The specter of the empty, locked lab is responsible for much of the impulse to do away with labs and put the machines back into the classroom. The lab must be viewed as a shared resource for both the classroom teacher and the computer lab teacher. Computer labs will only work when there are people who know how to use them and who are empowered to make them serve educators' needs. The lab vs. classroom debate is about classroom management, not about technology. Students learn research skills more readily when skills are shared through cooperative learning.
Students enhance their ability to manage ideas and information in collaboration with others.
There are many positive results that can be derived from cooperation in learning at the computer. Group work allows students to observe, imitate, and learn from each other. Students keep each other on task and share a sense of accomplishment. The encouragement, support, and approval of peers builds motivation and makes learning an enjoyable experience. The research indicates, however, that teacher attitudes and the amount and arrangement of computer hardware are important factors in determining how teachers and students interact.