Technology and the Great Pendulum of Education

Abstract

This article explores the role of technology in current educational practice. Conflicting perceptions presented by two major theorists in the field of instructional design, Richard Clark and Robert Kozma, provide the basis for this exploration. Their ongoing debate focuses on whether educational media, including computers, are more than a mere delivery system for instruction. Four questions emerging from this debate are examined: Does the presence of technology imply learning? What is the learner’s role in technology-based learning? Does one best method of learning exist? How important are teachers to the success of technology-based learning?

Keywords:

• educational strategies
• instructional effectiveness
• teacher role
• technology and instruction
• technology and student achievement