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Terry Crane first learned about the impact of computers in the classroom more than 20 years ago.
In 1978, when she was teaching gifted and talented students in the Richardson, Texas, school district, Crane read an article about how similarly gifted students were responding to learning via a "new invention," called the personal computer.
Because she was in the midst of writing a pilot program for advanced students, Crane convinced the district to buy four personal computers to use as teaching tools.
"We couldn't wait to see what happened," said Crane, who heads AOL@School, an Internet education portal tailored to aid teachers and students in and out of the classroom.
"What we found was that unlike workbooks, textbooks and television, the interactivity of this tool, with its response and feedback, made it easier for kids to learn."
Crane became principal of a magnet school designed to incorporate computers into learning, and was later selected to execute her district's first technology plan, which meant putting computers in all of her district's 50 schools.
"The more difficult part of this implementation was that all of the classrooms in our district had only two plugs," Crane said. "In order for these schools to move into the technology age, the power capability of the schools had to be increased."
Crane took what she learned in the classroom and applied it to the business world. She has served as co-chairman of the National CEO Forum for Education and Technology, president of CompassLearning (formerly Jostens Learning Corporation) and head of Apple Computer's education division.
"Terry's reputation in the business is that she is truly knowledgeable about all sides," said Sue Collins, chief education officer at Apex Learning, a company that partners with states and school districts to build and operate virtual schools. "She understands education. She understands technology. And she's a really good businesswoman."
Her knowledge and business intuition make Crane an appealing candidate for companies trying to tap into the education sector. AOL understood Crane's worth when they hired her last year.
Free to all public and private schools, AOL@School, is age-appropriate, and includes four learning portals with content determined by a board of educators, administrators and parents. The portals are divided into primary (K-2), elementary (3-5), middle (6-8) and high school (9-12).
The student service allows kids to use e-mail and instant messaging at the discretion of school officials, and includes an education-related search engine with filtering controls designed to keep students from accessing inappropriate Internet content. The teacher and administrative portals include lesson plans and education-related legislation pertaining to users in Virginia, Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Colorado.
"The biggest issue with teachers is time management," Crane said. "The teacher's portal includes an automated grade book, and the ability to search the education standards in different states. Normally, they would be sitting on the floor with big books, sifting though hundreds and hundreds of pages of information."
The future of education and technology is based on this ability to network statewide educational standards and applications, Crane said.
"For twenty-something years we've been talking about learning any place, any where and any time," she said. "For the first 15 years, that wasn't a reality. What it's really about is reach. With the technology we have today, we can do it so much better."
AOL@School distinguishes itself from other education portals because of its control standards and lack of advertising on the student portals. Despite these features, AOL's presence in schools worries some critics.
"It's plainly an effort to hook kids on the AOL, Time Warner and CNN media empire," said Gary Ruskin, executive director of Commercial Alert, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children and communities from commercialization.
"When they say they don't have advertising, that's not entirely true. AOL's logo is on top of the page. This is an enormous media conglomerate and they have interests in going after children across the country."
Others argue that Web-based education doesn't necessarily make teaching easier.
"The Web changes too quickly, and I'm not convinced it's a viable learning tool," said Alan Warhaftig, coordinator for Learning in the Real World, a nonprofit organization that examines the pros and cons of computers in schools. He said with too much exposure to the Internet, students won't build vital interpersonal skills.
Crane disagreed, saying the amount of time children are on the Internet at school is still low. She reiterated that the Internet's power in teaching is about giving kids access to quality resources.
"We just gave an art teacher in Virginia a technology and education award," Crane said. "In the part of the state where she teaches, it's primarily a poor, rural area.... with the help of the Internet, she was giving them an opportunity to see the famous art museums of the world."
