Computers and Education: Past, Present, Future Eric Goolish

Computers, Networks and Education Representations of ideas have replaced the ideas themselves Students are taught superficially about great discoveries instead of being helped to learn deeply for themselves Carriers vs. Contents –Should schoolchildren take computer? By Alan Kay

Computers, Networks and Education Misconceptions of learning –Fluid Theory: Students are empty vessels that must be given knowledge drop by drop from the full teacher-vessel –Humans have to make do with nature’s mental bricks. Reality is solely what the senses reveal –Education should not be difficult By Alan Kay

Computers, Networks and Education Technology –Forces us to choose between quality and convenience –Instant communication leads to fragmentation By Alan Kay

Computers, Networks and Education Apple Vivarium Project & Life Lab Schools –Conclusions Children found that the simulation capability of their computers helped them examine the merits of many different walkway designs Children can make dynamic models of animal behavior through simulations By Alan Kay

Computers, Networks and Education Computers allow greater interactivity Computers have the ability to become any and all existing media (i.e. books, musical instruments, movies, ect) Information can be presented from many different perspectives Computers will be a universal library By Alan Kay

Six Challenges for Educational Technology (1) How can schools afford to purchase enough multimedia-capable, Internet- connected computers so that a classroom machine is always available for every two to three students? By Chris Dede

Can schools afford enough Internet connected computers? Yes? –Volunteer time –Donations –Companies lower cost for massive educational purchases –States are setting aside money for the necessary infrastructure improvements No? –$94B initial investment –$28B per year for ongoing costs –Buildings are falling apart, money is needed for infrastructure improvements –Professional development is expensive

Six Challenges for Educational Technology (2) How can schools afford enough computers and telecommunications to sustain new models of teaching and learning? By Chris Dede

Can schools afford new models of teaching and learning? Yes? –Resources can come from reallocating existing budgets –Reduce the need for textbooks and other instructional materials –Reduce staff involved in data entry operations No?

Six Challenges for Educational Technology (3) How can many educators disinterested or phobic about computers and communications be induced to adopt new technology-based models of teaching and learning? By Chris Dede

Can educators be induced to adopt new technology-based models? Yes? –Bottom Up –Middle Out –Top Down No? –Teachers are alienated to reform because the straightjacket of traditional instruction

Six Challenges for Educational Technology (4) How do we prove to communities that new, technology-based models of teaching and learning are better than current instructional approaches? By Chris Dede

Can we convince communities that technology enhances learning? Yes? –Increased learner motivation –Advanced topics mastered –Students act as experts do –Students receive better outcomes on standardized tests No? –Adults are skeptical about new educational practices –Increased achievement on standardized tests does not occur immediately

Six Challenges for Educational Technology (5) How can educational technology increase equity rather than widen current gaps between “haves” and “have-nots?” By Chris Dede

Can educational technology increase equity? Yes? –Information technology makes society more egalitarian as media matures –Extra efforts are made to provide resources for disadvantaged and at-risk populations No? –Technology does not motivate disadvantaged populations

Six Challenges for Educational Technology (6) If we use technology well, what should we expect as ‘typical’ student performance? By Chris Dede

What should we expect as ‘typical’ student performance? Research on new strategies for learning through sophisticated technology suggests that ‘typical’ students might do as well as ‘exemplary’ learners do now

Growing Up Digital Worldwide Web can become a transformative medium for social progress Web is two-way media – Push and Pull Web honors multiple intelligences Web leverages the small efforts of the many with the large efforts of the few By John Brown

Growing Up Digital Digital Learners –Kids today are always multiprocessing –The short attention spans of today’s kids may turn out to be productive in future work worlds –Literacy of tomorrow entails being able to navigate –Web facilitates discovery based learning –Today’s kids problem solve on the web By John Brown

Growing Up Digital Creating knowledge –Learning to learn happens most naturally when individuals are situated in a community of practice –Powerful learning occurs when both cognitive and social dimensions are considered By John Brown

Final Thoughts… Where do you see technology and education in 5, 10, 15 years? Will every 2-3 students ever have personal internet access in schools? Will technology-based reform ‘catch on’ as an effective teaching practice?