Relating North American Experiences with Computer-Related Technology in Education to Developing Countries / Betty Collis.

This essay considers several areas of research in computer technology for education in North America and the implications of these areas of focus for the implementation of educational computer technologies in developing nations. The five areas of focus are: (1) curriculum integration, or the general rationale for using computer technology in education; (2) the use of applications software as instructional tools; (3) telecommunications; (4) implementation constraints, including teacher training and their levels of concern; and (5) the influence of contextual variables, or the "environmental press" on the impact of technology (i.e., the interaction of the characteristics of the particular computer-related material itself with those of the teacher, students, and the physical and philosophical organization of the learning environment. A review of the literature suggests that these five areas of research may have transfer value to developing nations. It is concluded that emphasis on computer-related technology as a curriculum-related tool rather than as a vocationally-oriented tool seems generally valid for school environments in developing countries as well as in more developed countries. (23 references) (EW)

Researchers. ericd

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