ADVISORY/Expert Tells Dirty Little Secret: Technology is Not Education's Silver Bullet; Education Technologist Keynote Speaker at Sen. Burns' School Conference August 8-9.

Business Editors & Education/High-tech Writers

ADVISORY...for Tuesday (Aug. 8)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Heightened public concern, an influx of money, and maturing technology make this a defining moment for how our schools use computers in the classroom. The decisions we make today will determine whether technology will truly have a role in helping our kids learn better, or if all of that investment, all of that hope will languish on the dustbin of educational dreams.

Dr. Christopher Gentile, one of the nation's leading experts on the use of technology in schools, will explain what technology can and can't do to improve Montana's schools as the keynote speaker at U.S. Senator Conrad Burns' conference for Montana's school superintendents August 8-9. Among Dr. Gentile's key points:

-- Technology is not education's silver bullet. By itself

technology will not bring up test scores, increase graduation

rates, or teach Johnny to read. Well-intentioned educators

have somehow fallen for the hype that if we can jam enough

computers and Internet connections into our classrooms our

kids will magically become better students.

-- Montana is poised to improve its schools with technology. Much

of the infrastructure is in place -- 93% of Montana schools

have Internet access and 91% have computers available to their

students -- and educators better understand how technology

can:

-- Improve student motivation by keeping content fresh and

relevant, and extending the learning experience beyond the

classroom;

-- Support teachers in their efforts to meet standards,

remain creative, and stay energized in the face of an

often overwhelming job; and

-- Be cost-effective over the long-term.

-- Both Bush and Gore have made using technology to fix America's

schools a key issue in this year's presidential race. Though

the candidates will wrestle over what to do, we already know

the core elements of good schools: motivated students,

effective and accountable teachers, and the resources to

support them. Technology is important, but it is only one of a

number of tools that we need to fortify these pillars.

Increasingly, however, technology takes center stage as we

argue about how to create an education system that will work

in today's changing world.

-- The nation is facing a staggering teacher shortage. By 2005,

40% of today's teachers will retire, and many more will

burnout. Many districts will resort to hiring teachers with no

classroom experience. Technology can help districts give

teachers the support they need and, in turn, attract and

retain the best and brightest.

WHEN:   Tuesday, August 8

WHERE:  Montana State University, Burns Telecommunications Center,
        Bozeman, Mont.

WHO:    Dr. Christopher Gentile, vice president, iMind education
        systems and author of Microsoft's "Technology Roadmap: A
        Comprehensive Guide to Planning and Implementing Computer
        Technology in K-12 Schools." He is one of the nation's leading
        experts on the use of technology to improve K-12 teaching and
        learning.