Face to Face

Industry Interview with Michael Dell & Bill Gates

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The names Bill Gates and Michael Dell are synonymous with computers and technology. They are also no strangers to education. Both men — and the companies they have built — have donated millions of dollars to the improvement of public education and libraries. What's more, schools nationwide rely on hardware and software from these companies for their daily instructional and administrative needs. Scholastic Administr@tor spoke to Dell and Gates about what's next for the education community's use of technology and what the two companies are doing to help schools use computers effectively.

Michael Dell

Q: Please talk briefly about your vision for schools and technology, and the recent move by some schools to wireless technology.

DELL: Schools play a critical role in ensuring that students have 21st-century skills: digital literacy, communication skills, collaboration. You've really got to have those skills to be effective in the workplace. Oftentimes, computers are an essential tool in developing some of these skills, especially digital literacy.

Wireless is interesting, for a couple of reasons. One is that some teachers can be intimidated by the concept of a computer lab. Now, with wireless, we can roll laptop computers right into the classroom on mobile units, and they become an integral part of the classroom. That, combined with a focus on teacher and staff development, allows the notebook computer to be used continually during the day and to be an integral part of the existing learning system — as opposed to an adjunct that's off to the side.

Q: Do you believe that having the computer right there helps student learning?

DELL: Well, there's a huge flexibility element here. Certainly, there are a number of schools where the notebook computers are pervasive. Just being able to have the computers in front of students all the time — it's a fantastic tool. And mobile wireless reduces the cost of wiring every single desk, which is virtually impossible. There are a lot of classrooms, a lot of schools, where the infrastructure isn't really set up to be wired that easily. Wireless is a great solution there.

Q: In what direction do you think education technology is heading? And how can, how should, schools prepare for this?

DELL: I think wireless is certainly important in education technology today. One of the things that we've heard from a number of administrators, school districts, school boards, parents, and students is that they want to use the same tools in the school that are used in the real world.

I think wireless is a key technology to that end. It helps develop the skills I mentioned earlier and builds a triangular relationship between the student, the teacher, and the parents. If you can use technology to facilitate that, you'll get a better result.

Q: Are schools achieving that "triangular" relationship or do you believe many of them still have a long way to go?

DELL: I think some of them are doing it, but I think a lot of them still have a long way to go. A real key part is making sure that the teachers and the staff have a knowledge of — and are fully trained and comfortable with — using the technology. No amount of new, great technology is going to help unless teachers and staff are ready to use it and make it effective.

I know from my own experience as a parent that when assignments, lesson plans, and newsletters are done online you get a much better three-way communication going between student, parent, and teacher. Many of these tools are already in place. A number of parents have computer and Internet access; a lot of teachers and students have access, as well. So, I think there's a lot of latent opportunities with the use of technology that can only be improved.

Q: How tech savvy do you believe school administrators need to be these days?

DELL: I think they definitely should have a long-term vision for technology usage and what it means for education and for teaching methods. If they're not personally familiar with technology, they should have a strong CIO (Chief Information Officer), or a technologist who can help drive that at the district level.

Q: Do you think having a strong tech coordinator is something every school or school district should have?

DELL: It's hard to make a generic prescription for all schools, because they're all different. Certainly, you could say that for school districts of a certain size, it would make sense. However, if you have a very technology-oriented administrator in a school district, that might be enough. It really depends on their vision.

Q: Do you think it's possible for cash-strapped schools to provide enough technology and experience so the students can compete when they reach the college level?

DELL: There are a number of resources available to help these cash-strapped schools. There are organizations working to get computers and other technologies into schools that don't have many resources. We do some of that with our own foundation.

At a minimum, I think you want to get some [Internet] access inside these schools. The education system plays such a pivotal role in bridging this gulf that exists between school districts that have tremendous resources and those that don't.

There are also financing and leasing options that help lower the cost and make the technology more affordable. The other good news is that these products are becoming far more affordable all the time. The E-Rate program that the federal government has put in place, for example, has provided schools and school districts with funds to get connected to the Internet, and to build the infrastructure to do that.

Q: Do you think it matters whether a school has a PC or a Mac?

DELL: I think any computer is better than no computer. But, there are lots of reasons why the industry standard platform — the PC — has really taken over in the education market.

Q: Do you have any advice for superintendents and principals who are grappling with how best to provide their schools with education technology?

DELL: I think the most important thing is to focus on the teacher first. Teachers don't necessarily get the training and the learning on computers that they need to be effective. If all you did was build a bunch of computer labs, and the teachers didn't get up to speed, you wouldn't get nearly as much benefit as if you taught the teachers what an incredible tool computers can be to enhance education.

Q: It seems that it has become virtually impossible for any student entering the working world to function without an understanding of computers. Would you agree with that?

DELL: Absolutely. If we're going to have a vital workforce, it's got to be an educated workforce. These are the leaders of tomorrow; they are employees and customers of tomorrow.

Bill Gates

Q: Microsoft's Anytime Anywhere Learning program has been a pioneer in advocating laptops for students since it launched in 1994. What do you expect the state of mobile computing in education to look like in 2010?

GATES: By 2010, most students will have a tablet-sized, wireless PC, which they'll use for class and homework, to explore their creativity, and to collaborate with other students around the world. Devices like this will extend learning far beyond the classroom walls and give students the freedom to learn wherever they are. They'll be as commonplace in the classroom as pencils and paper are today.

We're already making great progress toward this goal, as more and more schools around the world gain access to affordable PCs and to the Internet, but there's still plenty of work to be done.

Q: Microsoft is well-known for its research efforts. What kinds of new products can we expect to see with educational applications in the coming years?

GATES: Since 1991, Microsoft Research has been working on innovations that make computers more flexible, powerful, and easier to use. This year, we're spending about five billion on research and development that will transform our products and services — and the fruits of that effort will benefit education in several ways. We're developing powerful and inexpensive videoconferencing technology that will make distance learning an even richer and more effective solution. We're researching simpler, more intuitive user interfaces, using speech and vision that make technology more accessible to everyone, and opening up new learning opportunities for disabled students.

Q: What do you believe schools should focus their technology spending on today in order to be best positioned for the future?

GATES: First, schools should focus on increasing student and teacher access to technology that will enhance and enrich learning, while making it possible for parents and communities to be more involved in the process. Second, they should invest in a technology infrastructure that is flexible enough to grow with their needs. Third, they should ensure that teachers and faculty have the tools, skills, and support they need to integrate technology across the curriculum.

Q: How familiar with technology does a school administrator need to be? Should districts appoint a chief technology officer to coordinate districtwide technology strategies?

GATES: Like any other leader, school administrators should have a clear vision of the way technology can help their schools realize their potential, and an understanding of what it takes to achieve that vision.

Q: For technology to be truly useful in schools, it must first be reliable. Windows XP promises an end to the era of computer crashes and forced reboots, but most PCs in schools today are too old for this upgrade. Keeping in mind that Microsoft is discontinuing its support for Windows 95 this year, what is Microsoft's plan for helping schools migrate to more modern and reliable operating systems at a reasonable cost?

GATES: Helping schools get the most out of their investment in technology is at the core of Microsoft's vision for education. Everything from deeply discounted software such as the new Office XP Standard for Students and Teachers, to programs like TechNet for Education and the Microsoft Classroom Teachers Network, helps educators spend their technology budgets effectively. With the launch of Windows XP, we think educators will see immediate benefits in terms of reliability and maintenance. To help them get a head start on upgrading their technology, we've developed Terminal Services solutions that enable them to take advantage of Windows XP on older PCs.

Q: Several school districts have recently faced allegations of software piracy. Given that schools have a unique mission and often lack the funding to support an adequate technical support staff, is it fair to expect schools to play by the same software-licensing rules as businesses? What can Microsoft do to help administrators keep track of installed software and maintain compliance with site licenses?

GATES: We've worked with our education customers to develop some very flexible, easy-to-administer discount-licensing programs especially for schools, which allow administrators to spend less time worrying about software licenses and more time focusing on their students.

Q: Schools are becoming more dependent on the security and stability of servers and other IT infrastructures for their day-to-day instructional and administrative work. What is Microsoft doing to ensure that its products will be safe to use in the school environment without requiring school staff to check for and install a never-ending series of security patches?

GATES: Among the many things we've done to ensure the security of our products is to enable automatic updates and "hot fixes" for large organizations — such as school districts — that make it easier for staff to stay on top of security issues and ensure that their software is up-to-date. We also recently launched the Strategic Technology Protection Program (STPP), which helps customers become more aware of security issues, and provides the tools and updates they need to protect their systems.

Q: A few schools have turned to the free operating system Linux as an alternative to Windows in order to control costs. Why do you believe Microsoft's products are a better value for schools than free software?

GATES: When schools purchase Microsoft software, such as Office XP or Windows XP, they're getting more than a CD and some manuals — they're benefiting from all the work we've done to make sure our software can have the greatest impact on education from professional-development programs to innovative software specifically for the classroom — such as Encarta Class Server.