1. To assist students in developing skills they lack
2. To supplement the skills they have or make up for skills they lack
3. To assist the teacher with tracking and programming
Skills Development
This is a common "Special Ed" use of computers, since most drill and practice and tutorial programs can be used this way. In a multilevel math or language program, the student works at his or her actual level, whether it is above or below the rest of the class.
Because work is individualized, there is less stigma attached to being different. Many programs can target particular weaknesses through built-in pretests or ones administered by the teacher. Math drill games are widely used (eg. Math Team and Math Trek) and provide concentrated, individualized, self-checking practice. Some programs also provide tutorials to explain concepts that students may have missed or which need re-teaching in another manner.
The most effective use of these programs involves matching the particular needs of a student with a program or parts of a program. Such work can be done for short periods while the rest of the class works on a similar topic or subject area.