By using computers in schools, do students become smarter?

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By using computers in schools, do students become smarter?

Schools all over the world have computers in their classrooms that are used everyday. With greater technology available, many people believe that students learn more by using computers and the internet. There are people on the other hand though, who think that schools would be fine without the use of computers. Students of all ages use computers to learn new things. People have different views on whether or not students become smarter by using computers in school.

Henry Jay Becker, an education professor at the University of California has been evaluating how schools and teachers use computers for classroom instruction for over 20 years. He believes that computers should be integrated into classrooms for students to use so they can have more skills. The constructivist philosophy that Becker supports stresses student interest and teachers see themselves more as facilitators rather than sources of knowledge for students. Teachers with more computer knowledge are more likely to use several different software types in the classroom. In his research, Becker has found out that students who use the computer daily in the classroom have better word processing skills than those who do not. They also are more likely to use a computer when not in school.

Larry Cuban, an education professor at Stanford does not believe in the use of computers in the classroom. Cuban supports the traditional teaching philosophy in which the teacher goes over material in a structured way and assigns practice of material. In this teaching style, the teacher follows exactly what the curriculum says and makes sure all students know that material. He believes that teachers should teach students so they can be prepared for real life. Larry Cuban states this in one of his articles, “The primary purpose of public schools is to prepare students academically for a workplace that keeps our economy productive and competitive throughout the world.” Cuban stresses how school systems spend millions of dollars for schools to get computers, internet, etc. but rarely use them. Most teachers use their computers more at home than at school.

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