LESSON 10 : The Computer as a Tutor

              There has been a fear that someday in the future teachers will be replaced with CAI because as an assessment it is much better if we will used the computer to assist as in our learning for it is consistent and objective. Yes, it is partly true and also partly wrong because we all know that there are roles that teachers have to do that CAI cannot. A computer cannot assess and insure if the students have the needed knowledge and skills for it does not have any will and intellect.

               Teacher can decide the appropriate learning objectives while computers do not, a teachers can plan any structured activities to achieve objectives suited to the needs of its students and a teacher can evaluate the student’s achievements by ways of tests of the expected outcomes. With CAI, we can only expect lower level learning skills and what is only programmed in the computer will be the only thing a student will learn unlike with a teacher, we can learn more from him/her as we can freely asks questions or can interact with different experiences in life.

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)

          The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as a classroom tutor. It should be made clear, however, that the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller. Even with the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must:

• ·          Insure that the students have the needed knowledge and skills for any             computer activity.
• ·         Decide the appropriate learning objectives·
• ·         Plan the sequential and structured activities to achieve objectives.
• ·         Evaluate the students’ achievement by ways of tests of the specific                   expected outcomes.

On the other hand, the student in CAI play their own roles as learners as they:

·         Receive information·

·         Understand instructions for the computer activity·

·         Retain/keep in mind information and rules for the computer activity.

·   Apply the knowledge and rules during the process of computer learning.

During the computer activity proper in CAI the computer, too, plays its roles as it:

•      Acts as a sort of tutor·
•           Provides a learning environment·
•           Delivers learning instruction·
•           Reinforces learning through drill and practice·
•           Provides feedback.

              Today, educators accept the fact that the computer has indeed succeeded in providing an individualized learning environment so difficult for a teacher handling whole class. This is so, since the computer is able to allow individual students to learn at their own pace, motivate learning through a challenging virtual learning environment, and assist students through information needed during the learning process.

REFLECTION

                        Teacher must engage to the computer that explaining the student the good purpose of the computer not for playing or as part of their daily activities which id play games. We all know that computer can play the role of tutor in nearly any classroom. Teachers have only so much time on their hands, and even the most student-oriented teachers can leave children behind. One way to close this gap is to use the computer as a tutor. Many lessons, instructions and problem-solving materials are available on the web. One concern with computers is that they can reduce learning demands on students.

                       With access to the web comes millions of pieces of information, many of which contain answers to common problems from school. Students can use computers to do less work or even to cheat. The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as classroom tutor. It should be made clear, however, that the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play the major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller.

APPLICATION

               As a future teacher, I can use CAI to make my students learn our lesson in a “more fun” way. But I should not forget that CAI is just my tool, my aid in teaching. As much as possible, I will only employ CAI if the real thing or the real avenue is not available. I can also make use of CAI if I am not around when I don’t want to compromise the learning of my students. Of course, I understand not everyone can have immediate access to CAI since not everyone is fortunate enough to have PCs or if the lab is available, not everyone may be accommodated. With that, I think I will consider doing by group. But if it happened that I get to work in a far flung school without electricity, then I think I will just have to introduce the important concepts or if I can look for an alternative for CAI then I think I should go for it.