Marketing the product: true technology integration

Marketing the product...what exactly does this mean. I've spent a lot of time thinking about what I'm learning about technology integration and how this really applies to the school system I work in. Unfortunately, I don't believe "the product", technology integration, is really being marketed well. I understand the struggle with budgeting concerns. However, when are the school systems going to really look at what the research is saying about the digital natives and how it is imperative to begin technology integration at all levels to ensure the success of our children? I also thought about how there are many school administrators who say they support the technology initiative and yet do very little to support it's integration into every classroom.

Perhaps, technology educators need to spend more time "marketing the product". We have to be the voice that local government members hear when they are proposing budget cuts that impact school technology programs. Perhaps we need to be the voice that administrators hear in the lunch rooms discussing all of the great ways we are integrating technology and how it truly impacts our students. And, what is needed to fully integrate technology programs. Perhaps we need to be the voice at the PTA meetings that presents a united effort (Parents, Teachers and Administrators) in providing the tools that our children need in order to be more successful in a technology infused society.

Perhaps we need to think of a new marketing plan that shares research, documentation and ideas of how we can effectively integrate technology into every classroom, before it's too late.