The Computer As A Tutor

          There has been a fear that someday in the future teachers will be replaced with CAI because as an assessment it is much better if we will used the computer to assist as in our learning for it is consistent and objective. Yes, it is partly true and also partly wrong because we all know that there are roles that teachers have to do that CAI cannot. A computer cannot assess and insure if the students have the needed knowledge and skills for it does not have any will and intellect.

Teacher can decide the appropriate learning objectives while computers do not, a teachers can plan any structured activities to achieve objectives suited to the needs of its students and a teacher can evaluate the student’s achievements by ways of tests of the expected outcomes. With CAI, we can only expect lower level learning skills and what is only programmed in the computer will be the only thing a student will learn unlike with a teacher, we can learn more from him/her as we can freely asks questions or can interact with different experiences in life.

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)

          The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as a classroom tutor. It should be made clear, however, that the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller. Even with the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must:

·         Insure that the 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
          of the specific expected outcomes.

On the other hand, the student in CAI play their own roles as learners as they:

·         Receive information

·         Understand instructions for the computer activity

·         Retain/keep in mind 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:

·         Acts as a sort of tutor

·         Provides a learning environment

·         Delivers learning instruction

·         Reinforces learning through drill and practice

·         Provides feedback

Today, educators accept the fact that the computer has indeed succeeded in providing an individualized learning environment so difficult for a teacher handling whole class. This is so, since the computer is able to allow individual students to learn at their own pace, motivate learning through a challenging virtual learning environment, and assist students through information needed during the learning process.

ISSUES

Computers have become commonplace in the classroom, at least in some classes. One problem is students' vulnerability to the distractions that computers provide. It can be incredibly difficult for teachers to monitor all the students, and some may play games or surfing the web instead of focusing on the work at hand. It is very common in public school that student do not directly go home instead they are with friend playing Dota and SF which are the very attractive games to the students that result to failed to go to school as well as the performance in the class discussion.

REFLECTION

                        Teacher must engage to the computer that explaining the student the good purpose of the computer not for playing or as part of their daily activities which id play games. We all know that computer can play the role of tutor in nearly any classroom. Teachers have only so much time on their hands, and even the most student-oriented teachers can leave children behind. One way to close this gap is to use the computer as a tutor. Many lessons, instructions and problem-solving materials are available on the web.One concern with computers is that they can reduce learning demands on students.

                       With access to the web comes millions of pieces of information, many of which contain answers to common problems from school. Students can use computers to do less work or even to cheat. 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.