Essay on the Uses of Computer in Schools

Introduction:

Information Technology (IT) is becoming part of every industry, and is becoming an essential tool for teaching. The success of countries in the creation of wealth is now being measured by their ability to exploit and use IT in its industry and education. In the field of education the use of computers brings a two edge advantage. The first will be throughout the exposure of the future working generations to the latest in technology. They become familiar with the technology and are not afraid to experiment and learn what is new. The second edge will be through the actual use of the computers in the learning process.

The following is a list of uses of computers in the learning process:

Computer aided learning is becoming more widely used in teaching both in Universities and schools.

Modern sciences and technologies which are dependent on the use of computers such as Geographic Information Systems

Databases

Visualisation

Animation

Simulation

Desktop publishing

As a mean of gathering data such is through World Wide Web, newsgroups) and Email.

As a communication medium with other scholars and the rest of the world.

Setting up Computer in schools:

The set up of computers in schools tend to have two elements, Physical and effort. These elements are composed of the following components: Physical components A number of computers PCs or Macintoshes, Printers, and scanners. Software, a whole variety.

A Local Area Network. Connecting the different PCs.

Wide Area Network (WAN) connecting the school to the Education department who is financing the school.

Internet connection:

Children develop computer literacy by observing others at the computer and by diving in and actively exploring different software programs. As with learning to read, each child will progress at the rate appropriate to that child. By and large, children are curious and pick up fast. There are lots of computer classes in India which specially cater to young children.

Use of computer in schools develops the following skills in children:

Exposure and observation:

A child’s relationship with the computer typically begins with the child watching a sibling, parent or classmate busy at the computer. Active participation: The child quickly moves from observer to active participant, grabbing at the mouse, banging on the keyboard, and pointing at things that excite her on the screen. The parent, however, still operates the software. Taking control: Eventually, the child learns how to control a mouse or trackball and subsequently how to control what is happening on the computer screen. Using her newfound “point and click” and “click and drag” skills, she can now actively explore a software program.

The computer is my tool:

With greater control, the child begins to see the computer more as her tool – something she can use to make and find things. Increasingly, she approaches the computer with a goal, for example to find dinosaurs or click on something colorful or moving.

Mastering skills:

As she plays with different software programs, a child develops _a general sense of how to navigate through simple environments, how to start _and quit an activity, and how to operate specific programs. Independence: Most children with consistent access to a computer over the period of a couple years are eventually able to power up the machine, start up a pre-loaded application either from the hard disk or a CD-ROM, quit an application, operate the printer and scanner, access the Internet from the desktop, and even send an email. Thus, the use of computers in schools can bring a drastic development among children thereby producing our country’s growth as by product.