Not since the introduction of chalkboards in the 1800s has the classroom
been so challenged in regard to its basic design and pedagogical setting.
Neither overhead transparencies nor TV monitors provided the kind of dynamic,
interactive capabilities seen on today's high resolution monitors. Indeed,
it is precisely the evolutionary symbiosis of powerful computers and good
software that today provides the first real challenge to the traditional
classroom setting.
This presentation discusses all aspects of educational computing as it is
currently evolving: its history and context, issues of instructional design
and evaluation, technical support and administrative advocacy, and the "computational
turn" that is affecting every academic discipline. Concrete examples
from Dr. Cavalier's classes at Carnegie Mellon will conclude the presentation.
These examples include the use of interactive multimedia, a hypermedia Web-based
syllabus containing classroom materials, presentation software used for
class lectures, a class-specific electronic bulletin board, and the potential
utilization of 'Tele-profs' via network-based video mail.