In the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow project, Apple Computer, Inc., investigated how teaching and learning change when people have constant access to state-of-the-art technology. The project began in 1985 and is ongoing.
After the first 10 years, the project reported that students became re-energized and more excited about learning when using information technology. Grades improved, standardized test scores went up, and dropout and absenteeism rates decreased, according to Apple’s report on “Teaching, Learning and Technology.”
The study reported that during the first 10 years of the project, dropout rates for participating high school students fell from 30 percent to zero.
Other research on how we learn at all educational levels suggests that electronic instruction, either via teleconference or computer conference, can be as effective as traditional classroom-based lectures and face-to-face discussions.
Online students have test scores equal to those of students in conventional classrooms, if the quality of the teaching is the same. Students report better access to instructors, and they report improved ability to collaborate with other students.
The follow-up to Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow is Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow—Today. It sets out six design principles for the classroom of the 21st Century: an understanding of 21st century skills and outcomes, a relevant and applied curriculum, an informative assessment, a culture of innovation and creativity, social and emotional connections with students, and ubiquitous access to technology.
For more information, visit ACOT2. http://ali.apple.com/acot2/
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