LESSON 11

THE COMPUTER AS THE TEACHER’S TOOL

The computer as the teacher’s handy-tool can in fact support the constructivist and social constructivist paradigms of constructivist learning.

Constructivism was introduced by Piaget (1981) and Bruner (1990). They gave stress to knowledge discovery of new meaning/ concepts/ principles in the learning process.

In constructivism, various strategies have been suggested to foster knowledge discovery. Among these, is making students engaged in gathering unorganized information from which they can induce ideas and principles. Students are also asked to apply discovered knowledge to new situations, as process for making their knowledge applicable to real life situations.

While knowledge is constructed by the individual learner in constructivism, knowledge can also be socially constructed. Social constructivism. This is an effort to show that construction of knowledge is governed by social, historical and cultural contexts.

The psychologist Vygotsky stressed that learning is affected by social influences. He therefore suggested the interactive process in learning. The more capable adult or classmate can aid or complement what the learner sees in a given class project.

In addition, Dewey sees language as a medium for social coordination and adaptation. For Dewey, human learning is really human languaging that occurs when students socially share, build and agree upon meanings and knowledge.

Learning Framework Constructivism Social Constructivism

Assumption Knowledge is constructed by individual.

Knowledge is constructed within a social context.

Definition of Learning Students build their own learning.

Students build knowledge influence by the social

context.

Learning StrategiesGather 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.

Example 8*5 – 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8

Two alternative job offers:option 1 - 8 hrs./day for 6

days/weekOption 2 – 9 hrs./day for 5

days/ week

The Computer’s Capabilities

Given its present-day speed, flexibility and sophistication, the computer can provide access to information, foster creative social knowledge-building, and enhance the communication of the achieved project package.

Without the computer, today’s learners may still be assuming the tedious task of low-level information gathering, building and new knowledge packaging.

Based on the two learning theories, the teacher can employ the computer as:

An information tool A communication tool A constructive tool A co-constructive tool A situating tool .

THE COMPUTER CAPABILITIES

Informative tool

Co-constructive tool

Constructive tool

Situating tool

Informative tool• The computer provides vast

amount of info in various forms, such as text, graphics, sound video, even multimedia encyclopedias.

• Internet is an enormous database which user can access global info resources that includes latest news, and features and etc; on education, it can be sourced for kinds of educational resources; a key for video teleconferencing.

• Along the constructivist point of view, it is not enough to download this relevant info but to use these for composition of new ideas.

Constructive tool

• The computer itself can be used for manipulating info, 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.

Co-constructive tool

• For instance is the use of electronic whiteboard where students may post notices to shared documents and also co-edit the same documents from their homes.

• The Computer-Supported Intentional Learning Environments (CSILE), for example, developed by Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in notes and respond to each other’s ideas.

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 virtual environment, for example, a flight stimulation program

• To caution users, this tool is still under research and development.

That’s all, folks!