Lesson 10

                        THE COMPUTER AS A TUTOR

 

-The computer is the human ingenuity. Even its original design in the 1950s with the intervention of the microcomputer (now commonly referred to PC’s, the PC has become the toll for program instructions.

-Educators saw much use of the PC. They saw its potential for individualization in learning, especially as individualized learning is a problem since teachers usually with a class forty or more learners.

-The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as classroom tutor. But it cannot totally replace the teacher because he/she plays an important role I teaching and learning process.

COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION (CAI)

-Is an interactive instructional technique whereby a computer is used to present the instructional material and monitor the learning that takes place. CAI uses a combination of text, graphics, sound, and video in enhancing the learning process.

Available computer and CAI software, the teacher must:

-Insure the students have the same the needed knowledge and skills for any computer activity.

-Decide the appropriate learning objective.

-Plan the sequence and structured activities to achieve objectives.

-Evaluate the student’s achievement by wats of test the specific expected outcomes.

The students in CAI play their own roles as learners as they:

-Receive information

-Understand instructions for the computer activity

-Retain/keep in mind the information and rules for the computer activity

-Apply the Knowledge and rules during the process of computer learning

During the computer activity proper in CAI the computer, too plays its role as it:

-Acts a sort of tutor

-Provides a learning environment

-Delivers learning instruction

-Reinforce learning through drill-and-practice

-Provides/feedback

CAI Integrated with lesson

-CAI works best in reinforcement learning through repetitive exercise such that students can practice basic skills/knowledge in various subject area.

EXAMPLES OF COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION

-Simulation Programs

-Instructional Games

-Problem Solving Software

-Multimedia Encyclopedia and Electronic Books

Simulation Programs

-Simulation software materials are another kind of software that is constructivist in nature.

Example: Sim City

Instructional Games

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

Example: Geo Safari

Problem Solving Software

-These are more sophisticated than the drill and practice exercises and allow students to learn and improve on their problem solving ability.

Example: Thinking Things 1

Multimedia Encyclopedia and Electronic Books

-The Multimedia Encyclopedia can store a huge database with texts, images, animation, audio and video.

Example: Eyewitness Children’s Encyclopedia

-The Electronic Books provide textual information for reading, supplemented by other types of multimedia information

Example: Just Grandma