June 1997 — Features

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The Future of Computers and Learning

Existing Institutions

The highly interactive courses discussed here could be used in conventional institutions such as schools and universities, in whole or in part. Then they simply replace the course already available.

But since these courses stress mastery learning, they should be much more effective than the replaced courses.

New Forms of Institutions

A major advantage of highly interactive courses is that they make new forms of learning institutes possible, forms that let us attempt solutions to the major problems of education reviewed earlier in this paper. The idea of new structures for schools and universities is not new, but still a rare occurrence. The example in the next section dates from 1968 and was suggested by George Leonard. Then we will consider the role of highly interactive courses in distance learning.

George Leonard's Schools

Two examples of future schools that have always seemed very interesting to me are the schools proposed by George Leonard. The first of these appeared in a book that appeared in 1968, Education and Ecstasy,[3] and the second in an article in Esquire in 1981.[4] We consider only the first of these two.

Leonard splits the school into two distinct pieces, one concerned with cognitive aspects of learning and one with effective learning.

Technology plays a major role only in cognitive learning. The "learning dome" is the arena for this. Computers are placed around the perimeter of the dome, each with large screens touching neighboring ones. Students carry an identifying electronic box as they approach a computer.

The computer has full records of just where the child is in all subjects, and as with all highly interactive material, these records show where difficulties are occurring. They are updated as the student progresses. Part of the information about each child is obtained by examining brainwaves. And neighboring children are brought together when possible, with the "double" screen having activities of both children.

Leonard's system still has schools, however. Next we consider a possibility without traditional schools.

DISTANCE LEARNING INSTITUTES

A new structure for education, not necessarily involving computers, is distance learning. Although existing examples are mostly at the university level, distance learning could be at any level. Like many of the terms in education, this one is used in a wide variety of ways. Even the characterization "new" is subject to question.

Generally the students are studying at their own homes, at convenient times selected by the student.