Computer-assisted instruction

Since the early days of computer technology in education in the 1960s, it was claimed that computers can assist instructional practice and hence improve student learning. Since then computer technology has developed, and its potential for education has increased. In this article, we first discuss the changing terminology that accompanies the technological developments, followed by an overview of different types of applications of information and communication technology (ICT) for use in education. We then describe how different ICT applications align with different views on education. The potential of ICT for enhancing the curriculum as demonstrated in well-known studies is presented, followed by a picture of the actual use of ICT in education. Problems explaining the gap between potential and actual use are discussed.