Sunday, August 16, 2015

LESSON 9 Computers as Information and Communication Technology

On my previous blogs, I have been accentuating on how technology partakes to the daily lives of people. Most especially, the gadgets we use every day. As a future educator, it is a must for us to know how these gadgets contribute to education, particularly the computers.

It was pointed out on EdTech1 the role of computer in education, and the advent of computer is recognized as the third revolution in education. The first was the invention of the printing press; the second, the introduction of libraries; and the third, the invention of computers, especially so with the arrival of the microcomputer in 1975. Thus emerged computer technology in education.

Soon computer-assisted instruction (CAI) was introduced using the principle of individualized learning through a positive climate that includes realism and appeal with drill exercises that uses color, music and animation. The novelty of CAI has not waned to this day especially in the basic education level as this is offered by computer-equipped private schools. But the evolving pace of innovation in today’s Information Age is so dynamic that within the first decade of the 21st Century, computer technology in education has matured to transform into an educative information and communication technology (ICT) in education.

Typical CAI provides

·         text or multimedia content
·         multiple-choice questions
·         problems
·         immediate feedback
·         notes on incorrect responses
·         summarizes students' performance
·         exercises for practice
·         Worksheets and tests.

Types of Computer Assisted Instruction

Drill-and-practice. Drill and practice provide opportunities or students to repeatedly practice the skills that have previously been presented and that further practice is necessary for mastery.

Tutorial. Tutorial activity includes both the presentation of information and its extension into different forms of work, including drill and practice, games and simulation.

Games. Game software often creates a contest to achieve the highest score and either beat others or beat the computer.

Simulation. Simulation software can provide an approximation of reality that does not require the expense of real life or its risks.

Discovery. Discovery approach provides a large database of information specific to a course or content area and challenges the learner to analyze, compare, infer and evaluate based on their explorations of the data.

Problem Solving. This approach helps children develop specific problem solving skills and strategies.

Advantages of CAI

·         one-to-one interaction
·         great motivator
·         freedom to experiment with different options
·         instantaneous response/immediate feedback to the answers elicited
·         Self pacing - allow students to proceed at their own pace
·         Helps teacher can devote more time to individual students
·         Privacy helps the shy and slow learner to learns
·         Individual attention
·         learn more and more rapidly
·         multimedia helps to understand difficult concepts through multi sensory approach
·         self directed learning – students can decide when, where, and what to learn

Limitations of CAI

·         may feel overwhelmed by the information and resources available
·         over use of multimedia may divert the attention from the content
·         learning becomes too mechanical
·         non availability of good CAI packages
·         lack of infrastructure

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