TECHNOLOGY FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING 1: THE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

THE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

is the design and construction of computers to better help people at work, school, home, etc.

An example of computer technology is the development of a software program that allows people to accomplish work at home which has been automatically assigned from computers at their job location.

Computer as a Tutor

The computer is one of the wonder of human ingenuity, even its original design in the 1950’s carry out complicated mathematical and logical operation. With the invention of the micro computer (now also referred to PCs or personal computers), the PC has become the tool for programmed instruction.

Educators saw much use of the PC. It has become affordable to small business, industries and homes. They saw its potential for individualization in learning, especially as individualized learning is a problem since teachers usually with a class of forty or more learners. They therefore decided strategies to use computer to break the barriers to individualized instruction.

Computer-assisted instruction (CAI)
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The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his/her personal role as classroom tutor. It should be made clear , however, that then computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play the major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller. Even with the valuable computer and CAI software, the teacher must:

insure that students have the needed knowledge and skills for any computer activity.
decide what the appropriate learning activity
plan the sequential and structured activities to achieve objectives
evaluate the student’s achievement by ways of tests the specific expected outcomes.

SIMULATION PROGRAMS

Simulation software materials are another one of software that are constructivist in nature. These simulation software:

teaches strategies and rules applied to real-life problems/situations.
asks students to make decision on models or scenarios.
allows students to manipulate elements of a model and get the experience of the effects of their decisions.

INSTRUCTIONAL GAMES

While relating to low-level objectives (e.g. basic spelling or math skills), instructional games add the elements of competition and challenge.

An example is GeoSafari which introduces adventure activities for Geography History and Science. The program can be played up to four players to form teams. Learning ounces can be achieved along simple memorization of information, keyboarding skills cooperation and social interaction.

Computer as a Tool

To function as a tool, the classroom computer need only have some useful capability programmed into it such as statistical analysis, super calculation, or word processing. Students can then use it to help them in a variety of subjects. For example, they might use it as a calculator in math and various science assignments, as a map-making tool in geography, as a facile, tireless performer in music, or as a text editor and copyist in English.

To use the computer as tutor and tool can both improve and enrich classroom learning, and neither requires student or teacher to learn much about computers. By the same measure, however, neither tutor nor tool mode confers upon the user much of the general educational benefit associated with using the computer in the third mode, as tutee.

Computer as a Tutee

To use the computer as tutee is to tutor the computer; for that, the student or teacher doing the tutoring must learn to program, to talk to the computer in a language it understands.

Learners gain new insights into their own thinking through learning to program, and teachers have their understanding of education enriched and broadened as they see how their students can benefit from treating the computer as a tutee

Advantages and Disadvantages of computer in education

ADVANTAGES

Computer helps in storage of information in schools and colleges. Image result for storage information

Quick data processing is possible with the help of computer which plays an important role in education.

Better presentation of information in schools and colleges is possible using computer to improve education.

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Computer also helps to access Internet to get more knowledge from the world.

Now a days Quick communication is possible between parents, teachers and students with the help of computer.

Online learning is now possible with the help of internet & computer, which improves education in the world.

Desktop computer can be seen in schools and colleges which helps students and teachers to improve education.

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Computer enhances classroom experiences by incorporating audio visual media.

DISADVANTAGES

Some children spends more and more time in playing computer games which may affect education.
They also waste their time in watching movies or videos on computer.
With the excessive use of computer, Students lacks the verbal as well as non verbal skills which is very important for the development of social and emotional skills.
Sitting in front of a computer for a long time may affect the eyes and health of a student which may indirectly affect education.