The Computer as Teacher’s Tool

Lesson 11 Educational Technology

Computer as the teacher’s handy-tool.

• Constructivist

• Social Constructivist paradigms

ConstructivistWhat is meant by constructivism?

The term refers to the idea that learners construct knowledge for themselves---each learner individually constructs meaning---as he or she learns. 

Constructing meaning is learning;

• This theory was introduced by Piaget (1981)

• Learning is an active process in which the learner uses sensory input and constructs meaning out of it.

• (Dewey's term) stressing that the learner needs to do something; that learning is not the passive acceptance of knowledge which exists "out there" but that learning involves the learner s engaging with the world. 

Social Constructivism

• a variety of cognitive constructivism that emphasizes the collaborative nature of much learning.

• • Social constructivism was

developed by post-revolutionary Soviet psychologist Lev Vygotsky.

Vygotsky accepted Piaget’s claim that learners respond not to external stimuli but to their interpretation of those stimuli.

However, he argued that cognitivists such as Piaget had overlooked the essentially social nature of language. As a result, he claimed they had failed to understand that learning is a collaborative process.

Vygostky rejected the assumption made by cognitivists such as Piaget and Perry that it was possible to separate learning from its social context. He argued that all cognitive functions originate in, and must therefore be explained as products of social interactions and that learning was not simply the assimilation and accommodation of new knowledge by learners; it was the process by which learners were integrated into a knowledge community. 

Learning framework

Constructivism

Social Constructivism

Assumption Knowledge is constructed by the individual

Knowledge is constructed within a social context

Definition of Learning

Students build their own learning

Students build knowledge influenced by the social context

Learning Strategies

Gather unorganized information to create new concept/principle

Exchange and share form ideas, stimulates thinking

General Orientation

Personal discovery of knowledge

Students discuss and discover meanings

The Computer’s Capability• Access to information

• Foster creative social knowledge-building

• Enhance the communication of the achieved project package.

Informative tool

The computer can provide vast amount of information in various forms, such as text, graphics, sound, and video. The internet itself provides database which user can access global information such as latest, weather forecast, airline schedule, sports devl, entertainment news and features.

Constructive tool

The computer itself can be used for manipulating information, visualizing one’s understanding and building new knowledge. The Microsoft Word computer program itself is a desktop publishing software that allows users to organize and present their ideas in attractive formats

Constructive tool

Co-constructive tool

Students can use constructive tools to cooperative way and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge. One way of co-construction is the use of the electronic white board where students may post notice to a shared document/ white board. Student may also co-edit the same document from their homes.

Situating tool

          By means of virtual reality (RS) extension systems, the computer can create 3-D images on display to give the user the feeling that are situated in a virtual environment. A flight simulation program is an example of a situating tool which places the user in simulated flying environment.

The computer has provided as different uses, gives us advantages and convenience. The trend nowadays is information technology which makes use the computer in all its applications. Computers have been already used in schools to provide and facilitate students’ learning. It is obvious that even the youngest generation knew about it and how it is being used. Student’s make their assignments, create projects, and do researches with the use of computer. It really seemed that our present civilization is dependent on computers. It is in anyway advantageous if used wisely and purposely.

THANK YOU!