COMPUTER

1. INTRODUCTION
Technology explosion has yielded several new machines , materials and media which have great
potential for use in the educational enterprise. a judicious use of these together with new
functions and roles of educational personnel has helped in bringing about a more efficient
teaching and learning strategies. one such technology is the use of computer in giving instruction
and is known as computer assisted instruction and use of computer in learning is computer
assisted learning. An adequate knowledge about computers and their proper use would enable the
teacher to understand and effectively discharge his new roles in the present day educational
system.
COMPUTER IN EDUCATION
Computers and computer-mediated devices are finding more and more classroom applications
.the classroom use of computers include individualization of instruction ,display of information
evaluation ofstudents ,and illustration of abstract ideas by computer graphics and diagrams.
CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF COMPUTER:
Parts ofa computer:
a) Hardware:
The actual parts of a computer circuits and its structure are called hardware
b) Software:
The program and commands are called software and the information that is meant to be
processed is called data
Acomputer primarily consists of three sections, viz,
1.
iii
i.
input,
Central processing unit
Output
Input and output
Specific data is generally stored min the form of punched cards, magnetic tapes, magnetic tapes
and magnetic drums; while some essential data is stored permanently in the main storage or the
memory of the computer. Also the data storing sections of the computers act as the input and
output units. These units transfer data to and from the Central Processing Unit.

2. ii. Central Processing Unit (CPU):
The Central Processing Unit, consist of-
-Control Unit
-Main storage unit
-Logic unit
The main storage unit of the CPUcontainsall the instructions and commands of the program
The controlunit of the CPU issues commands to other parts of the computer for carrying out the
instructions fed to the input devices
In order to communicate with a computer and operate it one has to master computer languages.
For classroom instruction the computer language is called BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose
Symbolic code). The computer language is sometimes called middle ware and set of commands
given to the computer for processing the data is called program.
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY:
The word technology is derived from the Greek word "technic" meaning art or skill and
logia meaning science or study. Technology results in new designs and devices as also new ideas
and process. According to some educationist, educational technology is a system in education
which ,machines, materials ,media, men and methods are interrelated and work together for the
fulfillment of specific educational objectives. Electronic technologies that are used for learning
and teaching. If teacher do not understand how to support learning technology use will be
ineffective and inefficient.
DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY:
History of the educational technology starts from the stage when the subject matter become
available in the form of printing materials and textbooks. It was soon supplemented by the use of
teaching aids like blackboard, specimen, pictures charts, models ,maps ,etc. in this way the
earlier concept of educational technology was limited to the use of simple audio-visual aids
meant for direct teaching and learning.
Later with the instructional revolution and technical advancement, sophisticated scientific
instruments ,mass media and educational materials were being used. It brought about the use of
sophisticated hardware and software like radio ,television ,computer , etc. in the field of
education.
The concept of programmed instruction and theories of learning , later on added another
dimension to the meaning and concept of educational technology. This was again broadened

3. when the new approaches like micro-teaching , computer assisted instruction etc came into
existence.
Broadly speaking, educational technology has passed through five stages:
The first stage of educational technology is linked with the use of audio-visual aids like
charts , maps, models ,specimen, etc. the term educational technology was synonym to audio
visual aids.
2 The second stage of educational technology is linked with the electronic revolution
The third stage of educational technology is linked with the mass media, which led to
communication revolution for instructional purposes.
3.
4 The fourth stage of educational technology is marked by the individualized process of
instruction. The invention of programmed learning and programmed instruction gave a new
dimension to educational technology. computer assisted instruction also became popular.
5. The latest concept of educational technology is influenced by the concept of systems
engineering systems approach. According to this , educational technology is a systemic way of
designing carrying out and evaluating the total process of teaching and learning in terms of
specific objectives based on research.
COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING
Computer assisted learning, orCAL, 0s not a new phenomenon. This field of education has been
growing since the introduction of computers into the learning environment. As computer has
become standard instructional tools in the primary and secondary school systems, they are used
extensively in all aspects of nursing education. Due to the great changes in the practice and
teaching of nursing, there has been an increase in the possibilities offered by Computer Assisted
Learning (CAL), which may help meet the new challenges to nursing education. Although CAL
has been with us for many years it has had great difficulty competing with more conventional
methods of education.
HISTORY
In the 1980s, the first computer assisted learning became available to university students
looking for an alternative to the traditional textbook. These programs used only digital files
transferred onto aCDROM to give students highly portable and accessible learning materials.
The popularization of this form of learning and the increased ownership of personal computers
led to the development of widely distributed educational CDROMS. As technology continued to
grow and with the introduction of the Internet, information on CAL programs became more
interactive, reflecting asocial need for flexible learning outcomes.
GOALS:
,which brought an era of sophisticated hardware and software.

4. Presents information to be memorized
Support for student exploration
Acreative and production tool
A communication tool.
TYPES OF CAL SOFTWARE
Drill and practice
Tutorial
Simulation
Games
e
Multimedia
Word processing
Programmed instructions
DRILL AND PRACTICE
Typically, drill and practice activities are supplementary to the normal teaching process. It is
good for fundamental mastery. The program requires leaners to perform specified tasks and give
afeedback on their performance.
DEFINITION: Drill and practice software provides exercises in which students work example
items one at a time and receive feedback on their correctness
FEATURES:
" Reinforce instruction by providing the repetition necessary to move acquired skills and
concepts into long-term memory.
Capture and retain the attention of students
Save teachers' time and efforts.
Personalize instruction by meeting individual differences among learners.
TUTORIAL
The tutorial program extends drill and Practice by providing information or demonstration to
learners and then requiring them to perform some input. It also provides feedback on the input.
Historically, the user will be presented with some information followed by an activity such as
questions, with appropriate feedback for wrong response. A modern multimedia tutorial attempts
to mimic a live lecture that take the user through a series of objective but allows the user to
undertake the operation at their own pace and still provide the option of interactivity with the

5. teacher. The main difference is the emphasis on thinking and motivation rather than a simple
stimulus response.
DEFINITION: A tutorial exposes the learner to material that is believed not to have been
previously taught or learned. A tutorial often includes pre-test, post test and drill and practice
activities.
FEATURES:
Guide the learner throughout learning from the beginning (objectives) to the end
(evaluation)
" Encourage students to interact, control and response to the program.
SIMULATION
Simulation provides a means for leaning about an environment that may not, for reasons of
time, expense or general practically be available to learner to explore. Simulation focuses on
exploration and discovery learning. Simulation encourages learning by decision making. Role
playing simulation may encourage learner's interest in underlying problems through this indirect
exposure to the model. The simulation attempts to provide the user with same type of experience
with patients that they would encounter.
DEFINITION: A simulation is a computerized model of real or /magined system designed to
teach how a system works and allows learners to create their own sequence for using simulation
FEATURES:
" Involve students into learning process.
Save money and resources.
Make experimentation safe.
Make impossible situations possible and controllable.
Let student repeat events as many times as they want.
GAMES
DEFINITION: Instructional games are designed to motivate learning by adding game rules to
learning activities.
FEATURES:
Make learning fun and motivating
Motivate learners via the challenge ofcompetition
Engage the learner in asituation where the learner is competing for a high score
MULTIMEDIA

6. DEFINITION: Programs that support the interactive use of text, audio, still images, video and
graphics and manipulate them to support learning
FEATURES:
Engage a variety of learning modalities
Focus practice of skills that support transfer oflearning.
WORD PRICESSING
DEFINITION: The creation, input, editing, and production of words
means of acomputer system
ADVANTAGES:
Time saving
Better appearance
" Shared methods
FEATURES:
" Storing documents for later use.
Searching and replacing words.
Checking and correcting spelling.
Creating tables.
PROGRAMMED INSTRUCTIONS
Programmed instruction can be described as a different way of presenting materials to be
learned. Programmed instructional materials are constructed in learning sequences. The students
actively follow step by step at his/her own pace of learning. There are two types of programming
(1)Linear Programming: In linear programming the students have to participate actively by
making a response. They must fill in the blanks, answer aquestion, solve a problem; the program
checks the response by giving the correct answer. (2) Intrinsic programming: Intrinsic
programming , presents new ideas through a short discussion of the material to be learned
followed by multiple choice questions designed to test the points just discussed, but very few
programmed materials are suitable for nursing courses at the time.
documents and texts by
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTER ASSISSTED
LEARNING
Tremendous growth in human knowledge and increase in the amount of information to be
learned.
Increased understanding of teaching learning process.
Increaseddiversity in the seting where nursing is practiced.

7. Need for nurses to have skill that allow them to continue learning throughout their
professional careers.
BENEFITS OF COMPUTER ASSISSTED LEARNING
Theoretically CAL might be considered attractive in that it is learner centred, and may be
designed according to good educational strategies. the true effectiveness of CAL has been
questioned, scalability, interactivity, information interconnectivity, automatic student logging
and multimedia content are important features of CAL.
SCALIBILITY
Many aspects of CAL are scalable, particularly when Internet derived technologies are
utilized to produce a CAL package. Unlike other educational media a CAL package is digitally
stored thus it may be reproduced without error as many times as required. By providing access to
a CAL package over a network many students may use a single resource. Further if the CAL
package is made accessible via an Internet browser then it becomes potentially available to a
very wide audience using adiverse range ofcomputers.
INTERACTIVITY
"What I hear Iforget. What I see I remember. What I do Iremember always". The nature of
CAL lends itself to involving the student with the learning processes with tasks requiring actions
and dependent on the actions the student may receive appropriate feedback leading to further
tasks. This goal-action-feedback cycle may be followed in a simple series of interactive
questions, acomplex case study oreven a computer simulation ofa clinical situation.
AUTOMATION OF ASSESSMENT
As a student interacts with a CAL exercise it is possible to keep a record of each interaction
on an identifiable log file. This provides a convenient option to check on student performance by
checking on the correctness of response to the CAL exercise. Further by building up a profile of
how a number of users interact with the system it is possible to identify weaknesses in the CAL
exercise itself. The automatic logs can thus help decrease both the burdens on assessing students
and validating CAL exercises.
MULTIMEDIA
The incorporation of multimedia elements such as images, sounds and video clips in CAL
packages provide more than simply added interest. Cognitive psychologists suggest that learning
is facilitated if the student has to undertake active processing of presented information, "mental
roughage". Different individuals learn better in response to different media, and it has been
suggested that learning may be improved by providing information in more than one form
simultaneously such as animation with sound.
DISTANCE LEARNING ON THE INTERNET

8. Distance leuning has mans beneits and CAL delivered over compuer networks is n
Cxcellent tool for cducation. The largest cOmputer network. the Internet. prOvides millions of
users access to thousands of sources of information. Internet Chat Rooms allow a number of
users connected to a website to communicate directly with each other by text and in some chat
rooms also with sound. Internet telephony and full videoconferencing is becoming more
established. Teaching sociology students over the Internet has even been suggested to be superior
to teaching by more conventional means.
VIDEOCONFERENCING
Perhaps one of the most exciting uses of synchronous communication provided by the use of
computers is the option of videoconferencing. Videoconferencing systems can broadly be
divided into desktop systems and room systems. A desktop system is useful for a small number
of participants at each site sat at specially configured personal computers each with a simple
camera and microphone. Room based systems are for larger groups using much more
sophisticated and expensive equipment. Video conferencing provides obvious improved
communication through people being able to see each other at remote sites but requires careful
planning and training to gain maximum effectiveness. Teleconferencing is a term that may be
used when videoconferencing is combined with data conferencing. Videoconferencing allows
people at two or more sites to see live pictures with sound, whereas data conferencing allows
people at different sites to view and work on a common document of file.
WEB BASED LEARNING
GOALS OF WEB-BASED LEARNING
Enhancing communication
Web based education tools provide many ways to increase communication between
class members and faculty. Researchers have found that adding these elements to a
course increases student motivation and participation in class discussions and projects.
Students share perspectives
Online forums, like course talk's areas, provide public areas to post information.
Each student can view another student's answer and learn through the exposure to
different perspectives.
" Students experience asense of equality
Another benefit to using web-based communication tools is to give all students a
reinforced sense of equality. Each individual have the same opportunity to "speak up" by
posting messages without typical distraction such as seating arrangements, volume of
student voices, and gender biases.
" Activity learning

9. When instructors post discussion questions or short essays assignments in the online
portion of a course, students must attend and reflect on the subject matter before
responding. This results in reflection and articulation of content, as the very process of
reporting and writing about what they have learned engages student in an activity
learning experience. Students can complete assignments during their most productive
times.
Physical location is not an issue
Students can communicate and update each other without the constraints of date,
time and place.
ADVANTAGES OF WEB-BASED LEARNING
Access to multiple perspectives about a particular situation or concept.
Access to applications or instructional materials about a particular situation or concept.
Opportunity to engage in an interactive environment.
Access to and organization ofa lot of information quickly.
Opportunity to practice computer skills.
Opportunity to interact with experts.
" Easy to transfer information to other software tools.
Updated and timely information and data, any time ofthe day.
Promotes self-regulated learning, view information at your speed- no deadlines.
Creates a record of information and when it was produced.
Opportunity to enhance your creativity and perception of ideas.
Promote non-linear, non-directive, open ended thinking.
Time to formulate ideas and thinking to improve presentation.
DISADVANTAGES OF WEB-BASED LEARNING
Simulation experience is not as exciting or beneficial for students.
Information is not necessarily valid or correct.
Can be distracting because the computer is more inviting than the teacher.
Content is not always most appropriate for learning.
Could be misused and not applied in a meaningful way.
Computer and internet access are sometimes slow.
Changes the experience of research if you are not physically going through books.
Internet does not always have information you are looking for.
Hard copies are easier to read.
Decreases personal communication skills.
Promote non-linear,, non-directive, open ended thinking.(students and teacher can lose
sense of direction.)

10. ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING
Computer assisted learning is ideal for distant learning such as the open university as you
don't need a lot ofteacher contact.
The student can learn in their own pace which is different than the traditional approach
were everyone learns together at the same pace which could leave people behind which
can be bad if the person have learning difficulty.
Computer based learning generate a positive attitude in students.
Computer based environments are sometimes used to simulate real situations such as
operations etc, this is ideal as the students can experience the situation in a safe
environment.
. Programs can be put to CD-ROM or DVD or internet so people can get hold to content
easily.
DISADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER ASISSTED LEARNING
" Need acomputer for computer assisted learning.
Cost factors: computer are very costly pieces ofequipments.
Computer based learning lowers the teachers role: teacher who has felt secure in their
role as dispensers of information may feel uncomfortable as they find their role changing
to that of facilitator moderator and coordinators.
The nurse educator must have knowledge about the use of computer.
Computer assisted learning lack the human and emotional factors which are available in
the normal classroom lessons in which the teacher is present to interect with student.
With excessive use of CAL, competence of students takes a backseat.
CAL provides more mental and physical fatigue as compared to other method of
instruction.
As the student cannot interact with the computer in the human language, the mechanical
responses by punching the keys can become dull and frustrating.
CONCLUSION
In many areas computer techonoogy has been adopted to the established approaches of
academic education and training. Computer can teach at any level of learning, from knowledge
and comprehension up through application, analysis and synthesis. They can be programmed to
teach problem solving and decision making.
COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTIONs
When the computer is used as an aid to teaching, the method of instructions called computer
assisted instruction. For CAI, the intended subject matter is broken down into small segments
and fed into the memory of the computer. The students interacts with computer for learning,
testing , immediate feedback and reinforcement In order to interact with a computer, the
student introduces himself to by acode keys of the number by punching the keys of the keyboard

11. .after this the computer displays information which is followed by aquestion. The student types
out the answer or responds by punching key to get the feedback from the computer.
ORIGIN OF CAI:
The origin of CAImay be stated in two different stages First stage of CAI is the
development of a small commercial computer in the Census Bureau in 1951, in U.S.A. and the
very first attempt in CAI has taken place after a decade around 1961, after the development of
PLATO (Programmed logic for automatic teaching operations)by the University of ILLINOIS.
The second stage of development in CAIhas taken place after the development of computerized
tutorials in arithmetic and reading for elementary school children by Patrick Suppes of
Stanford university in 1966 and in fact he was considered as the father of CAI
DEFINITION:
Computer assisted instruction is defined as a method of instruction in which the computer is
used as an aid to teaching.
PRINCIPLES OF CAI:
1.
the subject matter is broken down into a sequence of small steps . a student can take a step at a
time. He has to read a small step by being active.
2
3
Principle of small step:
The student learns best if he responds actively as he learns. The learner has to construct the
response. It is an integral part oflearning.
4.
Principle of active responding:
The student learns best if he confirms his response immediately. The confirmation provides the
reinforcement to the learner.
5
Principle of immediate confirmation:
Principle of self-pacing:
In programming each student can work each step as slowly or as quickly as he can. This is
known as the principle ofself- pacing.
Principle of student testing:

12. Astudent leaves the record of his study because he has to write a response for each step. this
reminds the principle of student testing.
Characteristics ofcomputer assisted instruction:
It is not an audio-visual aid. It is a part of educational technology i.e. instructional
technology
1.
2
3 It is not the solution of educational problems. It is a new instructional strategy for the
modification of behaviors of the learners.
It is not a test , it is a new strategy for teaching and learning.
4. It cannot replace the teacher from the field of teaching but can make the teaching more
5. It requires more creativity and imaginative efforts.
TYPES OF COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTIONS:
There are three main types of CAI,
L.LOGO
It is the instructional procedure for learning the program language through simple tasks. the
simple task in logo system are concerned with generating designs on the screen which students
do by following instruction like that of preparation of a recipe in cooking class.
2. SIMULATION:
This CAI program is learning the computer language through gaming and simulation. Certain
simulation are concerned with science experiments in which outcomes can be obtained by using
the computer
3. CONTROLLED LEARNING:
THIS CAI is concerned with drill and practice activities supplementary to the prescribed
curriculum in any subject area. The classroom may introduce the basic concepts. The student,
later on review and practice fundamentals skills on an a feedback to individual learners
simultaneously as they work through a set of exercises the record of individual student's
performance is furnished to the teacher for evaluation.
ROLE OF A TEACHER IN COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION:
effective.

13. In CAI the role of a teacher has changed from the traditional method of delivering lectures to a
supervisor or a guide .As the computer can compute accurately and rapidly huge amount of data
,the teacher is liberated from his routine duty. However, no computer can replace a teacher ,as
teachers. The role of a teacher is very important teaching learning process. Infact the CAI
will definitely increase the scope and quality of contribution of teachers in the society. In CAI,
the teacher has to play so many roles likecomputer engineer, lesson writer, and system operator,
as CAIneed the services of the foresaid experts
ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTIONS:
The CAI can be used for handling a large body of students using computer terminals and as
many as 4,000students can be instructed simultaneously with this instructional procedure and by
ROLE OF A TEACHER IN COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION:
1. In CAIthe role of a teacher has changed from the traditional method of delivering the
time sharing technique.
2 The CAI provides a highly flexible branching instruction for looking after the pace,
entry cognition and level of knowledge suitable for a particular student. thus ,the CAI can
3. In, CAIthe simultaneous testing of each individual can be done by the computer thus
relieving the teacher from the dull chores of correction and record keeping. Also a student cannot
cheat during testing by a computer.
4 CAI provides the multi-dimnensional learning through words, graphic, and problem
5 A computer can also work as an aid in the independent study schemnes based upon
reference work. The information about the location of study materials relevant to a specific topic
can be stored in the computer memory and retrieved by the student for ready reference.
6. The high storage capacity of a computer allows many programs or many complete
courses at a time for students.
LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION:
1. CAI lacks the human and emotional factors which are available in the normal classroom
2. Computers are very costly pieces of equipment and beyond the reach of most schools
3. With excessive use of CAI, artistic competence of students takes a backseat.
individualize classroom instruction.
solving
lessons in which the teacher is present to interact with the students for their nonscholastic needs.
our country where even blackboards are not available in many schools.

14. 4 Some students have proved that CAI produces more mental and physical fatigue as
compared to other methods of instructions.
5. CAI does not help on developing the language proficiency which depends more on direct
experiences with the reality
6 As the student cannot interact with a computer in the human language ,the mechanical
responses by punching the keys can becomne dull and frustrating.
7 At its simplest, the testing by computer is done by multiple-choice questions; the
problems concerning value judgments cannot be tested by the computer.
SUMMARY
Technology results in the new designs and devices as also new ideas and process. Educational
technology is the application of the scientific knowledge in the systemic way to improve the
efficiency of the process of learning and instruction. It is considered as the technology of
education more than technology in education. Teacher has to plan in advance so that she can
incorporate these materials effectively in the teaching-learning process. This will help to convert
ausually teacher-centered class room to the student centered one.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
" BT BASAVANTHAPPA: "NURSING EDUCATION" 2nd EDITION : JAYPEE
BROTHERS MEDICAL PUBLISHERS (P) Ltd. PAGE NUMBER:631-632
KP NEERAJA: TEXT BOOK OF NURSING EDUCATION": 1 EDITION : JAYPEE
BROTHERS MEDICAL PUBLISHERS(P)Ltd; PAGES:272,324-325
B SANKARNARAYANAN,B SINDHU; LEARNING AND TEACHING NURSING"
3r EDITION; BRAINFILL PUBLICATIONS;PAGES: 195-196,217-220
JOURNAL REFERENCE:
Journal Of Medical Education;published online-1 oct,2004; volume38 issue 10
Journal Of Advanced Nursing,2008:Aug :63(3)
" Journal of Medical education spublished online- Ist Oct,2004; Volume 38 Issue 10;
Pages 1080-1088
" Mac Arhur,C.A.,Ferretti, R.P
" ., Okolo(2001); Technology Application for students withliteracy problems; The
Elementary School Journal;volume 101:pages:273-378
WEBSITE:
" http://www.ehow.com/about
learning.html#ixzz1513nltTF
6169139 advantages-computer
" wiki.media-culture.org.aw/..E- Learning_-_Computer-assisted_learning.
assisted