In the early part of the twentieth century, people thought the car was a fad; they would never replace the trusty, hard-working horse. In the middle of the twentieth century, people thought television was a fad; it would never replace the radio. In the mid-1980s, people thought VCR's and videotapes were a fad; they would never replace the experience of going to the movies. Now we can drive in our cars and watch movies at the same time. Virtually everything that makes life more convenient will stay. We must accept that technology in the form of computers and the Internet are permanently entrenched in society.

 What is the impact on teaching and learning? Teaching and learning have always been book and paper-intensive. Teachers in every discipline assigned books to their students and used paper to keep track of which student had which book. Students used paper to complete assignments associated with those books and handed them into their teachers, who carried those papers home to grade them. This process was repeated all over the country by millions of students and teachers every day for 36 -40 weeks a year. Technology has the potential to allow students to complete a variety of work and submit it online.

 Most notable of these applications are Google docs where students can set up a free account and create writing pieces, spreadsheets, and slide presentations. Alternatively, they can upload those same documents from their home computers. Students share their work with their teachers who can insert comments, highlight elements, and assign grades. In fact, a student and teacher can work simultaneously on an assignment while "chatting" in a sidebar. Another benefit of Google docs is the feature that saves a student's work instantaneously and keeps it on the Web. This application enhances the educational process through its accessibility and immediacy. When teachers can provide rapid feedback, students benefit. 

Technology is s double-edged sword when it comes to research projects. On one side, information on any topic is available at the click of a mouse. On the other side is the temptation for students to cut and paste information directly from sources. There have always been students who plagiarize. Technology can make it easier, but it also is easier for teachers to uncover it using programs designed for that purpose or simply using Google's search function. Thanks to the Internet, gone are the days of creating Works Cited or References pages by hand and agonizing over alphabetizing and citing correctly. There are both free and subscription services that can do that for students. When students and teachers can focus on what the child has to say and how he says it, real learning happens. 

The introduction of tablets is already revolutionizing learning. It is likely that future students will not be carrying backpacks crammed with books and binders. Rather, they will glide from class to class carrying slim computer onto which they have downloaded their textbooks, and with which they will complete their classwork. As the accouterments of education become easier to manage, there can be a clearer focus on leveraging these new technologies to better educate students. Therefore, while technology has the potential to distract students from learning if used poorly, its true potential lies in its ability to streamline classroom work and homework, giving students more time to learn about topics that may not have been covered otherwise.