Lesson 4 - The Computer Technology

OVERVIEW
Lesson 3 is all about computer technology. This lesson introduces the
computer technology in the learning environment. It traces the emergence of
computer in the classroom and the role and functions of computer in
education.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

● State and demonstrate the educational role and time of computer

technology
● Assess current personal use of computer applying the tutor-tool-tutee
model
● Transform the negative effects of computer into its educational and
instructional values

DISCUSSIONS
In the Philippines, your parents and your elders as teachers or students
can probably recall the first time they saw computers in school. Three
decades ago, they must have observed the presence of computers in
computer laboratories. These computers were made available only to
students taking computer-related subjects, and only computer teachers have
access to these computers. Later on, computers are seen in administrative
offices such as in the registrar's office, accounting, general services, and in
the library. Initially, many of them probably thought at that time that computers
replaced the manual or electronic typewriters and were perceived as the latest
version or models of typewriters. For others, they believe that one has to be
well versed in typing in order to use a computer. These are just few of the
many other perceptions and apprehensions about the computer technology.
Today, these computers finally invaded the classrooms. But how do these
computers function? Do these computers simply serve as modern typewriters
or tools in teaching? Let's find out.

Educational Role and Functions of a Computer

You have just shared your personal experiences with your first
exposure to a computer. At this stage of your academic pursuit, and as a
millennial student, you must have extensively made use of computers
primarily to do your school work, such as homework, reports and other
research activities. Hence, you must have explored the many computer
applications and programs to carry out your various academic requirements.
In the course of exploring these computer applications, you realize how much
the computer technology has made your academic tasks easy and fast.
In the classroom, you must have observed some of your teachers
using the computer to deliver instruction, and others still make use of the
chalk board in teaching, Just like you teachers likewise attempt to explore and
discover how the use of computer can facilitate teaching and learning.
In order to understand the evolution in terms of functionalities of
computers, Taylor (1980) introduced the tutor, tool and tutee model to
illustrate the educational role and functions of computers in education.
Educational role and functions of computers in education.

1.Computer as a Tutor
The computer takes the role of a tutor when it is used to teach users
specific skills or concepts. Tutorial programs are designed to guide users in
acquiring and understanding a particular skill. As a tutor, the computer simply
dictates what the user should do and the user in return follows as directed.

2. Computer as a Tool
When the computer plays the role of a tool, this involves the use of
more general-purpose applications such as word processing programs and
database programs used in preparing reports and in organizing information.
As a tool, a computer simply facilitates these tasks and helps users work
efficiently. The use of Excel program in sorting, organizing, and managing
pertinent data and presenting them visually, the use of Word program in
writing and research, PowerPoint and other presentation programs are
examples when the computer is working as a tool.

3.Computer as a Tutee
The third role or function of a computer is when it serves as such as
tutee. Hence, users such as teachers and students design programs that will
instruct or dictate the computer what to do. For example, a computer
becomes your tutee when you design your own PowerPoint presentation for
the delivery of your lecture in class. In this example the computer simply
reads what you have designed or programmed and, therefore, plays role of a
tutee.

The tutor-tool-tutee functions of computer provide the basic concept on

how you can move your computer usage from a tutor, to a tool and eventually
to a tutee. However, using a computer requires more than simply
understanding its role and functions in education.
Numerous research studies in the last decade have been conducted
primarily to examine how the use of computers can transform teaching and
learning. These scholarly works seem to share common observations on
teachers' perceptions and apprehensions using computers in the classroom.
Many teachers view computers as a teaching device just like the other
teaching devices they use in the classroom. According to Thomas and
Boysen (n.d.), the computer is not just another form of media like a film
projector or videotape unit. These gadgets can dispense information but
cannot address individual learning needs of the students and cannot motivate
and engage them in higher cognitive thinking. The true potential of the
computer is in providing a medium through which the student can learn rather
than a medium through which the teacher can teach (Thomas & Boysen,
n.d.).
This should call for empirical studies that should look at technology not as a
simple delivery medium but as "the learner actively collaborating with the
medium to construct knowledge”, (Kozma, 1991).
Teaching and learning today have gone beyond learning from
prescribed textbook with the emergence of computers in the classroom. As a
student in teacher education, you find it easy and quick to satisfy your search
for additional knowledge using the internet. But soon you will shift your role
from being a student to a teacher. How a student views computer technology
will not be the same as how a teacher perceives the role and functions of
computer in teaching. The latter is the primary objective of your course in
Educational Technology.
If you continue surfing in the internet you will encounter a hundred and
one ways of citing other roles and functions of computers in education. But for
the purpose of your present lesson, let us focus on the significant advantages
of using computers in education. Scholars and practitioners in the field cited
the following:

Advantages and Benefits of Computer in Education

● Computers facilitate an efficient storage of information in data
management.
● Use of PowerPoint and other presentation software like Flash make
lecture presentation interactive and meaningful.
● Computers can facilitate an audio-visual representation of information,
hence, learning becomes realistic.
● Computers provide easy access to knowledge and information via the
internet.
● Homework, take-home tests and other academic requirements may be
submitted in soft copies, and therefore, save paper.
● Computers provide access to online instructional materials, thereby,
simplifying and enhancing delivery of complex and difficult concepts and
ideas.
● Computers provide efficient storage and rendition of information for
information processing. (Banate, 2014).

In addition, particularly in teaching and in any given learning

environment, computers offer extended learning opportunities with access to
the wide array of online instructional materials which teachers can use to
reinforce delivery of content. If we have cited positive contributions of
computers in education, they likewise have the following negative effects or
disadvantages.

Disadvantages of Computer in Education

● Computers have negative effect on one's health.
● Computers affect the social growth and development of many users
especially the young. 24/7 or prolonged access results to social
discomfort in face-to-face interaction.
● Computers give access to inappropriate pornographic and violent
websites.
● Irresponsible use of technology results to cyber bullying which is rampant
today.
● Easy access to information made cheating easy, too.
● There is a significant drop in students' attention in class. Students are
more focused on their mobile technologies.
● Technology dependence led to a decline in students' spelling and writing
abilities.
● Computers brought about diverse computer skills among the students.
Some may come with prior knowledge and skills on computer application
while others may not have any exposure at all. (Schreiner, n.d)