By Jeffery M. PuryearInter-American Dialogue
Audio Cassettes
Programmed Learning
Radio
Broadcast Television
Personal Computers
Encompasses
Slide ProjectorsBlackboards
Chalk
Low Tech Elements
•Cheap, readily available, portable
•Low to no maintenance
•Mastered by anyone who possesses basic literacy
•Useful at all levels of education PrimarySecondaryPost-Secondary
Very low printed material, chalk, blackboardsHigher radio, TV, personal computers
KEY Serve more students to maximize:
A + B = Fixed Costs
C = # of students
The larger the C value, the greater the A+B can be.
Definition: what it costs to add students to the system after it has been set up.
• Textbooks (very low, especially when you reuse)
• Radio (very low, batteries, electricity)
• Television (10 times, purchase and maintenance)
• Computers (100 times, purchase, maintenance, training programs)
Low
High
High Fixed + Low Variable
•Inexpensive if large # of students served.
•Example: radio and TV
High Variable + Conventional Teaching
•Expensive, no cost advantage
•Example: teaching with PCs
Technology Replacing Teaching
•Cost effective once as # of students increase
•Example: distance education
Self Contained Technology
•May have cost advantage
•Example: programmed learning
•Nearly all of the new educational technologies can be effective in improving learning
•Does not have to be implemented large scale in order to be successful and sustainable
•More expensive/complex technologies producing better educational outcomes is inconclusive
What is cost effective?1.Distance Education 2.Interactive Radio instruction
Economics/Technology do not establish objectives, governments usually do
Things to consider:• Effective• Efficient• Equity
TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS ARE MEANS NOT ENDS!