The computer lab has become a versatile place that encourages students to work creatively on word processing, desktop publishing, and multimedia applications. Students work collaboratively to find research data, and manipulate that data into a meaningful format. The lab experience guarantees students a certain amount of computer contact. Students are now drawing, word processing, graphing, and developing databases. Word processing as a tool is fundamental, making the writing, editing, and layout process easier for students.
Recent research shows that students who use word-processing tools write more.
Far beyond these applications, students have been introduced and are currently using some very exciting applications such as Opening Night for character studies and play development, HyperStudio for multimedia applications in a variety of subjects, Widget Workshop for development of simple machines, and the Cruncher as an introduction to spreadsheets. Problem-solving software has been introduced this year. This software naturally creates an environment in which the student sets the stage for learning and the teacher becomes the facilitator. The effectiveness of discovery learning is based on the learner's engagement with the learning experience. The student quickly learns that he or she is in control of the computer and that he or she affecting and interacting with the computer rather than being guided by it.