The Journal just released it's list of the top 5 K-12 Technology Trends for 2010 . Number 4 on the list states that Personal Devices will Infiltrate the Classroom. According to the authors, one reason student's personal devices will be welcomed into the school building will be the lack of funds for technology purchases. Below is an excerpt from the article:

The fact that most smart phones come with wireless capabilities and larger screens makes them particularly relevant in the K-12 space, where "after the stimulus money runs out, we're going to be in trouble in terms of federal money for technology," said Abshire. "The next logical step is for the devices to come into school."

Purdy concurred and said the fact that some students are getting their own wireless devices by second or third grade will accelerate the trend. "We used to think this was a 'teen' phenomenon," said Purdy. "But its now culturally acceptable for someone as young as seven or eight years old to have a cell phone. It won't be long before every student will have access to one or more wireless, portable devices in the classroom."

I agree with the authors on this point and many of my previous posts on this blog have stated this. Students are coming to school everyday with a powerful computing device that most schools ban. As technology funds dry up and smartphone prices drop the pressure will increase to allow student's to bring their personal digital devices into school.