Pflaum, William D. The Technology Fix: the Promise and Reality of Computers in Our Schools

Adolescence, Fall, 2004

PFLAUM, William D. The Technology Fix: The Promise and Reality of Computers in Our Schools. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2004. 222pp. $23.95 (p).

During the technology boom of the 1980s and 1990s, computers seemed set to revolutionize education. By 2001, educational materials developer William D. Pflaum had begun to suspect that technology was not the all-purpose solution it had seemed. Deciding to see how computers were really being used in U.S. classrooms, he embarked on a yearlong road trip to a cross-section of schools throughout the nation. In this book, he recounts his journey. Although he did find technology application to admire, too often he found broken promises: millions spent for little measurable gain, problems instead of solutions. This inside look at computer use in our schools shares the voices, experiences, triumphs, and frustrations of educators and students in urban, rural, and suburban settings. The author provides insight into the key roles that computers play in the classroom and clarifies what we must do to ensure that the promise of technology is fulfilled, and that students truly benefit.