Computer Applications in Education: A Historical Overview

In recent years, computers have permeated our lives. From the office to the living room, computers are transforming the ways we work and play. It is no surprise that they are also transforming the ways we learn. Computers are being used with increased frequency and success in schools at all grade levels and in all subject areas, as well as for special education, adult literacy programs, college instruction, and training in industry and the military. In this chapter, however, we restrict our review to the impact of computers on education at the precollege level. We follow the development of educational computer applications from their beginning as content delivery systems to today's intelligent tools and intellectual assistants. Our examination of educational computer applications is divided into three parts. First, we review the history of computer use in schools and examine the current state of hardware and software usage. Second, we review the research that has examined the impact of computer applications on students' learning and achievement. Finally, we examine current trends in educational computing that appear to hold the brightest promise for the future.