Lesson 11: The Computer as the Teacher's Tool

       In the previous , we saw how the computer can act as a tutor, particularly along a behaviorist and cognitivist approach to learning. But we also saw how certain computer software programs have been developed to foster higher thinking skills and creativity.

            In this lesson, we shall again look at the computer, but this time from another perspective the computer as the teacher's handy-tool. It can in fact support the  of constructivist learning.

 was introduced by Piaget (1981) and Bruner (1990). They gave stress to of new meaning/concept/principles in the learning process.Students area also asked to apply discovered knowledge to new situations, a process for making their knowledge applicable to real life situations.

         While knowledge is constructed by the individual learners in constructivism, knowledge can also be socially constructed.  This is an effort to show that the construction of knowledge is governed by social, historical and cultural contexts.

       The psychologist Vygotsky stressed that learning is affected by social influences. He therefore suggested the interactive process in learning. The more capable adult (teacher or parent) or classmate can aid or complement what the learner sees in a given class project.


The Computer's Capabilities       Given its present-day speed, flexibility and sophistication, the computer can provide access to information, foster creative social knowledge-building, and enhance the communication of the achieved project package. Without the computer, today's learners may still be assuming the tedious tasks of low-level information gathering, building and new knowledge packaging. But this is not so, since the modern computer can help teacher-and-students to focus on more high level cognitive tasks.


Based on the two learning theories, the teacher can employ the computer as a/an:

Informative tool         The computer can provide vast amounts of information in various forms, such as text, graphics, sound, and video. Even multimedia encyclopedia are today available on the Internet.


Constructive tool     The computer itself can be used for manipulating information, visualizing one's understanding, and building new knowledge. The Microsoft Word computer program itself is a desktop publishing software that allows users to organize and present their ideas in attractive formats.


Co-constructive tool      Students can use constructive tools to work cooperatively and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge. One way of co-construction is the use of the electronic whiteboard where students may post notices to a shared document/whiteboard. Students may also co-edit the same document from their homes.


Situating tool            By means of virtual reality (RS) extension system, the computer can create 3-D images on display to give the users the feeling that are situated in a virtual environment. A flight simulation program is an example of a situating tool which places the user in a simulated flying environment.

Experience

In our subject physics for secondary teachers we were required to teach college students just for one session and it made me realize that being a teacher really need access to computer nowadays.

Reflection
The PC has given as distinctive uses, gives us focal points and comfort. The pattern these days is data innovation which makes utilize the PC in every one of its applications. PCs have been as of now utilized as a part of schools to give and encourage understudies' learning. It is clear that even the most youthful era thought about it and how it is being utilized. Understudy's make their assignments, make extends, and do scrutinizes with the utilization of PC. It truly appeared that our present human progress is reliant on PCs. It is in any case profitable if utilized admirably and deliberately.

Japan, China, Korea and different nations officially made utilized of the utilization of PC as an instructor; modified to show and be objective. Others likewise can concentrate anyplace on the planet without going to schools and be situated inside a classroom. One can as of now encourage his own particular learning through the PC. It can give boundless data, gives less demanding correspondence and encourages constructivism among brains of learners.