Computers in Class
Is this happening in your neighborhood?Children,notebook computers stuck under their arms,await thc Vcllow bus for the trip to middle sch001.On the surface,the question of computers in schoolsis a n0一brainer。 It w。uld be strange to insist that today,S technology shouldn,t be used to make the class—r00m eXDerienCe more individualized, more effective, more immediate, more exciting. Computers havebecn in schools more than 20 years--and probably even done some good.
But thC idCa of a personal computer as a necessary daily tool for every American grammar schoolpupil iS ait。gether a different thing. Beware the superficially attractive vision of l0一year-olds doing most0f thCir wOrk一一and homew。rk一一0n a computer. It,S another illusory silver bullet that promises to solvea11。{s0Ciety’s ills through technology.Regardless of whether parents or taxpayers buy the machinery,it’S a bad policy.
Dctermining the proper role of computers in schools is too important to be left to computer suppli—ers and cducat。rs.An cducated public with clear and realistic expectations needs to help determine theright track for technology.
EduCat。rs f。revCr sCem to seek the ultimate in curricular or teaching tools。They are always pre-0CCupied with innovation--j unior high school,new math,whole language,open classrooms and masterylearninQ, to name a few。 Some ideas turned out well and over time have earned permanent positions inour education SVstems. OthCrS reflected change for change,S sake and wound up in the trash bin,wherethey belong.
ExactlV what is t。be solved with computers in schools?Are we looking to improve instructional ca—pacity and fleXibility?Are we trying to make teachers and aides more productive by letting students takeadvantagc of programmed learning tools?7his all sounds good,and much has been accomplished withcomputer assisted instruction.