Great Bend USD 428 could probably have gone another decade without providing computers to its students, but the decision to do so now was correct.
In 2015, the USD 428 Education Foundation received a $327,405 grant through the Dorothy M. Morrison Foundation so the district could buy Chromebooks, iPads and accessories and put them directly into the hands of students. This technology is more than the latest improvement on the mimeograph machine; it is both a teaching tool and a lesson in its own right.
Think about how many times a day we encounter new technology — in our homes and offices, at meetings or shopping. This will only increase for the next generation. Students who aren’t comfortable using computers will be at a disadvantage the first time they have to take a standardized test online. But students who embrace technology early will be using that skill for a long time to come.
Computers won’t replace good teaching. Nor can they replace learning to do a task “by hand” or reading a book rather than waiting for the movie. But they can help students learn at their own pace, explore new ideas and express themselves.
Besides, “If you can remember the mimeograph, it’s time to retire!”