IT for learning: A need for a new approach?

Abstract

This paper presents the development and use of IT for learning in Sweden during the period 1966-1986. An overview of the major activities and course of events has two phases of categorization: 1966-1973 as the orientation period and 1973-1986 as the research period. This paper describes the research project PRINCESS in some detail. PRINCESS adopted a cognitive approach to the use of IT for learning, applied an interdisciplinary, and a systems thinking approach to research. A holistic model was developed and studied empirically in several stages. The results presented 1983 are summarized, most of them are still sustainable. The impact of PRINCESS in schools and in academia is briefly discussed. Based on the experiences from more than 20 years of own research in the area, some possible explanations are elaborated on why we still after some 40 years and despite the technical development, not seem to be able to utilize the real prospects of IT for learning. The conclusion is that we probably need a new approach to IT and learning and sketch a vision for a future learning environment. © 2005 by International Federation for Information Processing. All rights reserved.