The way computers are used is important also. Teachers who allow students to only use drill and practice software are not conveying to their students the value of problem-solving technology. Television and video games are being blamed for socially isolating children in non-reactive situations. The students may become visually engaged, often without meaningful interactions. Many parents and teachers still equate educational computer programs with these video games.
Computer use can be a social activity, inviting cooperation and collaboration.
Piagetian theory contends that children construct knowledge through interactions with people and materials. The goal is to encourage children to become actively involved with the world around them. Integrating computers into the curriculum offers students the opportunity to interact with an educational tool that is so much a part of the present culture. Computers also offer students an opportunity to learn from representations of activities where actual participation may not be feasible or safe. The diverse students being served in today's schools necessitates a need to model and promote acceptance of others.