Computers in Classrooms

In their efforts to organize and overcome the physical world, human beings have shown a remarkable ability for inventing devices with lift dig, hoist, wind, pump, press, and filter. For example, with the use of ovens and stills, they have learned to transform the substances of the physical world into useful commodities. To fashion machines that behave intelligently, human’s act has been the explicit goal of a scientific field called artificial intelligence, which starts with the introduction of the digital computer more than thirty years ago. Computer technology has received the most attention during the last decade. Today computers are our coworkers and our companions. They have already become in business, industry and government and now become a valuable tool in the schools. Schools have made significant commitments to the purchasing of computers with the expectation that student performance would improve. Some schools have cut some programs as music and art to fund computers lab in school. The new computer education requirement for credential students after June 30, 2002 is: “ In December of 1998, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing adopted new technology standards for credential candidates. Multiple Subject and Single Subject credential candidates (not Special Education) will be required to demonstrate computer knowledge at a “basic’’ level for Preliminary Credential and knowledge at a more “advanced’’ level for the Professional Clear’’. “Why the sudden rush to put computers in the classroom? There are three major reasons: the development of instructional uses for computers, technological advances and financial accessibility through the microcomputer revolution , and extreme student interest in and curiosity about interacting with computers.’’(Henry S. Kepner, Jr Computers in the classroom p.7). As Our world is growing in rapidly fast in technology, the number of computers in schools in the United States is growing in rapidly since 1983 and continues to grow especially in the years since the Internet and World Wide Web became popular. From elementary schools to colleges, students spend more and more time sitting by themselves in front of computers. A similar problem occurs in homes. Children favor computers over television. They say, “TV does what it want to do. A computer does what you want it to do’’. Children prefer an interactive participatory role to a passive one. As a result students enjoy using computers and like coming to classes where computers are being used. Therefore computers are good thing to have in schools. Children should learn how to use computers that improve learning and sharpen minds. Effective computer software programs engage the students and provide considerable learner control. Children’s attitude can be improved toward writing, reading, mathematics, science as a result of using computers. These attitudes changes are particular importance in subject such as mathematics where “math anxiety’’ often distracts from learning basic concepts and skills. Students who are in control of more of their learning begin to feel better about their ability to do the work. Educators also are getting involved in collegial networking through telecommunication. Using a network utility for storing and distributing the electronic mail they share experiences and advice, personal messages, reports, data and so on. Telecommunication can be an effective medium for trade printed information and maintaining long term relationship. Computers have the potential to improve both teaching and learning. In the time of rapid technology change, predicting the future is difficult. For example, no one can predict that the Internet and the World Wide Web represent the most important process not only in education but also the entire culture. Web publication is so quick and easy that is available to individual in any industrialized nation who has a computer and computing skills. Computers continue to do so for the future. Therefore teachers in the future probably make increasing use of the Internet and the Web. Computers also help handicapped as well as gift individuals receive information, respond to their environment, and communicate with others more efficient. The use of computers has created several beneficial educational opportunities for physically disabled students. Today, many adaptive devices with the software make it possible for individuals with disabilities to use computer and related technology. We can contact with many companies and organizations on Web. The search According to Congressional Testimony by Federal Document Clearing House, “U.S Senate Hearing on Security in Cyberspace” “ Computers helped make America the most advanced society in the world.’’ Today, our lives are affected and related somehow by the computer. Computers offer us tangible benefits in time and money, and they had a big impact in our everyday lives. More and more business, industries, hospitals, government become more dependent and reliable on computers. Computers are also used to perform many functions that our lives depend on, like medical treatment, air traffic control, power and water supply, defense, etc. Computers are used to store confidential data about political, social, social, and economic information of any country. Any flaw or a small glitch in the operation of these systems can endanger human lives. Along with that, advancements in computing and networking have made governments more efficient and connected, business more robust and mobile. Computers are able to provide more services to customers, and individuals have ability to access large caches of information and communicate to each other. According to Oppenheimer there are five arguments to computerize our nation’s schools. (259) Students should to understand the impact of technology on society and possess the ability to use it effectively in their own life. Children can learn things about computers when using them as a medium of instruction. They can engage in some real problem solving experiences when they do computer programming. The computer is a powerful tool in mathematics. Though computers students should develop minimal skills to do mathematical work and check conjectures. For example, problem-solving software may ask students to draw a square. One student may draw a small square, and another student draws a large square, another draws a square to the left, another draws it to the right. All these situations are different but the answers are right. A computer with telecommunications capability and the right software can help students find sources to write a term paper. Telecommunications could allow students who are sick can stay home and connect with the teacher to make up for lost time. If a student misses a class he or she can use tutorial software to cover the missed material. Teachers often have a difficult time helping students make up missed class lectures. Computers help teachers teach curriculum based software designed to teach a concept and ideas taught in the classroom, which provides students a wide variety of subjects. For example, teachers try to give students real-world experiences in the classroom. After all, experiencing a situation, making decisions, and seeing the results of those decisions are a valuable learning experience. It can be difficult, dangerous or impossible to provide students real-world experiences. Simulation software can put students in a real-world situation that is a safe and controlled environment. Computers help teachers to keeping electronic copies of all their course materials, tests, course syllabus, and schools report on computer disks. A microcomputer and graphics software help teachers and students who have little artistic ability and training to perform many tasks. For example, drawing a circle is hard but with graphic software it is easy as selecting a command. We need only supply a little imagination and a basic understanding of graphic software. With graphic software a biology teacher illustrate the parts of a frog. One example of computers used in education is their use in helping disabled students in college to use computers more efficiently, so they can participate in higher education. “Access to computers, among college, and university students, is most often compromised by impairments of vision, hearing, and mobility, according to Linda Wilson Computer technologies have been developed to help disabled students in different ways depending on their disabilities (visual impairments, or mobility impairments, or speech, language and learning impairments). For students with visual impairments, some available technologies are: screen reading program, large print screen, screen magnifying system, Braille computer systems and Braille software. Screen reading is a program consisting of two parts: a software program (to direct keyboard input to the speech synthesizer) and a speech synthesizer (which is usually attached to a computer RS232C port to convert standard ASII text into speech). The speech can then be transferred to the student’s headphone. He or she can control the output of the speech synthesizer. For example, one can adjust the rate of speech or make the output to be read character-by-character or line-by-line. If the student needs spelling, the synthesizer can spell out words and make spaces and punctuation marks. Large print-screen displays come in two ways: it can be a stand-alone software program to enlarge normal text display of other programs , or it can be the screen magnifying system in which students have the options of magnifying the screen according to their own preferences or invert the screen display to show dark letters on a light background to reduce eyestrain. Braille computers allow students to access display in Braille on line at the same time. The student types in using the keyboard. A device between the user and the keyboard accept the input and then translate it line-by-line into a tactile Braille display for the blind user. Pocket Braille computers contain both a speech synthesizer and a Braille keyboard for students to carry with them as portable note takers, calculators, address books, etc. Last ,Braille software translators and embossers allow students to print out Braille documents from a PC. This software will convert the screen display into Braille before it sent the message to the Braille embosser for printing. Reading systems will recognize those optical characters and then convert printed text into speech or computers files. That’s just how computers can help students with visual impairments. As we can see, in this area, the use of computer has help disabled students to be more independent ( Disabled students don’t depend on others to translate/communicate education material); and thus, providing them with a better understanding of concepts. Next computer access provided to these students allowing them an equal chance at educational resources and opportunities, increasing their likelihood of academic success. Lastly, the use of computers in education has encouraged more disabled students to continue on with their higher education. The educational institution used in the previous example of computer’s usage in education was the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The center for Instructional Technology published this technical paper to introduce to administrators and staffs of colleges and universities to the assistive technology that helps the physically disabled student use of computer. This paper was last updated on October 1996 by Linda Wilson. Today, many adaptive devices with accompanying software make it possible for individuals with disabilities to use computer and related technology. For example, the Don Johnson’s company provides both the hardware and the software people with disabilities who would need to access a computer. We can contact others companies and organizations on the Web as “ Assistive Technology in the Classroom’’, Noel Brewer Adaptive Technology Aide”. An important resource for parents and teachers of students with disabilities is Closing the Gap which provides practical up-to-date information on assistive technology products. Closing the Gap is one of the best resources for information about new developments in special education. Computers can support a range of teaching and learning. But computers are no different in principle than other machines. Their capacity is able to store, retrieve and manipulate data. Computers are not brains, nor do they have brains. They do not think. They process. I think about the role of technology in changing the way teachers teach and students learn in the classroom. We cannot use computers as a substitute for either teachers or books. While computers can be programmed some of the teacher’s tasks. For example, teachers can copy assignments to a disk for the homework of the students. Then students may use the disk at home and school as an instructional tool. Computers cannot deal with unexpected questions. Only human educators are able to do well. By definition, computers can be programmed. Computers are also an unsatisfactory substitute for the pages of a book. As an extremely sensitive and adaptive control system, the human is superior to any computer in that particular role. Computers cannot replace teachers but they can empower them and their students. Computers can be used to increase, rather than decrease, human interaction in the classroom. Information technology in education is an exciting discipline. Teachers should focus on learning with technology, not about technology. “If any person teaches, there must be something he/she teaches to…To be a good teacher means not only to know a good deal about what one is teaching but to care about what one is teaching as well as those to whom are is teaching it.’’( Greene, M, Teaching teachers p27). For generation, the focus of classroom attention has been on the teacher. Teachers typically position themselves in front of a class and face their students. As a consequence of computers entering the schools, the traditional place of the teachers in front of the classroom change. Teachers will spend most of their time guiding, counseling and leading instructional teams rather lecturing to a room full of students. For example, with computers, students can work on mathematic individually or in small groups while the teacher circulate among them and giving assistance. This semester I am taking Math 311 and English 305. Both of these classes require computer lab. Therefore, I am learning more new information about computer processes. Before, I only used computers for typing my essays or my research papers. Through Math 311 course, I know how to use the Geometer’s Sketchpad, which is an exciting and useful tool for students of all ages. With Sketchpad, I can explore geometry in ways I never would be able to otherwise. I learn some Sketchpad skills that I use in doing activities and projects. Animation with Geometer’s Sketchpad is the ability to give movement to constructed objects. I have learned how to animate a point on a circle or on a segment, a polygon moves and its shape is preserved, and objects at different speeds. I should develop minimal skills in using the computer to do mathematical work and check conjectures. Through English 305, I have learned how to create and publish my own Web page at CSUN. I can get many research documents. In writing, for the learning process to be most effective, I use the computer for all phases of writing. I use it from summary and response to first draft, then to revise and print perfected copies. Instead of trying to learn from someone’s limited notes, computer lab is a valuable tool for independent learning. I also use it as tools for completing a variety of instructional assignments. Computers only help students in learning. The use of computers does not always accelerate the learning process. The teachers challenge the students and lead them to better living more fun they know and care how students feel. They are seeking to provide the environment and resources essential to good student life. Every question has at least two sides. Narrow-minded people can see only one side; and it takes a broad-minded to see both. We do not educate children only for the purpose of educating them, our purpose is to fit them for life. As soon as we realize this fact, we will understand that it is very important to choose a system of education that will prepare children for life. It is not enough just to choose the first system of education one finds; or to continue with one’s old system of education without examining it to see whether it is in fact suitable or not. I agree with the fact our world today is growing and is widely dependent on computers. Therefore the role of technology in changing the way teachers teach and students learn is very important.