Education in the Seventies, a Study of Problems and Issues Associated with the Effects of Computer Technology on Education

Abstract

To aid policy development for the utilization of computers in education, a panel of 10 scientists and educators formed a traveling seminar that actually inspected the state of the art of computer-assisted instruction at seven research and development centers throughout the U.S. The panel agreed on four principles. First, a systematic approach to the achievement of educational goals is required. Second, the development of models is useful for the synthesis, presentation, and testing of new systems. Third, the computer has vast potential as an administrative aid to education. And finally, the panel agreed that the introduction of computers into the schools to deal with clerical and administrative problems will lead to their use in an instructional capacity. The main area of disagreement was over the nature and specific objectives of the optimal CAI system. In addition, the panel expressed a general concern over the effect of the computer on human values. Topics covered in the panelists' papers are learner needs and systems requirements, the hardware-software disparity, decision making in education, social change, urban education, public policy, school architecture, economics of education, teacher education, educational administration, computer languages and applications of the computers in the classroom, in the library, in research, and in counseling. (LH)