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Education, as a process and discipline, is mainly concerned with imparting knowledge, methods of teaching, and providing/maintaining a conducive learning environment as opposed to informal education and other means of socialization. Computer-assisted learning (CAL), as the name implies, is the use of electronic devices/computers to provide educational instruction and to learn. Computer-assisted learning can be used in virtually all fields of education, ranging from a TV/DVD play-learn program for kindergarten kids to teaching quadruple bypass surgery techniques in medicine. CAL is developed by combining knowledge from all fields of education/learning, human-computer interaction (HCI) and cognition.
Today, classical education methods are rapidly being replaced with virtual education, online school, and distance learning systems. Boosted by improved visualization and data transmission technologies, it is now quite easy to create computer software programs that display and analyze graphic multidimensional data for human interpretation. This has become an integral part of education and is frequently used to develop and make attractive presentations in subjects that are difficult for students to understand without proper illustration.
With due regard to this work, we will simply define computer-assisted learning as the tutoring, learning, and interacting process facilitated through the use of computers. The main edge/advantage that CAL has over education methods is interaction. Computers can stimulate and arouse the active interest of students during the learning process at multiple levels. For example, on one level, it facilitates the interest of students in the learning material or the content being taught (for example a DVD tutorial on how to handle spreading fire). On a higher level, computers can facilitate live/active teaching interaction between the students and the tutor or among the students themselves and moderated by the tutor. The concept of human interaction with computers has been on since the introduction of household electronic devices in the late 1980s. However, this only began to happen in the last decade due to the aggressive mobile technology revolution and the Internet that promotes inexpensive and reliable communication across the globe.
Computer-assisted learning (CAL) is also known as computer-assisted education (CAE). By playing and using materials stored on DVDs, mobile phones, and other web-based resources, learning becomes more attractive and dynamic and offers the students entertaining avenues to showcase their listening and learning skills. It boosts the students’ confidence in solving the tasks they are assigned and therefore improves the quality of what they have learned.
Goals of CAE
The basic goal of CAE is to stimulate and develop the assimilation/learning capacity of students, increase the effectiveness and productivity teachers with the help of computer-based technology and update students’ knowledge to current trends as most of the concepts outside the last decade are gradually getting out of date. Computer technology should, therefore, be an integrated part of the education system. Another objective of CAL is to develop easily understandable and attractive tutorials and demonstrations of the field they are employed in.
Advantages of CAL
CAL provides many advantages to the education sector. These include
Self-Paced/ Self-Directed Learning
Since the students have greater control over the CAL process, they can decide on their pace of learning. Students can study as fast or as slowly as they like through a course. If they want to repeat some task or review some material again, they can do so as many times as they choose. They can also skip over a topic if they already know about it. This saves time and makes teaching more efficient. Similarly, students can choose what they want to learn and in what order, as students have different learning styles and strategies.
This offers a solution to the issue of slow and fast learners. With CAL, each student can study at his/her own pace. The slow learners will not feel frustrated if they are unable to keep up with the others since they can always review the lesson when it is opportune to study. While managing their own learning pace, students become more responsible and more aware of the implications of the learning style/strategy they choose to adopt. Web-based adaptive educational systems (WAES), for example, adapt to the student and provide different levels of data, assessment, and feedback for the student’s perusal.
Improved Computer Skill
By interacting often with computers, students who are not computer-literate will be compelled to develop/improve their computer skills and it also gives them a sense of collaboration when two or more students have to share a computer. As their computer competence gets better, the students will be encouraged to use computers more in doing their work.
Visualization
Naturally, a student becomes more alert when a computer-based learning/test is going on. There is a sense of anticipation that makes the student more attentive when learning the lesson. Students are better motivated visually by multimedia materials and listening is supported by seeing. This boosts students’ natural way of learning.
Learning Efficiency
With CAL, students are better able to pick up concepts or skills faster and with less effort and also retain what they have learned longer. Consequently, they would require less teacher time.
Sensory Stimulation
Humans are multi-sensory beings as we can receive and process information. According to Fletcher (1990), people remember 20% of what they hear, 40% of what they have seen and heard and 75% of what they see, hear and do. Since the computer can stimulate the various human senses and present data in different media can spice up the learning process. Computers encourage learning as they promote enthusiasm and provide a stimulating environment.
Communication Development
Chats and video conference help in the development of writing, speaking, and communication skills. They provide speaking practice through debates and opinion chats. Sometimes, this does not involve the teacher’s formal assessment.
Content/Lesson-Centered
Unlike a traditional class that is teacher-centered, the computer-based class shifts the student’s attention from the teacher to the lesson/content being taught. The student benefits from a lesson-centered teaching approach. Students give direct attention to the computer(s) in front of them, which makes them feel more comfortable with their lesson.
Enthusiasm
Generally speaking, the use of computer technology in education makes the class more appealing and interesting. It maintains students’ attention and stimulates their motivation to actively participate in the class.
