These same technologies can benefit campus-based instruction in Hawaii. Students who are too shy to speak up in class will often write messages in public conferences, and their fellow students have an opportunity to learn from and comment on these remarks as well as subsequent feedback from their peers. And telecommunications permits students to interact electronically with others throughout the world. This will be an increasingly important way for University of Hawaii students to learn about and accept other peoples and cultures, and to understand the unique role of Hawaii in the international community. Properly applied, instructional technologies such as multi-media and computer assisted instruction have been widely demonstrated to improve the instructional process.
Students can explore real-world situations using real data and imagery.
They can develop critical thinking and problem solving skills through the use of educational simulations. With full access to information technology in the classroom, faculty have the capability to utilize a wide range of media and information resources in integrated classroom presentations. Through this integration of information technology into classroom teaching, students can participate in a much richer and more engaging educational experience than ever before. Altogether these techniques broaden education to be more interactive than traditional one-way lectures and demonstrations. Their benefit is that students can be more individually and interactively engaged in the learning process, an effect which has been shown to improve instructional outcomes.