Information technology has widened access to education. By the mid-1990s, many universities had begun using computers to provide classes remotely. Since then, rising numbers of adults have used online education to earn college credits, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Computers also allow enrichment and remote learning for students in kindergarten through high school.
Educators use computers to facilitate learning that is project-based, differentiated or remote. Computers facilitate project-based learning in which teachers don't lecture but assign students problems to solve. Teachers help students find answers on their own. Computers and the Internet give students access to research materials that they need to complete such projects.
In differentiated learning, students work through material at their own pace. Students use a specialized computer application that covers the subject and assesses student progress, while a teacher assists and answers questions.
Informational technology has enabled institutions to cut costs, by eliminating the need for physical infrastructure and reducing the need for faculty. According to the National Center for Academic Transformation, colleges offer campus-based students options in computer learning. In a pilot project at the University of Idaho, students learned introductory algebra independently in computer labs, with only one professor-led class per week. Seventy percent of these students passed the course with a grade of "C" or higher, compared to 62 percent of students in traditional classes. The university also saved 30 percent over the cost of traditional classes. Public school systems offer online classes for similar reasons. Approximately 300,000 high school students took classes this way in the 2002 academic year.
Information technology makes education available to a wider range of learners. Teachers who use classroom computers for project-based or differentiated instruction reach students with different learning styles. Teachers also use computers to provide adapted lessons for students with disabilities. U.S. Department of Education statistics show that online education assists adult learners as well, by allowing people with full-time jobs and family responsibilities to obtain professional certifications or college degrees.
The U.S. Department of Education says that information technology is a factor that helps public schools reach No Child Left Behind standards by offering cost-effective access to educational resources. However, a researcher from Edutopia has found that even advocates of online education say that informational technology cannot replace bricks-and-mortar schools. Computer-based education requires that students take responsibility for their own learning and that teachers learn instructional design techniques. Student and teacher efforts remain vital to the success of a school.