Introduction
Humanity has experienced rapid advancement in the area of technologies for the past several decades. Electronic computing devices are now the basic means of data processing in the business, science, communications, entertainment, education, and other spheres of human activities. The omnipresence of computers and digital technologies in modern society imposes its entrance into all aspects of people’s lives.
The commercialization of the computing industry has directed it to entertainment more than at learning purposes, which starts to change now (Cullingford and Haq 18). Moreover, while computers have long been used in education for administrative record-keeping, their potential should be used to facilitate students’ learning as well (Johnston 56). In this paper, the important role of computers in the educational process for both educators and students will be justified and proved as obligatory in the modern digital era.
Main body
Educators’ Perspective
When computers were first introduced to educational facilities, they were utilized as data processing devices. They remain an important part of school administration because they enable storing and analyzing students’ information, as well as process administrative documents, curriculum with the help of databases (Johnston 57-58). The administration of schools and other educational facilities might use digital devices to manage staff, analyze efficacy, and promote professional growth.
The use of computers is also crucial for teachers’ education, providing them with the opportunities to research, acquire new techniques and skills, as well as create learning content for their students. Computing technologies enable “setting test papers, frame questions, and provide project ideas” (Evans par. 6). Moreover, electronic submission of papers might be useful in terms of environmental protection because it implies minimal use of paper.
One of the main parts of teachers’ work is instruction that is comprised of an explanation and delivery of new information. Special equipment might be used by educators to facilitate their work with students. One of such means is computer-assisted instruction (CIA) that allows for “incorporating technological development in time-sharing, voice answer-back, graphics, and multi-media control by computer” (Johnston 56). Another way of instruction process improvement is computer-managed instruction (CMI).
It helps to divide the work of an educator who teaches the students and a computer that processes a particular students’ data and provides the most applicable materials (Johnston 57). Such a method of learning process management is beneficial because it ensures an individual approach to every student. Moreover, the utilization of computing technologies might facilitate the adoption of national educational standards across multiple institutions, thus ensuring equality in access to education.
Students’ Perspective
There are many opportunities for students in schools and universities to benefit from computer use. The learners are primarily exposed to computer education to acquire the necessary skills for future work in a digitalized workplace (Cullingford and Haq 18). Only those who are computer literate can be professionally successful in the modern world since technologies have penetrated all areas of human life. However, the latest advancement in computing technologies and the emergence of smartphones have popularized digital space and introduced new ways of using computers in education.
Visual and audio materials that are possible to be used in the classroom with the help of computers enhance the learning opportunities for students of all ages (Evans). Diverse tutoring software might be applied for home studying, which proves to be very effective since the learner may repeat the process until he or she acquires a necessary level of knowledge or skill. Also, digital technologies enable the development of remote education by means of task exchange, video conferences, or email sending (Johnston 58). In comparison with the organization of remote education in the pre-computer era, modern procedures are less time-consuming, more effective, and informative, as well as provide a greater number of learning means for a student.
The students acquiring higher education might benefit from computer use when they conduct research. Internet access and a large number of online scientific databases contribute to the scope of knowledge and provide an endless amount of materials for any topic exploration (Evans). Moreover, computers make virtual reality applicable not only for entertainment but also for studying complex issues in specialized facilities. For example, medical students might develop manipulation skills with the help of a virtual surgical environment (Evans). Lastly, digital devices facilitate inclusive education by meeting the needs of diverse populations.
Summary
In conclusion, despite the commercialization of computers for entertainment use, their applicability in the educational setting is proved to be very broad. Firstly, digital technologies facilitate the work of educators and include the following beneficial aspects:
- administration,
- management,
- teacher’s education,
- new teaching tools,
- instruction.
Secondly, the students in schools, colleges, and universities improve their studying by means of computing technologies. The aspects of learners’ use of computers include:
- basic computer literacy for workplace preparedness,
- visual and audio materials for more diverse learning,
- tutoring software,
- remote education,
- inclusive education,
- internet access for research,
- virtual reality for skills practicing.
All in all, computers constitute a significant part of modern education and provide numerous benefits for students and teachers in achieving learning goals.
Works Cited
Cullingford, Cedric, and Nusrat Haq. Computers, Schools and Students: The Effects of Technology. Routledge, 2016.
Evans, Joe. “Importance of Computers in Education.” CLN Training. 2017. Web.
Johnston, Robert J. “Computers in Education: An IBM Viewpoint.” Educational Technology, vol. 56, no. 4, 2016, pp. 56-58.