Why is technology important in schools?

Those that are in the field of education and more specificly educational technology were we work with teachers on integrating technology know that sometimes it is hard to quantify to a teacher about the usefulness of how technology can improve and enhance your classroom experience for thier students and themselves.  I have a co-worker who stated that basically "we need to enlighten teachers that technology should be the new way to do things instead of just one more thing".  If technology is just "neat" or is "one more thing" then what added value does this bring to the classroom for a teacher who is already short on time?  This is where having a wide array of choices but knowing exactly what might enhance a classroom is essential.  I will be doing a day long session on 20 sites that teachers should know and a large portion of that is developing a PLN (Personal Learning Network).  I could ramble on but one of the better post I have read on the value of a PLN can be found here in an article called "The Value of Educational Technology"  written by Dave Andrade.