The emphasis is on teaching students to use the computer. Computer technology provides students and teachers with unprecedented opportunities to transform the teaching and learning process, from the most common and simple uses to the most sophisticated. Word processing eliminates endless hand copying and allows teachers and students to place a greater emphasis on content revision. Graphing software eliminates hand-drawing the results of equations and allows teachers and students to focus on the effects of various changes in an equation. The Internet greatly reduces the time and effort it used to take to locate information on a topic and it puts students and teachers in touch with other students and teachers around the world and with content experts.
Simulation software enables students to participate in experiences otherwise unavailable in school.
The challenge to educators today is not to use computers, but to infuse computer use into the instructional setting. Separate from the desire to use technology in schools is the challenge to present students with more open-ended, authentic problems to solve. Yet, these problem-based tasks provide a wonderful venue for achieving technology infusion. For example, if the task is for students to build an argument for or against a political position, computer technology can be used to locate information, interview experts, conduct a survey, develop charts and graphs, design a simulation, and develop a multimedia presentation. Rather than starting with a particular use of technology and then designing a curricular task, problem-based learning starts with the curriculum and allows for a variety of technology uses throughout the learning process.