The future of the microcomputer as a classroom teaching aid: An empirical approach to crystal gazing

A microcomputer can be a valuable teaching aid but its current use in secondary schools is so infrequent as to make it difficult to assess its future potential. We observed 174 school lessons during which 17 teachers employed a microcomputer regularly with a chosen class for a whole term. The aim was to provide a glimpse into the future when there will be better computer facilities and more expertise among teachers. During the term, we detected no drop in interest as the novelty diminished and lessons tended to improve as teachers became more experienced in using the medium. Two terms later the majority of teachers were still using a microcomputer regularly as a teaching aid and there was some spread of interest to other teachers in the same schools. The results suggest that, in subjects like mathematics, computer-aided teaching will be successfully adopted by the majority of teachers if the necessary resources are available. The computer appears to be a very versatile teaching aid and we found no grounds for strongly recommending any particular style of use.