Lesson 10: The computer as a Tutor

Computer is one of the greatest inventions of the new generation. It can help us find easily what we need. It is a tool to program instruction in an interactive way. Especially in education, it helps the teacher enhance the learning process by making creative presentation and advance information. Computer can also be a tutor in such a way that it helps the teacher to aid the problems of the learners in terms of difficulties of the lesson but it cannot totally replace the role the teacher because the major role of the teacher is to deliver the information and the controller of learning environment. But teacher could use the CAI to integrate the lessons by giving the students a drill and activity to practice their basic skill and knowledge. Simulation program could also help, teacher use it a strategy to apply the lesson in real life situation. Another is the instructional games, problem solving software, multimedia encyclopedia electronic books.

The computer is one of the wonders of human ingenuity, even in its original design in the 1950s to carry out complicated mathematical and logical operations. With the invention of the microcomputer (now commonly 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 devised strategies to use the computer to the break the barriers to individualized instruction.

                CAI computer learning should not stop with the drill and practice activities of students in effect, CAI work best in reinforcing learning trough repetitive exercise such that student can practice basic skills or knowledge in various subject areas. Common types of drill and practice programs include vocabulary building, math facts, and basic science, and history or geography facts. In these programs, the computer presents a question/ problem the first and the student is asked to answer the question/problem. Immediate feedback is given to the student’s answer. After the number of practice problems and at the end of the exercise, the students get a summary of his overall performance.

CAI PROGRAMS:

1. Simulation Programs

Simulation software materials are another kind of software that is constructivist in nature. This simulation software:

·         Teacher strategies and rules applied to real-life problems/situation

·         Ask students to make decision on models or scenarios

·         Allow students to manipulate elements of a model and get the experience of the effect of their decisions

2. INSTRUCTIONAL GAMES

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

           3.  PROBLEM SOLVING SOFTWARE

             

                These are more sophisticated than the drill and practice exercises and allow students to learn and improve on their own problem solving ability. Since problems cannot be solved simply by memorizing facts, the students have to employ higher thinking skills such as logic, recognition, reflection, and strategy-making

                The Thinking Things 1 is an example of a problem solving software in which the team learners must help each other by observing comparing.

            4. MULTIMEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA AND ELECTRONIC BOOKS

                The Multimedia Encyclopedia can score a huge database with text, images, animation, audio and video. Students can access any desired information, search it vast contents and even download/print relevant portions of the data for their composition or presentation. An example is the eyewitness children’s encyclopedia.

                Electronic books provide textual information for reading supplemented by other types of multimedia information (sounds, spoken words, pictures, animation). These are useful for learning reading, spelling and word skills. Examples are Just Grandma and Me animated storybook which offer surprises for the young learner’s curiosity.