools between $250-$1,000 per student per year.
Electronic texts provide the opportunity to introduce more dynamic content, videos, interactive learning and gamification into classrooms throughout the state. The U.S Dept. of Education, along with the National Training and Simulation Association, has found the leveraging technology can improve student engagement, achievement and learning productivity. Technology-based learning has also been proven to reduce the time students spend learning each objective by 30-80 percent. These numbers speak for themselves and will help our teachers effectively cover more information during the school year.
Many schools, states, and districts have transitioned from traditional classrooms to digital learning environments equipped with smart boards and computers. Florida was the first state to mandate the adoption of digital learning tools in all public schools starting in 2015. California and Utah both provide students with free digital textbooks in specific courses, including math and science. Maine provides all students in the public school system with a laptop. The San Diego Unified school district and Georgia’s iAchieve Virtual Academy provide students with the opportunity to be engaged in digital classrooms. Georgia has the opportunity to improve our education system and it’s time we do it.
Technology can prepare our students for the business world, and it’s also the great equalizer, whether you live in a suburban, urban or rural environment. I plan to introduce the Digital Classroom Act and hope we can see this transition take place by 2020. This time frame will allow all schools to gain access to high-speed Internet. Georgia can take a step forward and become the national leader in K-12 education by providing its students with the educational tools and high-tech skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century.
to your business!