Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Introduction
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There are two major approaches to using media and technology in schools . First , students can learn “ from ” media and technology , and second , they can learn “ with ” media and technology . Learning “ from ” media and technology is often referred to in terms such as instructional television , computer-based instruction , or integrated learning systems . Learning “ with ” technology is referred to in terms such as cognitive tools and constructivist learning environments .
Regardless of the approach , media and technology have been introduced into schools because it is believed that they can have positive effects on teaching and learning . The purpose of this report is to summarize the evidence for the effectiveness and impact of media and technology in K-12 schools around the world . A limitation of this report is that the vast majority of the published research on the effectiveness of media and technology in schools was conducted in English-speaking countries such as Australia , Canada , the United Kingdom , and the United States of America .
For the purposes of this report , media is defined as “ all means of communication , whatever its format .” In this sense , media include symbol systems as diverse as print , graphics , animation , audio , and motion pictures . Technology is defined as “ any object or process of human origin that can be used to convey media .” In this sense , technology includes phenomena as diverse as books , films , television , and the Internet . With respect to education , media are the symbol systems that teachers and students use to represent knowledge ; technologies are the tools that allow them to share their knowledge representations with others . Unfortunately , it is common to confound the meanings of media and technology in education , and they are often used synonymously .
One of the major reasons for the widespread attention focused on media and technology in education today is the enormous financial investment being made in media and technology in education around the world . For example , a recent Presidential report in the USA recommends that “ at least five percent of all public K-12 educational spending in the United States ( or approximately $ 13 billion annually in constant 1996 dollars ) should be earmarked for technology-related expenditures .”
Learning “ From ” Media and Technology
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The foundation for the use of media and technology as “ tutors ” in schools is " educational communications ," i . e ., the deliberate and intentional act of communicating content to students with the assumption that they will learn
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