The perception of technology in business vs. education

Guest post by Lindsey Wright

Technology has become the most critical element of modern human life. Computers are used to look up stock prices or the latest news headlines. Communications devices make it possible to hold a meeting between executives thousands of miles apart. A business is dead in the water if it doesn't embrace the latest technology, yet the world of education seems to shy away. What gives?

With the exception of outlier cases like online college courses, educators' feelings about technology tend to be mixed. Technology isn't so much a bad thing to a teacher, but it can be misused and interfere with education. On the other hand, the business world is all about efficiency. While a big business may be able to get by because of the volume of the work it does, small and medium-sized businesses can't afford to be at any less than maximum efficiency, and must use technology to facilitate that pursuit of higher productivity.

What are the implications for schools that don't integrate technology? The most meaningful risk is that students won't be prepared for the workforce, but more immediately pressing is the possibility of noncompliance with the No Child Left Behind Act. The technology educational guidelines set forth by NCLB suggest students who are not literate in 21st century digital technology could cost schools funding.

Schools should therefore be introducing technology to students so that they have a broad base of skills in the technologies they'll need to succeed. Fortunately, technology seems to be gaining a foothold in schools slowly but surely. Internet access was present in one third of schools back in the mid '90s, but is provided in just about every school today. Meanwhile, over 80 percent of students aged 12 to 17 say they use digital technology on a regular basis to do schoolwork.

Because businesses expect a tech-savvy workforce, it's critical this trend continues. The Internet is becoming a huge tool for personal and professional networking as well as work itself. Aptitude with social media is becoming critical to success at work. Accordingly, it's imperative schools allow students to use these tools for school-related activities.

Of course students do typically use Facebook to talk to friends or post pictures, but this social aspect shouldn't lead administrators and teachers to overlook the educational uses for the Internet and social media. Almost a quarter of the average American's day is spent on Facebook or LinkedIn. Imagine the potential educational power of media that play so extensive a role in students' lives. Pretending these tools don't exist isn't going to change the pace of new technological development, nor the prevalence of new technologies in students' hands.

The bottom line is schools need to stop seeing technology as an evil force that erodes the minds of children. There is always the risk of misuse when technology is involved, but much more are there ways to use technology to get teachers' points across and engage children in the learning process. The business world demands its workers understand and make use of technology. Misguided and short-sighted traditionalism shouldn't drive education away from doing the same.


Lindsey Wright is fascinated with the potential of emerging educational technologies, particularly the online school, to transform the landscape of learning. She writes about web-based learning, electronic and mobile learning, and the possible future of education.

Can technology impede student learning?

Computers, video games and multitasking may have helped improve people's visual skills, but they also appear to have contributed to an erosion in critical-thinking and analysis skills. That's according to new research published in the journal Science.

Reading, however, develops the imagination as well as deductive, reflection and critical-thinking stills, said researcher and UCLA psychology professor Patricia Greenfield. Greenfield also directs the Children's Digital Media Center of Los Angeles.

"No one medium is good for everything," she said. "If we want to develop a variety of skills, we need a balanced media diet."

Details on ScienceDaily.

The growing need for professional wireless communication

More and more states in the U.S. are working to improve technology services in rural areas. Governments in developing countries, such as Sierra Leone, are doing the same. It's no surprise, then, that the need for managed wireless services is growing.

Even the U.S. government recognizes the need to improve wireless communication. Earlier this year, President Obama rolled out a plan known as the National Wireless Initiative. Under the program, wireless coverage would expand to 98% of Americans. According to a statement released by the White House:

One aspect of the President’s plan is to make more airwaves available (in scientific terms, some 500 Mhz of spectrum), to be available for enhanced cell phones and other wireless services—including dedicated public safety networks—over the next ten years. The President’s plan also supports advances in security, reliability and other critical features by investing in research and development in wireless technology.

Here is an example of how wireless communication can improve a community's quality of life. Chariton Valley Wireless Services in Missouri recently entered into a partnership with Globecomm Systems Inc. Globecomm was selected to host the carrier's enhanced and extended wireless network. The purpose was to provide state-of-the-art telecommunications services to businesses and residents in Northeast Missouri. Globecomm stated that its goal was "to keep subscribers in touch, logged on, entertained and communicating without complications at an affordable rate."

Increasingly, small wireless carriers like the one in Missouri are seeking professional business partners that offer hosted wireless solutions. The availability of new technology will allow more Americans to use wireless services to learn, work and play—regardless of where they live.

The art of anticipation in PR

Preparing for touch questions is one of the foundations of good public relations. The questions may come from your customers, the media, or a government entity. Any organization at any moment might find itself under scrutiny.

Perhaps your company is preparing to streamline operations. Anticipating the touch questions - and preparing succinct responses - allows your company to face the public confidently and to manage your message. Another suggestion: Use the buddy system to prepare. Two or more heads are always better than one.