Use and Importance of Computers in Education

Many technological advances have been made throughout history making life easier, one of which is the computer. Computers have changed the world, as a lot of things can now be done through computers. Computers are everywhere at school, at work, and at home. Many daily activities either involve the use of or depend on information from a computer. Over the past decade, the number of schools with computer and the Internet access has grown exponentially, and the number of children going online from school has followed suit. The first computer Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC) was developed in 1942. Historians divide the history of the modern computer into generations, beginning with the introduction of the UNIVersal Automatic Compute (UNIVAC), the first commercial computer which was introduced in 1951 (Computer, I40). Professor John Atanasoff and graduate student Clifford berry built the world’s first electronic digital computer which included several innovations such as computing, logical arithmetic and different processing (Lemons, Computer impact on education 2009). Computers mean instant access to information because they affect different aspects of people’s lives, homes and society. Computers have become an integral part of the education as they allow students and teachers access to information, show students real world, help in research projects, and prepare for their jobs. This paper attempts to gather and analyze information about use of the computers in education system. Education is the process of acquiring knowledge. In the traditional model, people learn from other people such as parents, teachers, and employers. Many forms of printed material such as books and manuals are used as learning tools. Today, educators also are turning to computers to assist with education (Discovering of Computer, 32). Many schools and companies equip labs and classrooms with computers. Some schools require students to have a notebook computer or personal digital assistant (PDA) to access the school’s network or Internet wirelessly (Discovering of Computer, 36). Moreover, there are lots of various interactive white boards such as SmartBoard, ActivBoard, Mimeo and Webster. These electronic boards connect with the teacher's computer and can be used in different ways. For instance, if the teacher takes notes on the interactive white board, then it can save those notes and provide them to students who missed class. The teacher can upload them to a school Web site, where that child or a parent can see them. In a graphic way, the teacher can demonstrate what happens when you mix colors, divide numbers or create a virtual science experiment. The board also can provide interactive review games,in which students match the correct answers or fill in the blanks. All of the white board companies have Web site with lesson plans and suggestions. Teachers also find lesson plans by searching the Internet or on teacher forums. These boards are more useful and helpful in interactive teaching method where students can enjoy their learning process. Another way of using computers in the classroom is the use of online research projects, or Web quests. As with interactive white boards, several online sites are available to teachers with hundreds of potential projects for their students. Students are challenged to create utopian societies, time capsules, comic strips or find careers. Simulation is another way to use computers in a classroom context. Simulations provide â€Å"real-life† experiences in many cases, for example: the experience with the stock market or using math in daily life. The virtual field trips bring far-flung places into the classroom. If it is not possible to travel to Colonial Williamsburg, the students can visit websites like history. org instead and watch the actual place virtually. With this sort of virtual learning environment, computers have proven extremely beneficial especially to the kids. In addition, computers with certain speech, audio, and motor limitations also provide a huge benefit to the kids. Kids with special needs can use alternative input and output devices (assistive technologies) to interact with computers and do things that they normally could not accomplish independently. They benefit especially from having access to an on-demand, patient tutor that allows them to work at their own pace. Computers improve both teaching and student achievement. Across the world children have entered a passionate and enduring love affair with the computer. Thus, when used for educational programs, what attracts the children most is not the beauty of or interests in the content being learned, but these are video effects of the computer. It is a great need that children and young people have to learn computers now otherwise they will fall behind in their future search for professional jobs and career. Computers these days have become so easy to use and learn. The online tutorials are becoming so powerful that any one will be able to learn how to use computers very fast at any age. The use of computers will be part of on-the-job training, provided by the enterprises themselves. It is a fact that many adults are afraid of computers, but the person will not be the case with children who were born after the introduction of personal computers. As of today, more than 70 percent of colleges offer some sorts of distance learning classes. Distance learning makes students independent. Not only distance learning, computer based teaching itself is also very important. A meta-analysis of forty-two controlled evaluation studies was conducted to determine the effectiveness of computer-based teaching (CBT) at the secondary level. According to the evaluation, results indicate that programs of computer-assisted and computer-managed instruction raised student examination scores by approximately 0. standard deviations (SDs). Programs using computer-enriched instruction, however, raised examination scores by only 0. 07 SDs in the average study. The effects of CBT on student learning were stronger in studies focusing on disadvantaged students and in studies conducted in recent years. Research is also the part of education system. Research provides more knowledge and ideas about particular subjects. Computers these days are absolutely neces sary throughout the research process. The role of the computer becomes more important when the research is on a large sample. Computers play vital role in data storage and processing. Computers assist the researcher throughout different phases of the research process such as the conceptual phase, design and planning phase, empirical phase, analytic phase and dissemination phase. Computers help with searching the literature, creating a theoretical framework and formulating of hypothesis. In research studies, the preparation and inputting of data is the longest and most time consuming work but the computer helps to do it in comparatively less time. All branches of science, from biology to astronomy to meteorology, use computers to assist them with collecting, analyzing and modeling data. Breakthroughs in surgery, medicine, and treatments often result from scientist’s use of computers. Special software assists graphic designers in developing pages that include text, graphics, and photographs; artists in composing and enhancing songs; filmmakers in creating and editing film; and journalists and mobile users in capturing and modifying video clips. The use of computer-based software tools assist engineers and machinists in manufacturing or prototyping product components. Computers is one of the vital equipment in today's world. To make tomorrow's work force competitive in an increasingly high-tech world, learning computer skills must be a priority. Working with computers particularly using the Internet brings students valuable connections with teachers, other schools and students, and a wide network of professionals around the globe. Those connections spice the school day with a sense of real world relevance, and broaden the educational community. Thus, many people believe that the use of computer in education system is vital to success in today’s world. As technology continues to advance, computers are becoming a part of everyday life. Computers allow people across the world to communicate easily. They have changed the face of society as well. Computers are not only storage devices and processing unit but are also excellent communication media which can make the work easier and efficient in a very short period of time. Business and entertainment uses them to make profits, education uses them to help and educate students better, and the Medical field uses computers in many different ways and other areas. The world would be a dull and primitive place without computer technology. Computers, which have such a wide variety of applications, are indeed ruling society. To keep up the pace in this fast life of today, computer education is extremely important. Computers are an integral part of life and so is computer education. Therefore, computers have changed today’s society a lot in almost all fields, among which the education is one of the notable one. Computers are important in education because they teach to reconsider how people learn and what the nature of learning and useful information is. At this moment, no one can avoid the presence of computers in school as it has become a necessity in a lot of scenarios. The use of computers in education enables each student to tie-in the classroom objectives and make a connection to real-world applications. This emerging computer and the Internet technology give students and the teacher access to a world of knowledge.