Computers in Education 1

1
Computers in Education 1

• Overview of using computers in the classroom
• Lecture 1 2

March 99
Ruth Geer
2
Why integrate information technology?

• Technology is pervasive in society?
• Future jobs?
• Schools down the road are doing it?
• Potential benefits for students?
• Potential benefits for educators?
• Economically feasible and educationally
  imperative?

3
Computers in Education?

• Computers have the potential to revolutionise
  teaching and learning.
• Does the problem lie in the fact that they are
• being poorly used?
• Or misused?

4
Computer Literacy and Information Literacy

• There is an inextricable link between computers
  and information literacy.
• Computers have become an essential tool. All
  information users must be able to use the
  computer to locate and effectively use
  information sources.
• Computers provide an excellent medium for
  presenting and communicating information

5
Computers and values

• Work speed
• Work efficiency
• Work power
• Removal of human error
• Increase human interaction

6
The challenge

• Technology is providing a catalyst for change
• interaction among students and between students
  and teachers is changing
• teaching and learning is moving from
• teacher centred to learner-centred
• individual tasks to collaborative work
• passive learning to active learning

7
Effective learning

• Technology
• provides a dynamic student-centred learning
  environment.
• supports students in constructing their own
  knowledge and understanding - independent and
  life-long learners
• must be deeply integrated into the purposes and
  activities of the classroom to enhance student
  learning (Sheingold, K., 1991, p20)

8
Using computers in Education

• Taylors model
• tutor
• tool
• tutee
• (toy)

9
The computer as tutor

• To function effectively as a tutor, computer
  should be programmed by experts
• The computer presents content
• Student responds
• Computer evaluates response
• eg Computer Assisted Instruction - Bork Suppes
  strong supporters

10
The computer as a tool

• Major mode of computer use
• Effectively meets the needs of the user
• Save time and preserve intellectual energy
• however can only explore activities and ideas for
  which tool is appropriate
• eg word processing, graphics software

11
The computee as tutee

• Dwyer, Luehrmann Papert believe students learn
  through discovery the development of their own
  ideas
• Users need to understand in order to teach
• Shift from product to process
• Users learn about the process of learning

12
The roles of information technology

• Learning about information technology
• Learning from information technology
• Learning with information technology
• Learning to think with information technology
• Managing learning with information technology

13
Common forms of Learning about information
technology

• Information technology awareness
• Information technology literacy
• Information literacy

14
Potential benefits of Learning about information
technology

• Knowledge about information technology
• Skills in using information technology
• Positive attitudes towards information technology

15
Common forms of Learning from information
technology

• Drill and practice
• Tutorial
• Demonstration

16
Potential benefits of Learning from information
technology

• Catering for students who need extension work
• Flexible delivery
• Overlearning
• Freeing up teachers' time
• Comprehensive student records

17
Potential benefits of Learning from information
technology

• One-to-one interaction
• Immediate feedback
• Small logical units
• Individual rate of learning
• Individualised delivery
• Catering for students with learning difficulties

18
Common forms of Learning with information
technology

• Graphics programs
• Telecommunication and the Internet
• Web publishing
• Games
• Virtual reality
• Multimedia

19

• Desktop publishing
• Database
• Spreadsheet
• Logo
• Music
• Simulation

20
Potential benefits of Learning with information
technology

• Control of the learning environment
• Integration into school curriculum
• Access to information and learning
• Development of higher order thinking skills

21
Rationale for integration

• Student-centred learning
• Constructivist learning
• Motivation
• Engagement
• Empowerment
• Problem solving
• Cooperative learning

22
Rationale for integration

• Productivity
• Access to information
• Links to learning tools
• Unique instructional characteristics
• Educational reform
• roles of teachers
• curriculum
• Evaluation of learning

23
Computers in Education

• Computers have been both the major cause and
  greatest facilitator of this Information Age
  (Breivik Senn, 1994, p5)
• Computers have made information management much
  easier
• Computers have assisted in the development of
  information skills in order to equip students to
  become independent and lifelong learners.

24
Technology dependent

• There is increased pressure to present
  information in a stimulating and entertaining way
  using a variety of media.
• Demands require rapid dispersion of information,
  independent of time and place.
• Information is being generated more quickly than
  ever before.

25
Learning with Technology

• ...it is not the features of technology alone,
  but rather the ways in which those features are
  used in the classroom that shape its impact.
• (Sheingold, K., 1991, p18)
• Teachers are still the key to creating relevant
  and meaningful learning environments
• (Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow, 1995)