THE COSTS OF INCORPORATING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

The purpose of this paper is to stimulate discussions concerning the costs and benefits of incorporating computer and network technology in science education. Some costs are quite obvious, such as the initial cost of hardware and software; and the continual costs of upgrades, maintenance, and technical support. Other costs are less obvious, and can include increasing instructor time to remain knowledgeable of advances in information technology; shifts in classroom, laboratory, and student study time to learn technology skills rather than science concepts; and changes in the use of classroom and laboratory space. This paper discusses the cost of using information technology in science education within the framework of the ever increasing cost of scientific research, which arises from the need for more specialized and expensive laboratory space and instrumentation. The challenge for science educators is to provide an education in ever-expanding fields, in a regime in which funding for science and education has reached a steady-state condition.