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Oklahoma schools gaining more computers: Education72 percent of districts have wireless connections to Net
Jun 27, 2009 (The Oklahoman - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The number of computers available to Oklahoma public school students has grown substantially since 2000, a report shows.
The ratio of students to computers during 2007-08 was slightly more than 3 to 1. In 2000, the number was 7.2 students to one computer, according to the state Education Department's annual technology survey released Thursday. Data was from the 2007-08 school year.
"We've more than doubled the number of computers in Oklahoma schools in just eight years," state schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett said. "We're starting to see more and more districts investing in instructional software, professional development and video streaming to enhance classroom instruction. Some consider such technology to be tools of the future, but in this global society we live in today, the future is now."
School district administrators spent more than $105 million on technology in the 2007-08 term, said Eric Hileman, director of instructional technology for the Education Department. Of the $105 million, 62 percent was spent on hardware, resulting in the ratio of 3.28 students to one computer.
The equipment was bought with federal or local money because the state doesn't give districts money for technology equipment, Hileman said.
The survey also showed 72 percent of the districts have wireless connectivity, Hileman said.
"Wireless is really important because you're not tethered to one place. Wireless connectivity has brought technology to the classroom," Hileman said.
Only a few school districts still use modem connections for Internet service, he said.
To see more of The Oklahoman, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.newsok.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
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