Toward Effective Computer Use in High School Science Education: Where to from Here?

It is suggested widely that the use of computer technology holds great promise for school science education. Such a suggestion is congruent with broader beliefs that implementation of new technology is a key to improving education. However, little is known still about computer use in science classrooms and its effects on students' learning. This paper draws on major findings from recent research, integrates these with theoretical perspectives from associated education literature, and proposes guidelines for orienting computer use in high school science classrooms. It is proposed that (a) pedagogy should be strongly informed by appropriate theoretical orientations, (b) the importance of models in science should be acknowledged in pedagogy and in software development, (c) developing students' metacognition during instruction involving computers should be focussed upon, and (d) teachers' and students' beliefs and epistemologies should be recognised as key factors in educational change involving computer implementation and use.

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