Computers in the Undergraduate Classroom

Abstract

College administrators around the world are embracing the use of computer technology in the classroom; strongly encouraging faculty to incorporate these new technologies into their teaching; and redirecting institutional resources to provide digital classrooms, student computer labs, fiber-optic backbones, and Internet access. Yet, our understanding of what is required to successfully incorporate computers into teaching and learning is surprisingly unreflective. This article examines the effective use of computers in the classroom based on the needs and desires of multiple interest groups—students, instructors, support staff, administrators, software developers, publishers, and faculty colleagues. Issues and trends are examined for each group. Positive trends include improved software, enhanced facilities, and broader participation of faculty. Worrisome trends include widespread reallocation of resources from traditional academic activities and the all-too-common chewing up and spitting out of promising young faculty who learn too late the risks of being innovative in the classroom.