TEXT 3 – 1st SEMESTER - FEI

Computer Technology in Learning

The arrival of computers in the 1950s has changed the world and the way people are doing things.
This is especially true in education, business, and industries to name a few. According to some
predictions in the past, computer technology would transform education and become the most
important component of educational technology. Although it did not happen overnight, computer
inspired the development of another branch of educational technology from the time when
computers entered the classrooms in the 1960s until about 1990, and this perspective was known as
educational computing. In 1990s educators began to see a computer as a part of the combination of
technology resources, including media, instructional systems, and computer base support systems.
Computer is what usually technology is referred to, and multimedia is a part of it. Multimedia as
Marian-Webster Online Dictionary says: “Using, involving, or encompassing several media (a
multimedia approach to learning).” The first known use of multimedia is in 1962. This is also the time
when computer is starting to evolve into global market. For many educators, any mention of
technology in education immediately brings to mind the use of some device or set of equipment,
particularly computer equipment. Ever since the invention of computer, schools and universities are
now using computer as a part of the teaching and school curriculum as well are implementing
computer skills as a part of the learning process. Fortunately, technology integration skills (computer)
can’t be learned by sitting in the classroom and listening to an instructor or watching demonstration.
Students must have an opportunity to navigate through a program and complete a step to create a
new product. The focus must be how to use the technology resources in the classroom rather than
just technical skills. On the other hand, teachers also need to improve their knowledge regarding
technology such as computer. They need to be trained not only during a one-shot in-service, rather,
an over-time and ongoing training as well as to have access to technology even after the training
session.

Roles of Technology in Learning

The word “Media” is the plural of “Medium” that means “form of communication.” In Latin, Medium
means “Between”. This term refers to anything that carries information between a source and a
receiver. Therefore, the role of media between the source and receiver is very important to deliver
the message that needed to be delivered. There are six basic categories of media: 1. Text, 2. Audio, 3.
Visuals, 4. Video, 5. Manipulates (Objects), and 6. People. The purpose of media is to facilitate
communication and learning. The most commonly used media in learning is “Text.” Text is an
alphabetical character that may be displayed in any format, such as books, posters, chalk/white
board, computer screen and many more. The next commonly used media is “Audio.” This includes
anything you can hear, such as a person’s voice, music, mechanical sounds, noise, and many more.
Thirdly is Visuals. This medium is regularly used to promote learning. They include diagrams on
posters, drawings on a board, photographs, graphics in a book, cartoons, and so on. Other type of
media is “Video.” These are media that shows motion and movement like DVD, videotape, computer
animation, and so on. Manipulative objects are things that learners can touch, feel and handle. And
the last media is “People.” These may be teachers, students, or subject-matter experts. People are
critical to learning. Students learn from teachers, other students and adults. Therefore, computer has
been found to help and improve student learning. It also has been found to be better than using
books, teachers, films, or other more traditional methods. The role of multimedia and technology in
learning specifically computer technology in the classroom is significantly important. For instance,
one of the important roles is: “creating media and links by using a computer. It allows students to
create multimedia projects. Through media users can easily link by clicking one button and they can
select any desired buttons to see any desired event. Next, a computer can facilitate students to
perform activities which would be difficult and even impossible to perform such as: Word Processor
that makes a typewriter that can change and reformat pages, and a Spreadsheet makes a sheet of
squared paper that recalculates numbers. The functions become easier and faster and it allows users
to interact with information in completely new ways. Furthermore, through computer technology in
learning, students can have their own self-evaluation guidelines to assess their own progress and
define what needs improvement. They can also diagnose their problem and find help to solve the
problem online through Internet. “Students can also use the internet to view an extraordinary array
of current information resources”. Moreover, it is believed that Internet can promote equity in the
country school through providing rich and poor schools alike with access to the same extraordinary
variety of information resources and opportunities for communication. Therefore, Internet can reach
beyond boundaries such as physical markets, race, gender, age and various social categories.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Multimedia and Technology in Learning

Multimedia and especially computers have changed the way students learn and how teachers
present their lessons. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages in using computer
technology in learning such as:

+ Online information, simulation, visual literacy, cost effective way of learning

- Mass data storage, copyright issue, dehumanize teaching, the issue of privacy and security

Conclusions

There is almost no end to the list of things that can be done by students and teachers in using
technology in teaching and learning from being the medium of instruction with online information,
simulation, visual literacy, cost effective, to mass storage. Like a coin, there are advantages as well as
disadvantages in the use of technology in education as well as in daily lives. With the availability of
technology, educational software and applications become readily available in the market to assist
teachers and students in learning as well as to obtain online information. All these are meant to help
learners acquire knowledge better and have more understanding whatever they are trying to
achieve. Technology has become an integral part of our society whereby people are required to
master certain skills in order to be able to operate it. The use of computer, Internet, cellular phone,
video, MP3, I pod, I phone, I pad and many more gadgets are now connected and can’t be separated
from human life, especially for younger generations. As a result, students learn more and faster than
previous generations. Despite the enormous advantages of the use of computer technology in
teaching and learning it still requires control by parents as well as teachers. Also, there is a need to
address issues such as the copyright, illegal usage of software and data, also the issue of privacy and
dehumanization of students as learners. These are important issues that directly affect students,
teachers, and parents that in turn can affect teaching and learning processes. There are needs to
create a system that could be used to promote the use of technology in schools for the benefits of
teaching and learning but at the same time a control mechanism needs to be set up to monitor the
responsible use of online information.

EXCERCISES:
1. Decide whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE:
a. For only a few educators, any mention of technology in education immediately brings to
mind the use of some device or set of equipment, particularly computer equipment.
b. The role of multimedia and technology in learning specifically computer technology in
the classroom is significantly unimportant.
c. A computer can facilitate students to perform activities which would be difficult and
even impossible to perform.
d. It is believed that Internet can promote equity in the country school through providing
rich and poor schools alike with access to the same extraordinary variety of information
resources and opportunities for communication.
e. Since the invention of computer, schools are now neither using computer as a part of the
teaching and school curriculum nor are implementing computer skills as a part of the
learning.

2. Match the following words to make collocations from the text:

3. Put the letters in the correct order to make complete words from the
text:
a. tqiuepenm
b. semcahmin
c. utiosmalni
d. eragtos
e. tedaimilum

4. Complete the following sentences with ONE word from the list:
control / role / mechanism / education / market
a. The ________ of multimedia and technology in learning specifically computer technology
in the classroom is significantly important.
b. There are needs to create a system that could be used to promote the use of technology
in schools for the benefits of teaching and learning but at the same time a control
________ needs to be set up to monitor the responsible use of online information.
c. Like a coin, there are advantages as well as disadvantages in the use of technology in
________ as well as in daily lives.
 d. This is also the time when computer is starting to evolve into global _________.
e. Despite the enormous advantages of the use of computer technology in teaching and
learning it still requires __________ by parents as well as teachers.

5. Match the words from A with their synonymous words from B: