We began our book by discussing the educational promise of the home computer. In this final chapter, we summarize briefly what our research unearthed about the current reality behind this promise and recap the lessons learned from our study of home educational computing. We then use the example of “interactive multimedia” to illustrate why creators, advocates, educators, and families will need to take these lessons to heart if they wish to get beyond the educational promise of any educational technology. We end with a discussion about the kinds of research needed in the future.

THE EDUCATIONAL PROMISE OF THE HOME COMPUTER

The early and middle 1980s saw the publication of national reports critical of public schooling in the United States. The disenchantment was partly a response to the inadequate number of educated men and women in the work force. It was also triggered by the nation's failure to fulfill its goal of ensuring greater equality of educational opportunity and achievement for its children.

Searching for more effective ways to meet these needs, many reformers saw great promise in the home computer as a tutor and a tool for academic and other forms of learning. Some believed that computer use at home would help children do better at school, that they would be more motivated to learn, and would show increased achievement. Others added that the computer would empower parents to educate their children at home, apart from what happened at school.