Computers in the undergraduate classroom - Lessons from the first 2,000 students

College administrators around the world are embracing the use of computer t echnology in the classroom; strongly encouraging faculty to incorporate the se new technologies into their teaching; and redirecting institutional reso urces to provide digital classrooms, student computer labs, fiber-optic bac kbones, and Internet access. Yet, our understanding of what is required to successfully incorporate computers into teaching and learning is surprising ly unreflective. This article examines the effective use of computers in th e classroom based on the needs and desires of multiple interest groups-stud ents, instructors, support staff, administrators, software developers, publ ishers, and faculty colleagues. Issues and trends are examined for each gro up. Positive trends include improved software, enhanced facilities, and bro ader participation of faculty Worrisome trends include widespread reallocat ion of resources from traditional academic activities and the all-too-commo n chewing up and spitting out of promising young faculty who learn too late the risks of being innovative in the classroom.