Computer Assisted Instruction WITH LEARNING DISABLED STUDENTS

Background CompUier use in education has span ned well over two decades. First generation computer-assisted instruction (CAl) systems were developed in the late 1950s when computer technology was viewed as a vehicle for implementing the ultimate in programmed instruction (Baker. 1978). At that time. computer technology was considered by some to be fhe solution to major educational problems. and revolutionary changes in education were confidently predicted. Revolutionary promises put forth by early proponents of computer education remain largely unfulfilled tOday (Spliltgerber. 1979). Early CA l was delivered via large. cen trally loc;.tted mainframe computers that were often cha racteri/ed by high cost a nd low reliability . Response time on these systems \\u!) frequelltly maddcningly slow as the number of user!) increased. and suitab le courseware wa!) difficult to obtain. When combined with a lack of ovcrwhelming evidence supporting the superiority of CA l O\er other instructional mcthods (Baker. 1978). thc!)c f:.tclOrs resultcd in a general lack of CA l acceptance by the educational community.