Technology in education is important because technology is such a massive part of today's world. The "3 R's" are vital for a foundation from which to draw on as people interact, but if the student has no concept of how to work or interact with technology then they will be unable to access most information and communicate with people in the most commonly used mediums. Technology will not go away, barring some catastrophic event, of course. It is here to stay and to refuse to hand students as many tools as possible with which to go forward into the future is to sign a warrant for their slow societal death- in many ways.
On the other hand, technology changes very quickly and catastrophic events are not unforeseen. Thus, to only teach students how to communicate through the newest technologies or how to find information through the newest search engine is to under-prepare students for reality. Reality is that communication occurs more through face-to-face discussions, and reading and writing hardcopy materials than through many of the forms of virtual communication. Students must learn how to interact on a personal level as well as a virtual or they will be crippled socially.
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