By Jeffery M. PuryearInter-American Dialogue

Print

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!