TITLE The State of the 'Net in Secondary Classrooms: Rhetoric and

While 96 % of teachers profess to use technology, this study of 85 teachers in grades 5-12 in Florida and Georgia found that only 4 % of teachers actually integrated technology in their instruction. The majority of schools had few computers, fewer Internet-ready computers available for student access, and teachers who had never received any training concerning how to use computers. Most teachers lacked even a rudimentary knowledge of the Internet; many could not explain how to turn on a computer. The reality of public school classrooms contrasts sharply with the rhetoric and possibilities of using technology effectively in schools as exemplified by some interesting, high-tech classrooms. Topics discussed in this paper include: the disparity between reported and actual use of computers in instruction; the dilemma of "best practices " and teacher preparation; observations of one exemplary teacher; and the desperate need for models of best practice. A table summarizes major findings of the study. (Author/AEF