Tools for the Mind Summary

Being out of school for some time now I find it fascinating how computers have been integrated into the classrooms. I hate to date myself by saying this but in my days the computer lab was a super special treat where we either played the "Oregon trail" game or took typing lessons, asdf jkl; ;lkj fdsa dafs. Everything was pre-internet and the computers that we did have were seen as just a tool to make writing papers more efficient. In fact I believe one of my first papers was done on a type writer. Then later the computer came and naturally I thought, perfect! I never have to take another spelling test again, the computer will tell me if the word is wrong or not.
So I can see how teachers, as most are of my age now, having gone through school with computers being a tool to make typing papers faster would use them in their classrooms as such, word processors. I was not surprised in the least bit that computers and technology is not being used to maximize children's analytical and problem solving skills. Early in my college career I took a class that focused on three computer programs, Access, Excel, and Word. Well, Word I was already familiar with (after all that is what the computer was for, oh yeah, and Internet was publicly about 2 years old), Access was saved for last so we only spent about a week learning about it, but Excel, Wow. I fell in love with Excel. I have always been number oriented and love looking at data and watching for patterns in data so Excel was a fantastic discovery for me.
I have not been into a high school in many years but I had hoped that programs like Excel would be currently utilized at least at the high School Level. I was disappointed to see that only 6 percent of schools, not just high schools, but schools, were implementing and making use of spreadsheet programs. Just 6%! I am sure, that spreadsheets are the most widely used form of collecting data in most work places, and only 6% of schools are providing their students with Spreadsheet experience.
Technology is moving so quickly and changing constantly. Educators need to maintain up to date knowledge and fluency in how to use the new technologies.