Week 12: Reading 1

Chris Dede presents Six Challenges for Educational Technology which touch on such topics as availability of capable computers for every 2-3 students, affordability of computers and telecommunications, motivating non-tech educators to adopt new tech-based models, proving tech-based models are better, increasing equity, and expected student performance.

Of particular interest was the idea of bringing technology out of the classroom and into the homes of the learners via video game consoles, thus saving school funds and using physical class as a discussion time.

Dede predicts that the following outcomes of learning with technology would prove that tech-based models are better than traditional models: increased learner motivation, advanced topics mastered, students acting as experts do, better outcomes on standardized tests.

He concludes that student performance would exceed our current expectations if students were simply allowed to learn with computers and embrace new knowledge.