INTRODUCTION
A recurring
dream is shared by members of administrative bodies in all walks of life.They
dream that to increase productivity and improve efficiency all one needs is
up-to-date technology.So they buy computers,put them on people’s desks,and wait
for productivity to somehow magically improve.As all too many have found out,
the objective often remains a dream and sometimes becomes a nightmare.
Although they are getting smarter and
faster,computers are only as efficient and productive as the people using
them.So their users must be given the time,ongoing training,and support to use
the technology effectively.It widely acknowledged in the computer world that
the only absolute rule is “junk in junk out.It is the quality and quantity of
the input that makes the computer a productivity tool.In education,the most
important input is the education of the teachers who will be using the books.
Computer Assisted Instruction
User of computer in education is referred by many names such as,
• Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI)
•Computer Aided Instruction (CAI)
•Computer Assisted Learning (CAL)
•Computer Based Instruction (CBI)
•Computer Enriched Instruction (CEI)
•Computer Managed Instruction (CMI)
NEW TERMINOLOGY
•Web Based Training
•Wed Based Learning
•Web Based Instruction
Computer Based Education(CBE) and Computer Based Instruction(CBI) are
the broadest terms and can refer to virtually any kind of computer use in
educational settings.Computer Assisted Instruction(CAI) Computer Aided
Instruction(CAI) is a narrower term and most often refers to
drill-and-practice,tutorial or simulation activities.Computer Managed
Instruction(CMI) is an instructional strategy whereby the computer is used to provide learning
objectives,learning resources,record keeping,progress tracking,and assessment
of learner performance.Computer based tools and applications are used to assist
the teacher or school administrator in the management of the learner and
instructional process.
Computer Assisted Instruction(CAI)
A self-learning technique,usually
offline/online,involving interaction of the student with programmed
instructional materials.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.The computer
has many purposes in the class room,and it can be utilized to help a student in
all areas of the curriculum.CAI refers to the use of the computer as a tool to
facilitate and improve instruction.CAI programs use tutorials,drill and
practice,simulation,and problem solving approaches to present topics and they
test the students understandings.
Typical CAI Provides
1.Text or multimedia content
2.Multiple-choice questions
3.Problems
4.Immediate feedback
5.Notes on incorrect responses
6.Summarizes students performance
7.Exercises for practice
8.Worksheets and tests.
Types of Computer Assisted
Instruction
1.Drill-and-practice
Drill and practice provides
oppertunities or students to repeatedly practice the skills that have
previously been presented and that further practice is necessary for mastery.
2.Tutorial
Tutorial activity includes
both the presentation of information and its extension into different forms of
work,including drill practice,games and simulation.
3.Games
Games software often creates a
contest to achieve the highest score and either beat others or beat the computer.
4.Simulation
Simulation software can
provide an approximation of reality that does not require the expense of real
life or its risks.
5.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.
6.Problem
solving
This approach helps
children develop specific problem solving skills and strategies.
Advantages
of Computer Assisted Instruction
*One to one interaction
*Greater 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 Computer Assisted
Instruction
*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.
COMPUTER MANAGED LEARNING
Computer
Managed Learning(CML) is not tobe confused with Computer Assisted
Instruction(CAI) ,Computer Based Instruction(CBI) ,or Computer Based
Learning(CBL).It is however,often referred to as Computer Managed
Instruction(CMI).When discussing computers and education, if one remembers that
learning and instruction generally refer to the same thing,a good deal of the
confusion between different terms is often eliminated.
CMI has both abroad and narrow meaning .In the
broader sense,CMI refers to the following definition;
CMI in its most sophisticated levels provides the
following instructional functions;(1) Assesses the learners present level of
knowledge
(2)diagnoses weaknesss or
graps in the students learning
(3)prescribes learning
activities to remediate the identified
Weaknesses , and
(4)continuously monitors
progress of the learner.
CML can save time, money, and bureaucratic headaches,special educators
are likely to continue developing and using micro computer management tools
for;
•Storing demographic and educational
information on students and their needs
•Recording,monitoring,and reporting students
progress
•Listing incomplete information on student
records
•Recording contacts with parents and
supporting agencies/personnel
•Recording,monitoring and reporting student
due process status
•Generating reprts on
referrals,meeting,evaluation,placement,programming,and review for each students
•Locating,describing,and recommending
appropriate materials based on individual student need
•Generating IEP objectives from a large data
base and
•Issuing reminders for when reports are due.
conclusion
Effective implementation of educational programs
implies effective management or information. Well designed CML systems are,then,tools
to assist educators in maintaining pertinent and accurate informationthat will
help the educator monitor the educational process.
CML
has shared a developmental history similar to the history of CAL.However the
use of computer 19 technology to more efficiently “teach” students has
increased the perceived need to more effectively “teach” students,consequently
CML in recent years has appeared from behind the shadow of its older brother
CAL.
However,generic and customised packages along
with the machinery that implements these packages must be flexible enough to
meet new needs and demands therefore one must maintain a constant attitude
toward evaluation of the system to assure that the CML program is meeting the
needs of the educator and the learner.
Reference
•www.ncbi.nih.gov
•onlinelibrary.wiley.com
•www.readingrockets.org
•www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
