The Computer as a Tutor
- The computer is one of the wonders of human ingenuity, even in its original design in the 1950's to carry out complicated mathematical and logical operations.
- With the invention of microcomputer (now also commonly referred to PCs or personal computers), the PC has become the tool for programmed instruction.
- Educators saw much use of the PC. Since it has become affordable to small business, industries and homes.
- Educators saw potential for individualization for learning.
- Educators therefore devised strategies to use the computer to break the barriers to individualized instruction.
Computer-assisted Instruction (CAI)
- 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.
Even when the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must:
- Make sure that 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 the specific expected outcomes.
On the other hand, the students in CAI play their own roles as learners as they:
- Receive information.
- Understand instructions for the computer activity.
- Retain/Keep in mind the 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:
- Act as a tutor (the role traditional played by the teacher).
- Provides a learning environment.
- Delivers learning instruction.
- Reinforces learning through drill-and-practice.
- Provides feedback.
