In an age where technology is so much a part of our lives, many say the U.S. education system still lags in advancements. The result, according to Brian Smith, founder of the non-profit group, What’s Left Out, is an “outdated educational model” that “lacks a certain amount of relevancy to young people right now.”

Experts say that unless the educational system changes course, and begins to integrate technology into the educational experience, academic achievement gains will become more and more difficult. A Minnesota school district conducted a study that concluded that students with computer-aided instruction outperformed their peers by an average of 30 percent.

Dr. Francine Shaw, an associate professor of educational communication and technology at New York University, says that educational potential is not being tapped for many students.

“We [teachers] need to look at what they’re engaged with outside of school and we try to bring those things into school,” Shaw said. “It’s the way we think about teaching that will drive the way we use technology.”