Learning and NET: Computers make kids smarter – right? (Kirkpatrick and Cuban, 1998)

What should we spend money in education on?

This article discussed how the outcome of research into the effectiveness of technology in education can often be used to suit any argument due to the fact that effectiveness statements don’t give enough detail. Limitations include:

· How is effectiveness measured?

· Computer use is often not compared with other educational options e.g. peer tutoring, increased parental involvement …

· No research into the teacher’s role

Food for thought on whether we should give research results as much credence as we do.

It would also be interesting to see whether 10 years on (in 2008) the authors would have similar findings.

The question Are teachers both the problem and the solution? Is one that we need to face up to.

Again the focus of this article was on educators having a clear sense of their goals for technology.