Influence of Computers on Modern Day Education
Influence of Computers on Modern Day Education
Computer technology emerged in the second half of the 20th century. Since then, computer technology has rapidly evolved making it a significant part of the human society. Today, most aspects of human activities rely of computer technologies. Education is one of the essential elements of human society that has been widely affected by the development of computer technologies. This paper has explored how computers have influenced modern day education. This analysis reveals that computers have led to significant improvements in the field of education
Impact of Computers on Education
Computers have enhanced learning by facilitating communication between students and their teachers (Fouts, 2000). Advancement of computer technology has led to significant improvement of communication with society. Computer technologies have supported communication means such as emails, chats, blogs and social networks. This improvement in communication has been reflected in the modern day education system. Emails, chats and social networks have enhanced communication between teachers and their students (Fouts, 2000). Consequently, learning has improved as transfer of information has become easy and fast. Communication technologies such as social networks have also facilitated mutual communication between educators and learners.Computers have also enhanced the learning process by facilitating interaction among students. Interaction between peers is an essential element in learning (Mikre, 2011).
Interaction enables students to learn from each other by sharing information and experiences. Computer technologies have enhanced interaction by facilitating communication between peers. Modern day students can discuss education issues through technologies such as email, chats, blogs and social networks (Mikre, 2011). Blogs and social networks have further facilitated interaction between student by expanding the students’ network beyond school compounds and geographical boundaries. Today, it is possible for students from varied sections of the globe to share knowledge and experiences through blogs and social networks.Educational materials have also become easily accessible due to the advancement of computer technologies (Fouts, 2000). Access to learning materials is an essential determinant of the quality of education. In the past, schools focused on building libraries, and acquiring volumes of printed educational materials. However, such initiatives required massive financial resources limiting many schools from accessing education materials (Fouts, 2000). The advancement of computer technology has reduced the cost of acquiring learning materials. The internet provides a vast collection of learning materials that are used for educational purposes. These materials are readily available to the students and schools.
The internet has also enabled the creation of virtue libraries. These libraries are cheaper to establish as compared to break and mortar libraries, and have the capacity to serve a large population of students. The virtue libraries also offer materials in electronic forms meaning that these materials can serve infinite number of users. Today, students can easily conduct research and gather information on any discipline.Computer technologies also provide tools that facilitate the learning process. Programs such as excel, calculators and other computational programs have improved how students conduct computation activities (Caincross & Poysti, 2010). Programs such as word processors have also shaped how student organize and present their work and thus enhancing the learning process. Advancement in computer technology has also led to development of tools that facilitate instructional strategies. Tools such as PowerPoint and projectors have enabled educators to offer enhanced instructions thus facilitating the students’ understanding.
For instance, projectors have enabled teachers to incorporate visual and multimedia elements in their instructional strategies. This has assisted in ensuring that the learning process accommodates the learning needs of all students.Computer technology has enabled the development of distance learning, which has enhanced accessibility to education. Distance learning is a modern education concept that makes use of technology to bring people, who are separated by geographical distance, together for learning purpose (Mikre, 2011). Teachers make use of computer resources such as electronic texts, video and audio files to convey learning instructions to students. Distance learning also makes use of computer technologies such as emails, chats, blogs and social networks to connect teachers with their students (Mikre, 2011). Virtue libraries are also part of the technological elements that have facilitated the development of distance learning. The virtual libraries enable students to access school learning resources from any geographical area. This implies that students do need to travel to their schools in order to access these materials.Distance learning revolutionized the field of education, especially in higher learning. Distance learning has become prevalent in higher education (Bakia & Shear, 2012). Many colleges and university offer learning programs through virtue platforms. Providing education through virtue platforms has made education accessible to a large number of people (Bakia & Shear, 2012).
This is because virtue learning boosts the capacity for providing services of learning institutions. Unlike in brick and mortar classrooms, virtue classroom can serve a large number of students. Similarly, education institutions do not have to invest massive resources in establishing education facilities such as classrooms, hostels and libraries. This has enabled institutions to channel their resources into enhancing other areas of learning.Long distance learning has also enhanced accessibility of higher education by reducing the cost of education (Marengo, 2005). Long distance learning supports students who do not have resources for hiring accommodation and transport services. Today, students can learn from their homes through online and other computer enabled platforms. Distance learning has also reduced the cost of providing education services by eliminating the need to invest in physical facilities (Marengo, 2005).
The virtue platforms have also enabled high learning institutions to attract a large numbers of students thus benefiting from economy of scale. Consequently, the learning institutions are able to pass down this cost advantages to the students by charging low fees.Long distance learning has also facilitated accessibility to high learning opportunities by enhancing the flexibility of learning programs (Bakia & Shear, 2012). Virtue learning enables students to access learning materials from any location. Tools used in virtue learning such as audio and video files also provide learners with the freedom to design their own study schedule. Flexibility has enabled individuals with other responsibilities such as work and family, to get an opportunity for advancing their education. Today, it has become easier for a person to work in New York and enroll for a program that is physically located in California.
Conclusion
Computers have become central elements in the human society. Computer technologies have been applied in almost all sectors of society including transport, banking, communication and many others. Computers have also had significant impacts on the education sector. This technology has enhanced learning by facilitating communication between teachers and students; facilitating interaction among students, improving accessibility to learning materials and providing tools that facilitate learning activities. Computers have also enabled the developed of virtue learning, which has enhanced accessibility to high learning.
References
Bakia M & Shear L. (2012). Understanding the Implications of Online Learning for Educational Productivity. November 22, 2012. http://ctl.sri.com/news/ImplicationsOnlineLearning2.pdf
Caincross F. & Poysti K. (2010). ICTs for Education and Building Human Capital. November 22, 2012. http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/visions/papers/educationpaper.pdf
Fouts J. (2000). Research on Computers and Education. November 22, 2012. ftp://206.78.212.86/technology/techplan/docs/TotalReport3.pdf
Marengo (2005). Measuring the Economic Benefits of E-Learning. Journal of Information Technology Education. 4 (2005): 329- 346
Mikre F. (2011). The Roles of Information Communication Technologies in Education.
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