Computer mediated Technology has had a profound effect on education. Since the early days of computers this influence has grown stronger. It could be argued that this cause/effect relationship goes both ways in that education has been a factor that has influenced the development of CMC technologies. There does seem to be some evidence to support the theory that new technologies are responsible for the current state of education and culture in general. This idea of technological determinism can be seen in the short history of computers in relation to education (Barnes 327). Not only has CMC technology affected educational systems but it has affected the people who operate within those systems. Students today have a completely changed perspective compared to students from the days before CMC and cyberspace. The perceptions of students and educators have been changed due to the growing use of computer technology.
It is clear that education today is different from the days before computers. Whether or not things have changed for better or for worse is up for debate.
If one thing can be learned from evaluating CMC and education it is this; we cant know the future but it seems to be the case that education and computer technology will continue to develop together.
The words of California Institute of Technology professor John Pierce come to mind:
After growing wildly for years, the field of computing appears to be reaching its infancy. ~John Pierce
Barnes, S. (2003). Computer-Mediated Communication: Human-To-Human Communication Across the Internet. 327. New York: Allyn & Bacon.
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