Why aren't Computers Used more in Schools?

Abstract

The personal computer is the latest educational technology to fall short of its original promise. Although U.S. public schools now possess 5.8 million computers, roughly one for every nine students, they are not widely used in classroom instruction. Why not? This article argues that the most popular explanations mistakenly fix blame on recalcitrant bureaucracies and stubborn teachers. By enlisting technology in the cause of educational reform, computer advocates overlook some of the real obstacles to the use of computers in classrooms, obstacles rooted in organizational constraints of the school system and the nature of teachers' and students' work.

ICT integration in schools: Where are we now and what comes next?

“…Not only must the teacher have access to a 'working' ICT tool kit, but this skill set must be matched by pedagogical compatibility, and social awareness (Zhao, Pugh, Sheldon & Byers, 2002). Variations in access to ICTs and levels of school based ICT infrastructure are also critical to the successful uptake of ICTs in the classroom (Loveless, 1996); this is deeply connected to levels of teacher and systems support, such that the stronger the ICT culture of a school, the more likely it is to 'use' ICTs as a teaching and learning platform (Lim, Khine, Hew, Wong, Shanti & Lim, 2003;Bitner & Bitner, 2002).…”

The Reform’s Framework for Incorporating Collaborative Learning Activities

“…Use of computer technologies in organization and performance of curriculum forces "sluggish bureaucracy" on local levels of decision-making to form a self-servicing educational establishment (Loveless, 1996). With selection of teachers through selection of courses in additional classes, extracurricular contents or programs outside the formal system of education (additional education, retraining and other), the process of learning individualization in a (teaching) group occurs at all levels of education.…”

Technology Integration: A Research-based Professional Development Program

“…al., 2008a;Keengwe, et. al., 2008b;Klieger, Ben-Hur, & Bar-Yossef, 2010;Levin & Wadmany, 2008;Loveless, 1996;Maynard, 2010;Pasco & Adcock, 2007;Razfar, 2008;Russell, et. al., 2003;Shepherd & Mullane, 2010;Steketee, 2005;Tearle, 2003;Thomas & Vela, 2003;Tondeur, et.…”

“…Across the nation a generation of "digital natives" is being raised up immersed in the world of ICT (Tondeur, Devos, Van Houtte, Van Braak, & Valcke, 2009 (Loveless, 1996;Keengwe, Onchwari, & Wachira, 2008b).…”