Effects of Edtech Funding

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Current approaches to funding educational technology can potentially have a positive impact on promoting online privacy and cyber safety.  Teaching fundamental values at a young age is often beneficial.  Children will establish and practice certain actions and by adulthood, these actions will develop into habits.  According to Jeff Gerth, staff writer for Tech Forum, telecommunication programs such as Clinton’s E-Rate increased the number of public schools connected to the Internet by about 32 percent.  By having access to these means of technology, teachers have the ability to instill habits of maintaining online privacy to their students.  If utilized properly, other approaches of edtech funding such as federal initiatives, state and local taxes, fundraising, grants and partnerships have the same capacity to promote cyber safety.  However, this widespread access to technology can also have a negative impact on promoting online privacy.  If students aren’t adequately taught the importance of protecting themselves online, this access can have a negative impact on individual images.