Headfirst into high tech

Education technology

Leavitt first outlined his education through technology objectives in what is called by political insiders as his "bicycle speech" back in July 1993.

At the time, he compared the education system of the late '70s and early '80s to an old one-speed, allowing all students the mechanics of "pedals" to go forward but no "gears" to accommodate children at different speeds to move through the system.

In 1993, he said the system had some flexibility, like a three-speed bike, but needed to be more advanced.

"Our challenge is to move to the 21-speed all-terrain model by keeping pace with new technologies," he said.

Leavitt talked of classrooms without walls, of learning Shakespeare in pajamas, of the need to use technology as a way to accommodate the growing number of students rather than the more costly solution of bricks and mortar.

When he took office, observers say Utah schools were beginning to move to an education system that took advantage of using technology to deliver learning.

But shortly after that speech, the state Office of Education established the Utah Electronic High School, which posts every high school course online and has, to date, handed out 21,000 high school credits. More than 16,000 students have taken high school courses online.

This year, 99 percent of Utah's secondary schools are "wired" to the Internet, putting the state at No. 2 in the nation for its percentage of schools connected to the Internet and also at No. 2 for its high-speed connection rate.

The 2003 survey "Technology Counts" by Education Week handed out the high marks even though Utah holds the distinction of being last in the nation for per-pupil spending.

The study also put Utah among a dozen states that have integrated technology into statewide testing. Leavitt also co-founded Western Governors University and challenged colleges and universities to embrace the availability of technology-delivered education.

His vision was that college education was possible without stepping foot on campus.

WGU, he believed, could fill that need.

Although the program is growing, it never got off the ground quite like Leavitt planned. Since December 2000, it has awarded only 68 degrees, although its student population is growing at about 200 per month.

Two years ago, it became the only accredited online university to offer competency-based degrees, but it has attracted primarily those interested in teaching degrees and certificates rather than a broad-based student population.