THE USE OF COMPUTER IN THE ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS LEARNING

Chapter 1

Introduction

Technology is becoming ever more universal throughout society. Part of this technological infiltration has seen large-scale technology investments in education in developed nations (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], 2010). Technological initiatives, such as laptops for every student and internet connectivity, are being witnessed on a global scale, with the aim of enhancing educational achievement and providing students with technology skills (OECD, 2013). However, despite significant funding and initiatives, there is little evidence to demonstrate that technology has revolutionised education as anticipated, or that it has had any significant impact on students’ learning (OECD, 2010; Shaw, Bourke, Holmes, Preston, & Smith, 2013). Despite significant research in the field of educational technology, there is still much that is not fully understood about students’ experiences with technology in their everyday lives or at school.

The innovation of computer has influenced all the areas of life. The computers and the technologies related to this field have become an essential part of life. The computers have altered our sense of space and time. The world is now a smaller place. The computers have become an indispensable need of offices, departments of science and technology, industries and commercial areas. In advanced countries, computers are now an effective means of teaching and are in effective use both in formal and informal educational settings.

The learning process, with the help of the information provided by the computers, can be enriched in many ways. The lengthy and complex calculations can be carried out at a great speed consuming nothing at all. The entire outside world can be brought in the classroom. Computers have enriched teaching and learning at all levels of education at present times. Without computer know-how in the modern times, graduates are deemed to prepare to their jobs and in practical life. In the classrooms, the computers can improve learning in all subjects, whether understanding and practice of mathematics, or correcting spellings, language, to stimulate science experiment.

The computers help teachers build concepts and understand level of their students in shorter time. From the view point of modern life, availability and use of computers in a school is an effective means of ensuring better education. However, only the presence of computers in most of the schools in Pakistan does not mean an improved teaching and learning process. A good computer education program can bring about improvement at various levels. The computer education can be used to provide urgent feedback to the students to motivate their interest in learning; understanding and application in a subject. In the third world countries, Information Technology can function as an important resource for improving the life conditions and empowerment of people. In the new century, a developing country like Pakistan has no other choice except to introduce and work with Information Technology, which provides a major opportunity for the developing countries as it increases their pace of development process and enables them to compete with other developing countries. The people living in the rural areas of Pakistan are also becoming acquainted with information technology. The internet is being brought to the villages through email and mobile technology. Internet is becoming more and more popular source of research in the schools, colleges and universities in Pakistan including public and private organizations.

Computers provide, for the first time in history, a key ingredient that was lacking in all the previous tools key ingredient that was lacking in all the previous tools that raised high expectations when introduced in the educational system: individualized interactivity. From blackboard to television, the previous tools were presentation tools only. Computers, however, can not only present information with all the audio-visual expressive possibilities of television or film, but also can receive information from the user, and can adapt the presentation to the user needs, preferences or requests. Furthermore, in those schools where the Internet is accessible, the computer is the gateway to information without frontiers, and the catalyst for teacher and student dialogs beyond the walls of a single class or school. Today, when a major effort is being invested in the transformation of the classroom, moving away from frontal, expository, didactic presentations to environments where learners are active discoverers and builders of knowledge, the computer is the tool with the potential to help in reaching these goals.

The student learns by interacting with a program stored in the computer. This program is designed to react to the student’s needs according to predetermined pedagogical criteria. In this case the student conducts a “distant dialog” with the authors of the educational program, who - in a well-designed program -will have considered the learning difficulties involved in the topics studied, and designed accordingly a set of remedial interventions. Enrichment units should have been included also, to attend to the interests of students who want to study in depth, beyond the curriculum requirements.

Each student may learn according to his or her cognitive level and learning speed, independently of his or her classmates. Each student receives individual guidance, with explanations tailored to perceived problems, and opportunities for in-depth learning according to individual interests.

Computers were introduced in the early 2000s. It was first considered as a revolutionist has changed the concept of education and learning. It has made school work and subjects easier.

1.1     Statement of the Problem

The study in hand is:

“The Role of Computer in the Learning of Secondary School Students in District Peshawar”.

1.2     Objectives of the Study:

i.          To find out the role of computer in the learning of students at the secondary level

ii.         To search out that how far computer facilities can help in the learning of students at the secondary school level