JCE Software, 4D1: Editorial

Who Is Using Technology?

John W. Moore
University of WisconsinÐMadison, Madison, WI 53706-1396

Note:
This issue is out of print.

A press release crossed my desk recently that will be of interest to most subscribers to JCE Software. It came from Quality Education Data (QED) a division of Peterson's, and reported on a survey of student use of computers state by state. In summary, there are wide variations among the states, and even the best states fall short of what the U.S. Department of Education considers the optimum ratio of five students per multimedia computer.
That computers are available in schools is evident from the report. The national average is 10.0 students per computer, with the best state, South Dakota, at 6.0 and the worst, Louisiana, at 16.4. It is interesting to note that despite its reputation for excellence in education, California ranks next-to-worst, at 16.2 students per computer. Perhaps not surprisingly, states with small numbers of students fare better than those with large numbers. The best five states are South Dakota, Wyoming, North Dakota, Alaska, and Kansas.
However, students per computer does not tell the whole story. Many of these computers have been in the schools for a long time. QED also reports the ratio of students per multimedia computer (defined as all Macintoshes and all 386 or higher IBM PC clones that are capable of supporting CD-ROM and/or sound or video). By this definition the average nationwide is 35.2 students per multimedia computer. The top five states are North Dakota (15.1), South Dakota (15.4), Georgia (16.0), Colorado (16.3), and Wyoming (16.5). In other words, if we consider computers of the sort most of those who write programs for JCE Software would think were necessary to handle the latest, best programs, the ratio in even the best states is three times worse than the Department of Education recommends. In Louisiana, which has the highest ratio of students to multimedia computers, it is nearly 18 times worse.
The high ratio of students to multimedia computers argues for continuing to make available DOS (and perhaps even Apple II) software, since many of the computers in schools can run nothing else. Several years ago JCE Software ceased publishing Apple II software because no new programs were being submitted. We might have to do the same with DOS (see How Soon Will DOS Be a Loss?, the editorial in JCE Software, Vol. 9B, No. 1). Those who might write such DOS programs for JCE Software are strongly encouraged to do so and submit them as soon as possible. Readers in schools with less up-to-date hardware are also encouraged to browse through the SERAPHIM collection, which is now exclusively available on line at http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/seraphim/.
Unfortunately, it may be difficult for teachers who could use the software to get it, if there is no Internet access in their schools. QED's data give some information about this situation as well. Nationally, 44.8% of schools have modems, but there is no indication as to the availability of Web browsers such as Netscape, or use of commercial services such as America Online or Compuserve that provide Web services. More than a third (35.3%) have networks, but QED's figures do not indicate whether these have access to the Internet. Probably many of them are local to the school. The number of schools having URLs is much smaller, only 1956 or 2.3% nationwide. In this regard California ranks much higher with by far the largest number of URLs at 359 (4.3% of schools).
Some other national statistics may be of interest. Slightly more than half (51.4%) of schools have at least one computer with a CD-ROM drive. Nearly a fifth (18.9%) have satellite dishes for communication. I would have liked to have been able to find how many have laserdisc players, since a lot of JCE Software is published that way, but these were not included in the educational technology data reported. Those who want more information about QED's complete database can contact Laura Zawacki at 800-525-5811 or lzawacki@qeddata.com.
Educational data such as those provided by QED are of considerable value in making decisions about what to emphasize in JCE Software. They also provide a yardstick by which different states can see how they measure up with regard to technological support for education. Readers who would like to increase their states' or their districts' standing in the use of technology and computers are encouraged to use the information provided here or get more information from QED to support their positions.

First Published: July 1996
Citation: Moore, J. W. Who Is Using Technology? J. Chem. Educ. Software 4D1
Keywords:

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Last Updated: April 26, 2001
Created: March 6, 1997 Created by: J. L. Holmes
Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.



Who Is Using Technology?
John W. Moore University of WisconsinÐMadison, Madison, WI 53706-1396

Note:	This issue is out of print.

A press release crossed my desk recently that will be of interest to most subscribers to JCE Software. It came from Quality Education Data (QED) a division of Peterson's, and reported on a survey of student use of computers state by state. In summary, there are wide variations among the states, and even the best states fall short of what the U.S. Department of Education considers the optimum ratio of five students per multimedia computer. That computers are available in schools is evident from the report. The national average is 10.0 students per computer, with the best state, South Dakota, at 6.0 and the worst, Louisiana, at 16.4. It is interesting to note that despite its reputation for excellence in education, California ranks next-to-worst, at 16.2 students per computer. Perhaps not surprisingly, states with small numbers of students fare better than those with large numbers. The best five states are South Dakota, Wyoming, North Dakota, Alaska, and Kansas. However, students per computer does not tell the whole story. Many of these computers have been in the schools for a long time. QED also reports the ratio of students per multimedia computer (defined as all Macintoshes and all 386 or higher IBM PC clones that are capable of supporting CD-ROM and/or sound or video). By this definition the average nationwide is 35.2 students per multimedia computer. The top five states are North Dakota (15.1), South Dakota (15.4), Georgia (16.0), Colorado (16.3), and Wyoming (16.5). In other words, if we consider computers of the sort most of those who write programs for JCE Software would think were necessary to handle the latest, best programs, the ratio in even the best states is three times worse than the Department of Education recommends. In Louisiana, which has the highest ratio of students to multimedia computers, it is nearly 18 times worse. The high ratio of students to multimedia computers argues for continuing to make available DOS (and perhaps even Apple II) software, since many of the computers in schools can run nothing else. Several years ago JCE Software ceased publishing Apple II software because no new programs were being submitted. We might have to do the same with DOS (see How Soon Will DOS Be a Loss?, the editorial in JCE Software, Vol. 9B, No. 1). Those who might write such DOS programs for JCE Software are strongly encouraged to do so and submit them as soon as possible. Readers in schools with less up-to-date hardware are also encouraged to browse through the SERAPHIM collection, which is now exclusively available on line at http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/seraphim/. Unfortunately, it may be difficult for teachers who could use the software to get it, if there is no Internet access in their schools. QED's data give some information about this situation as well. Nationally, 44.8% of schools have modems, but there is no indication as to the availability of Web browsers such as Netscape, or use of commercial services such as America Online or Compuserve that provide Web services. More than a third (35.3%) have networks, but QED's figures do not indicate whether these have access to the Internet. Probably many of them are local to the school. The number of schools having URLs is much smaller, only 1956 or 2.3% nationwide. In this regard California ranks much higher with by far the largest number of URLs at 359 (4.3% of schools). Some other national statistics may be of interest. Slightly more than half (51.4%) of schools have at least one computer with a CD-ROM drive. Nearly a fifth (18.9%) have satellite dishes for communication. I would have liked to have been able to find how many have laserdisc players, since a lot of JCE Software is published that way, but these were not included in the educational technology data reported. Those who want more information about QED's complete database can contact Laura Zawacki at 800-525-5811 or lzawacki@qeddata.com. Educational data such as those provided by QED are of considerable value in making decisions about what to emphasize in JCE Software. They also provide a yardstick by which different states can see how they measure up with regard to technological support for education. Readers who would like to increase their states' or their districts' standing in the use of technology and computers are encouraged to use the information provided here or get more information from QED to support their positions.


News \| Issues \| CD-ROM / Video \| Find It! \| Technical Support \| For Authors
JCE Online \| Journal \| Software \| Internet \| Happenings \| About JCE \| Contact JCE

Last Updated: April 26, 2001 Created: March 6, 1997	Created by: J. L. Holmes Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.