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Washington officials are focusing more on the technological aspects of classrooms as digital media continues to evolve.

A recent Associated Press report said Education secretary Arne Duncan and Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski are encouraging schools nationwide to distribute digital textbooks to their students within five years.

In an interview with the news source, Duncan said the advantage of new technology is that it will replace heavy book bags and textbooks that cost anywhere from $50 to $70 and are often out of date.

"Or, do we want students walking around with a mobile device that has much more content than was even imaginable a couple years ago and can be constantly updated?" Duncan said to the AP. "I think it's a very simple choice."

There is other helpful classroom technology available that can boost educational standards. For example, a document camera, an interactive whiteboard or an HDMI projector can provide students with unique learning experiences that are not found in a standard textbook.

Genachowski also told the AP that U.S. schools must improve their technology adoption to keep up with other countries, such as South Korea.