Before the invention of the microprocessor, computers were more mechanical--for example, the abacus. Charles Babbages' mechanical computers, however, are considered the true predecessors to the modern computer. As the personal computer became more widely available during the 1980s, schools adopted them as important learning tools.
Students who do not respond well to traditional teaching methods often improve their grades through computer-assisted learning. Computers offer individualized learning when teachers do not have the time or resources to cater to specific student needs. Scientific research tends to back this up. A Pacific Resources for Education and Learning study found that students taught by teachers and aided by computers saw better than average reading comprehension scores.
Students also learn from computers much faster than through more traditional teaching methods. The ability to control the speed of learning with a software program increases satisfaction. Users can slow down the education process to their needs, decreasing "memory overload." A 1994 study by John Kulik found that more than 500 other studies corroborated this hypothesis.
Improved academic performance and user control of the education process have the compound effect of creating a more positive learning environment for the student. A Sivin-Kachala study of students from 1990 to 1997 found that the improved learning environment that technology provides also promotes more self confidence in normal and special-needs students.
Studies on the effects of computer use on education do not always show positive results. Personal use of a laptop during lectures (for visiting social networking sites, for example) can distract the student, which can have an especially negative effect on test scores. A University of Colorado-Boulder professor found that, when students stopped bringing laptops to class, they performed 10 percent better on exams.