ED4134 Reflections on Rowe,H. (1996) Personal Computing : A Source of Powerful Cognitive Tools.

In this article, Helga looks at the adaptation of computers as a cognitive and Meta cognitive tool.
It found interesting her assertion that there are two types of tools. Those that work for us e.g computers and those that work with us e.g. pencil. Tools will not produce learning as student is required to think to learn. However they can assist students to think and learn effectively. They will extend the brain capacity of students by being a storage space for information learned or found being able to be retrieved quickly. Computer programs assist in helping the student to develop cognitive and Meta cognitive strategies’ in thinking and problem solving. The responsibility of learning had shifted from the teacher in the classroom and more onto the student. And for computer programs are to be effective they must be simple to use and not require more effort than the methods that they endeavor to replace.