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Running head: INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN RURAL SCHOOLS

Instructional Technology in Rural Schools

Nicole Fleischmann
Molloy College

Running head: INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN RURAL SCHOOLS

Abstract
Technology is prominent in todays society and in education. Being able to use technology in
education can be very beneficial to some children. Although many teachers and districts of rural
schools want to use these different technologies to help their students they may not always be
able to. Because of the money needed to obtain some of these technologies, it is not always
possible for these rural schools to get the technologies that they want to use for their classes.
Some rural schools may have to take out grants for the technologies that they want if there are no
other funds available to use for the technologies.

Running head: INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN RURAL SCHOOLS

Although people may feel that getting to involved in technology is a bad thing, it can also
be beneficial. As technology becomes more prominent in society it is also being integrated into
schools. Allowing children to use technology for educational purposes may help to keep their
interest in subjects they may not be too fond about. When children use technology in school it
may also help them understand different concepts better and allows them to be able to learn more
visually. The problem with integrating technology into schools is the amount of funding
available in the school. Unfortunately, schools in certain areas may not have the funding to allow
the children to use technology for their education.
This article talks about how each school has a different amount of funding that either
allows or does not allow them to be able to use technology instructionally. The type of school
that is specifically focused on is the rural school. Rural schools often do not have the funding
necessary to be able to obtain the types of technology that they may want to use in their
classrooms. In rural schools they may have to use school or classroom grants that are available to
that rural school district in order to obtain the types of technologies wanted. There are also many
emerging technologies that many teachers want to be able to use in their classrooms but they feel
that it is important to see what technologies would and would not benefit the students in their
classes. The information in this journal article is very informative and I feel that incorporating
technology when school districts are able, into education would benefit many students. Rural
school districts occasionally struggle with funding for technology that they want to bring into
their schools. In a report for the National Association of School Administrators, McCord and
Ellerson (2009) stated that 78% of rural districts reported themselves inadequately funded.
(Sundeen, Darrelanne& Sundeen, Todd 2013). Not having the funding to help children in the
classroom learn in a different way that may really benefit them is frustrating for teachers and
districts. The information about schools and technology currently available to students inrural
school districts is unfortunately not very positive. A disturbing national statistic still prevails,

however. While it has continued to improve, a ratio of 5.3 students to classroom computers still
exists (Sundeen, Darrelanne& Sundeen, Todd 2013). When rural districts to do not have enough
funding for certain technologies in classrooms, teachers may not be happy especially when there
are many new and different types of technologies becoming available. PBS and Grunwald
Associates (2011) reported emerging technologies percieved by teachers to have the greatest
educational potential from data collected in August 2010. The teachers surveyed rated newer or
emerging portable technologies, such as laptops (81%), e-readers (53%), iPod Touch (28%),
MP3 Players (23%), game devices (14%) and cell phones (11%), as having greatest potential for
improving future education. (Sundeen, Darrelanne& Sundeen, Todd 2013). Funding for
technology in rural schools can be a struggle depending on how much money is available in that
school district. Dealing with the issue of funding may be difficult for the district and their
teachers.
Technology may sound like a bad idea to integrate into education but there are many
ways that it can help students learn. Since technology is very popular in todays society, many
teachers feel that it can help students struggling with different topics. Allowing children to use
technology can help them if they benefit from visual learning. Because of the money needed to
obtain the technology, especially in rural schools, it may be difficult to get the amount of funding
needed for the technology.

Running head: INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN RURAL SCHOOLS

References
Sundeen, D.M. and Sundeen, T.H. (2013). Instructional Technology for Rural Schools: Access
and Acquisition. Ebsco Host, Ja 2013: 1-10.