Why Technology Hasn't Improved Learning | Chris Dede

Why haven't computers transformed education the way people expected? In this episode of The Science of Learning, Keith Sawyer talks with Harvard professor and learning scientist Chris Dede about why technology has so often failed to improve schools—and what educational technology looks like when it is aligned with the science of learning. Chris argues that schools have largely used computers to reinforce an outdated model of education based on lectures, passive learning, memorization, and standardized testing. Instead, he advocates for active learning, inquiry, collaboration, simulations, project-based learning, and authentic assessment. The conversation explores: Why schools resist change Immersive simulations and game-like learning Inquiry-based science education The limits of standardized testing Lifelong learning and the "60-year curriculum" Generative AI in education How teachers can use AI without undermining learning Chris Dede is Professor in Learning Technologies at Harvard University and one of the leading scholars in educational technology and the learning sciences. www.chrisdede.com Music by license from SoundStripe: "Uptown Lovers Instrumental" by AFTERNOONZ "Miss Missy" by AFTERNOONZ "What's the Big Deal" by Ryan Saranich Produced and hosted by Keith Sawyer. Copyright © 2026 Keith Sawyer