Some thoughts on computers and greatness in teaching

Abstract

This paper argues that computers are the first form of educational technology that can be honestly described as "revolutionary". It also argues that this is because the real forte of computers is to support person-to-person educational influence, not replace it. This suggests that it is timely to reexamine the goal of "great teaching" in a system dedicated to mass education, but for very different reasons from those implied by early work in computer-assisted instruction. The consequences of such a viewpoint for both teacher education and in-school practice are discussed.