Computers and Education

              This use of computers in education has rapidly changed the way that people learn in a short period of time. Has this change inhibited or enhanced learning? What are the proper uses of computers in an educational environment?

               It can be said that computers and technology have enhanced the educational process in several key ways. The largest benefit of technology is the easy and fast access that has come from the Internet. Almost any subject matter, research papers, and technical documents are available to anyone. Communication has also become much simpler through the use of the Internet. It can be said "that e-mail does not replace or reduce traditional communication; in fact, such interaction increases." (Manning) "Discussion lists also allow students to tap into expertise that otherwise would have been inaccessible. Instead of relying on a student in an adjacent seat for information, one command sends a plea for help to the entire class, usually resulting in at least a handful of responses within a few hours." (Manning)

               Computers are also a huge benefit in terms of research. Research that was not possible just a few years ago has been made a reality by innovations in computing. These include areas such as high performance computing, database processing, and data acquisition and analysis.

               Being that there is quite a large amount of negative feeling about computers in education, it is not possible to remove or fix all the problems. Removing computers would be a larger shift and would cause much more havoc than bringing them into use was. This would hurt the educational system more than help the problem of isolation.

            The most overlooked fact is that computers should be used as an educational tool, rather than a means of education. Nothing can replace the interactions between students and teachers. Once the process of learning from a fellow person has been automated to something mechanical many things will be lost. Automated grading loses the ability to see just where a student went wrong, or what the student was trying to achieve in an answer. Online courses remove the ability to deal with truly great teachers in a personal way, and it also removes the ability to truly interact with other students. Automated education also hinders getting help when it is needed. Online books are also a problem. No one enjoys trying to read long documents and papers online. It is also not reliable. Should the internet connection be lost, or the site be removed, the book is unavailable. There should be as much human interaction as possible in education. "Although computer technology surely has a place in the curriculum, the presence of [technology] remains disturbing. Educators must not succumb to the illusive rhetoric that obscures the unquestioned assumptions that the computer is essential to every classroom and that learning can not take place without the latest version of electronic hardware."