Purchase Oversold and Underused - Computers in the Classroom
From Now On
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Vol 11|No 5|February|2002 | |
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This is not the first technology Cuban has studied that failed to deliver the goods promised by vendors and cheerleaders. He has traced the failures of earlier efforts such as instructional TV. This historical perspective is a particular strength of Oversold and Underused - Computers in the Classroom. Cuban offers insight regarding the pressures and the traditions that block many teachers from making more powerful use of these new tools. This book is important reading for those who wish to promote significant use of new technologies because it dispels the notion that penetration (the installation of many computers) automatically translates into a transformation of classroom activities - what is usually called curriculum integration. While Cuban does not offer a plan to translate these technology investments into impressive learning gains, his discussion of the roots of disappointment should help technology planners improve their efforts. In his final chapter, Cuban asks, "Are computers in school worth the investment?" I will leave the reading of his findings for you to discover. |
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