From personal experience teaching a small kid that does really well one on one learning. But with paper absolutely nothing.
One of the big benefits is of computers vs books: being able to directly give automated feedback.
Pronounce or type a word wrong, the computer instantly gives you specific feedback. If you do assignments on paper teachers checks it much further away from the point the cognitive effort has been applied. There is a much less direct feedback loop.
Especially for learning how to read a computer can give feedback whereas kids can go through texts not fully understanding, or misreading words without any correction.
Of course one on one is in some ways much more effective. But there are time constraints.
To automate certain things computer programs are most time effective. Just have to check in to make sure they are taking their work seriously.
It's also harder to pretend to be studying with a computer
With computerized education courses, kids tend to just click through the answers as quickly as possible without really engaging with the material. Only a human teacher can tell whether the student is really engaged and learning.
Computerized training only really works for older students who are already highly motivated to learn a particular skill.
And true I don't like multiple choice for that reason.
However in my experience it's much easier to check from a distance if they are messing around or not with a computer. And computer won't easily allow them to continue with wrong answers. (Certain programs are better then others)
One on one is always better, but there is not room for a lot of one one time in most schools
The problem with computers is that they can point you at a mistake, but they cannot understand why you made this mistake and explain the part that you didn't know.
One of the big benefits is of computers vs books: being able to directly give automated feedback.
Pronounce or type a word wrong, the computer instantly gives you specific feedback. If you do assignments on paper teachers checks it much further away from the point the cognitive effort has been applied. There is a much less direct feedback loop.
Especially for learning how to read a computer can give feedback whereas kids can go through texts not fully understanding, or misreading words without any correction.
Of course one on one is in some ways much more effective. But there are time constraints.
To automate certain things computer programs are most time effective. Just have to check in to make sure they are taking their work seriously.
It's also harder to pretend to be studying with a computer