Education means considerably more than just teaching a student to read, write, and manipulate
numbers. Computers, the Internet, and advanced electronic devices are becoming essential in everyday
life and have changed the way information is gathered. How this new technology is utilized in the
curriculum and managed by teachers will have an important role to play in widening the resource and
knowledge base for all students. Technology affects the way teachers teach and students learn. To make
the best use of information technology (IT), schools need a workable plan to fully integrate it into all
aspects of the curriculum so students are taught how, why, and when to use technology to further
enhance their learning. If a school does not have a clear plan of how and why it wishes to implement IT,
then it runs the risk of wasting money. In schools today, nearly all classrooms have access to a
computer. However, many schools mistake this as incorporating information technology into the
curriculum. School staff need to research what IT is available and what would best serve the school’s
purpose, not simply purchase the latest equipment. There should be a policy stating how IT is going to
assist pupils’ development and what teachers want pupils to achieve (Reksten, 2000). Staff members
need to be clear about what they want IT to do for them before they can start incorporating it into their
lessons. The only way information technology is going to be useful to schools is if all staff members are
well-informed and fully supported. It is the principal’s responsibility, and should be part of the school’s
plan, to ensure that all staff are consulted about the changes, and that the change is carefully organised.
Some teachers may be resistant, especially if they have not had much experience with computers, so
training teachers is essential in implementing IT into the school curriculum. Staff members must feel
involved in the process of acquiring technology, and in learning how to operate it, in order for them to
increase their confidence in using IT as a curriculum tool. Teachers are only going to be able to
