Computers in Our World

Computers in Education

2

Introduction

• Computer technology has changed today’s learning and teaching models

• Computers help students– Practice skills– Gather information– Think creatively

• Computers help teachers– Plan presentations– Communicate with other teachers and classrooms– Perform administrative duties

• Computers have made distance learning possible• Although technology has benefited education, there is

still opportunity for improvement

3

Educational Models

• Before the Industrial Revolution, students in the United States learned in one-room schools

• With the urbanization and industrialization of the late 1880s, a factory model emerged– Standard curriculum for all students– Students learned facts by listening to lectures

• In the 21st century, technology links classroom learning to education resources from around the world– Focuses on student-centered learning– Emphasizes teamwork– Requires the ability to process and analyze information

4

5

Computer Fluency

• Entails having knowledge of computers and their impact on society• Involves the ability to use and learn new and emerging technologies

Benefits of computer fluency

6

Computer-Aided Instruction

• Consists of self-directed, self-paced tutorials on a specific topic or skill

• A linear tutorial provides feedback on the correctness of your response

• A tutorial that uses branching provides more information on a topic– Remediation involves providing direction to review specific

content

• Tutorials can also perform needs assessment to determine where students need further help on a topic– A pretest determines whether to take the tutorial, or what areas

to focus on– A posttest measures how much you learned from the tutorial

7

Computer-based tutorial with feedback

8

An interactive program with needs assessment

9

Web-Based Training

• Involves delivery of education content via the Internet, private intranet, or extranet

• Consists of self-paced and self-directed instruction on a topic

• Teaches new skills or enhances existing skills of employees, teachers, or students

• Encourages students to become actively involved in the learning process

• Is often combined with other Internet tools, such as references or discussion groups

10

Web-based training

11

Internet Resources

• Provide a vast resource of information on almost any topic– Encyclopedias and dictionaries– Map resources– Language translators– Measurement and currency converters– Student-friendly news

• Teachers use WebQuests to incorporate resources into the classroom– Students use Internet=based research to understand or

problem-solve a real-world issue– Students learn how to search for, organize, and interpret

information

12

Reference materials on the Internet

13

Student-friendly versions of news sites

14A WebQuest

15

Programming Tools

• Many educators suggest that students learn basic programming skills– Teaches students to think in an organized,

systemized way about a problem– Students can apply logical thinking to non-

programming situations• A popular way to teach students programming is

to use the LOGO programming language– Helps new programmers learn new skills by

constructing scenes called microworlds– Uses a set of geometric commands to generate

objects

16

The LOGO programming language

17

Programming tools, cont.

• LEGO Mindstorms uses LOGO or ROBOLAB to program LEGO Robots– Uses programmable LEGO bricks, called RCX, an infrared

transmitter, infrared sensors, and a remote control– Built around the belief that students learn best when they build

knowledge for themselves and are excited about a topic

18

Educational Games and Simulations• Educational games help students learn concepts

while playing a game with specific rules– Teach information through repetition and practice– Require students to use decision-making and

problem-solving skills

• Simulations allow students to study topics that would be too expensive, dangerous, or impractical to do in real life– Bring complex topics to life– Give students a chance to engage actively in real-

world situations

19The Web-based Nuclear Power Plant Simulator

20

21

Software Tools for Students

• The ability to use application software is a critically important skill in the information economy– Most companies require candidates to have basic

application software skills

• Application software includes– Word processors– Presentation software – Spreadsheets– Web-publishing tools– Multimedia-authoring software

22

Multimedia-authoring software tools create interactive applications presented as a series of slides called stacks

23

Presentation tools for teachers

• Presentation graphics software– Can be viewed in a variety of formats, including

outline, handouts, or notes

• Multimedia-authoring software– Creates interactive presentations for student use– Used with computer-based or Web-based training

tools– Can create simulations to bring topics to life

• Electronic whiteboards– Allows you to write notes, draw diagrams, or highlight

key information, and then save and print the notes

24

An electronic whiteboard

25

Communications Tools

• E-mail– Communicate with parents, students, and teachers

• Mailing lists (listservs)– Receive and send e-mails within a group of teachers

• Newsgroups – Bulletin boards to post information about events

• Message boards– Web-based discussion groups

• Video conferencing – Meeting between two or more people over the Internet using

video and audio• Chat

– Real-time communication

26

The Global Schoolhouse Project uses video-conferencing to link classrooms around the world

27

Learning Management Systems

• Computer-based administrative system that tracks students’ progress and performance in the classroom– Tools to create and share course pages– Registration tools– Test engines to create, deliver, and score tests– Courseware (electronic course contest)– Grading, tracking, and reporting tools– Communications tools

28

29

Distance Learning

• Extends the classroom to the Internet– Students can access Web-based tools

• May or may not be instructor-led training (IIT)• May be synchronous or asynchronous

– In synchronous courses, students and instructors attend class at a specific time and information is shared in real-time

– In asynchronous courses, students access course resources at whatever time is convenient and work through assignments at their own pace

• Ideal for students who live far from a school or work full- or part-time

30

Comparison of distance learning methods

31

Questions to ask before enrolling in a distance learning course

32

Benefits of Technology in the Classroom• Brings content into the classroom that is based on real-

world problems• Encourages active participation• Gives students a sense of purpose and an

understanding of how to contribute to their community• Teaches collaboration and research skills• Encourages problem solving• Creates virtual communities to enrich the learning

process• Expands learning to all students using distance learning

tools

33

The Hands-On Universe program

34

Opportunities for Improvement

• The successful use and integration of technology depends on a number of factors– Teachers who have been trained in how to

integrate technology into the curriculum– Ongoing funding for updating equipment and

professional development on a periodic basis– Support of the school and community– Shifting the culture from the factory model

towards a more student-centered model

35

Conclusion

• The education model in the Information Age is student-centered

• Computer fluency is critical in preparing students for the workplace

• Computer-based learning tools include– Computer-based and Web-based training– Programming and software tools– Simulations and games

• Computer-based teaching tools include– Presentation, communication, and administrative tools