Centralized vs. decentralized computer assisted instruction systems

This discussion deals with a qualitative comparison of two configuration alternatives in the design and implementation of a Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) System. With CAI in its infancy and in a necessarily experimental stage, there is little available data upon which to develop quantitative support for the opinions expressed herein. In this respect, CAI bears a definite kinship with "time-sharing" systems. It can in fact be strongly argued that CAI is essentially a special form of the "time-sharing" system. At this stage of CAI development we are still dealing with "guesstimates" of mass storage requirements for course material, quantity of course material required to reside "on-line" at a given time and tolerable response times in the interaction among student, student terminal, and terminal controllers.