Rama Amarnath
The introduction of the computer as a teaching aid calls for a change in the mindset of the managers of education. During these times of fast-track technological advancements, there is a need is to adapt to change and take rapid strides in education. This calls for a paradigm shift from the traditional methods of teaching to the adoption of state-of-the-art techniques, which are amply provided by computers as teaching aids.

Technology is not transformative on its own. But when used effectively, computer applications can support qualitative thinking by involving students in multifarious tasks within the realm of their learning.

Here the teacher turns a facilitator, guiding the student with various projects. Students learn to obtain, analyze and display information. They improve their decision-making skills, and are able to set goals for themselves and work towards achieving them. A survey conducted in this field revealed that there was remarkable increase in the motivation levels amongst students. To cite a real life situation – there was a child with dyslexia who was thoroughly comfortable with all the developments in technology. He was adept at making high quality presentations. Due to his ability to work with technology, he gained recognition amongst his peers and was given due importance.

Technology also provides an excellent platform for teachers to upgrade their professional skills. An otherwise monotonous classroom session transforms into an interactive one, thus bridging the gap between students and teachers. When children are assigned group projects, they learn the art of sharing and interact in a better way with the peer group. This gives scope for exchange of ideas, group discussions, presentation skills and interaction with audience.

In this scenario, an ideal school would have computerized classrooms, a Wi-Fi enabled campus and well-equipped labs thus providing students the necessary infrastructure. The role of the teacher would entail amongst others, forming teams of students, and allotting them diverse topics for intensive studies. Students would be trained to gather information from various sources like the Internet, electronic libraries and other authentic sources to create high quality presentations. The end product could serve as a teaching aid.

Teachers can ensure optimization of technology by inculcating the practice of interaction with experts in a subject through teleconferencing and email. They can guide and assist the students in opting for many online courses.

Search engines facilitate fast retrieval of information. Primary level students can be trained to use the various general knowledge and other educational sites. A plethora of information in various subjects beckons the students through the medium of E-libraries. Through this medium, the student can locate and read many books of his choice.

Cameras installed in classrooms and other vantage positions help authorities monitor the movements of the student and the teacher which assists in improving the quality of education. Computers have also been effectively used by physically challenged people to pursue their education. A deaf-blind person will rely exclusively on a Braille display. Nylon or metal pins controlled by software protrude upward through a grid, forming the cells used in Braille writing. There are screen readers that read out the text on the screen which can be effectively used by the visually impaired.

Another related innovation is the digital boards, which are fast replacing the conventional boards prompting a teacher to remark, “It makes the lesson so much more interactive, so it’s not just a presentation, it’s a learning experience”.

This board is the electronic version of a dry erase board, connected to a computer. A dry erase marker or a virtual marker can be used to write on these boards. They can be used for playing presentations, adding more effects to existing presentations. The teacher or student can draw on the digital board, giving different colour effects to the diagram which can be saved in a computer for future use. The previous contents of the board can also be retrieved. To illustrate –

A teacher while explaining the working of the heart with the digital board, will be using a single marker to generate different colours for the veins and arteries. The flow of blood to various parts of the body can be shown as an animation. Such techniques will make the sessions interesting and enjoyable. Students can be taught the art of web page designing and hosting of websites – both of which give information about the owner thereof. Information about the happenings around the world can be had at the click of the mouse.

Computers can also be used as an effective means to enhance the inter-personal relationship between the parent and the institution. Specific software can be installed for enabling the teacher – parent communication. Parents can have access to matters of importance such as homework, attendance, exam schedule, etc., which are uploaded on a regular basis. They could also be given the option of posting queries to teachers to clear their doubts.

Computers play a vital role as an effective means of communication, both in speed and clarity. Their importance in the field of education is immense. Institutions – both government and private should do some “out-of-the-box “thinking and devise ways and means to introduce computers in every school as a teaching aid thereby providing its benefits to all the children.

The author is faculty in computer science associated with Niraj Public School, Hyderabad. She can be reached at rama_amarnath@yahoo.co.in.