COMPUTER AS TOOLS, TUTOR AND TUTEE

PREPARED BY : SITI NURADILAH IZZATI BINTI MD. DAIM

MATRIC NO. : A150180

GROUP : T1

PREPARED FOR : DR. FARIZA BINTI KHALID





















Computer has been invented a long time ago and its main function is to ease peoples
works and tasks. Oxford defines computer as an electronic machine that can store, find and
arrange information, calculate amounts and control other machines. Based on the meaning itself,
we could see that computer did most of our work and it is more accurate, efficient and faster than
by doing our duties manually. Computers are used as tools for teaching in 1950 when appropriate
programmes were first elaborated (Vernadakis, Avgerinos, Tsitskari, Zachopoulou, 2005). That
is why computer is used very widely in the education area nowadays. Computer helps in making
the teaching and learning process more entertaining and more effective. Students in the 21st
century are exposed to modern technology even before they go to school. This is why teachers
have to learn how to use computer and its uses thoroughly so that their students will be able to
adapt with their teaching mechanism. Computers have its own roles in education which are as
tools, tutor and tutee.

First and foremost, computer is often used as tools to aid teachers during the teaching and
learning process. Computer plays its role as tools in order to help making the teaching and
learning means more interactive and easy. Boring tasks becomes fun for both teachers and
students just by using the computer as tools. For example, in language learning, people would
probably use rote learning as the number one option. Language learners will memorize words
just by repeating the same words over and over again or just by hearing their language teachers
teach the same thing without even really understanding it. This is where computers should take
place in order to make the language learning more interesting. Teachers have to be smart and
great with computers so that they can use it as tools to teach their students. They can use
Microsoft PowerPoints or the Windows Movie Maker, whatever it takes to get their students
attention. To make it more challenging for the students, they could use the tools for themselves.
As an example, their teachers could give them a task which is to make videos about themselves
and their language learning strategies. They have to use the Windows Movie Maker or other
related software in order to edit their videos. Simultaneously, they will become creative and at
the same time, they are exposing themselves to a skill that is different from what they are
learning. It is actually good that the students have generic skills that they could use once they
step into the world of job-hunting. Furthermore, using computers as tools are more practical and
neat. An Engineering Drawing subject teachers use the AutoCAD in order to produce drawings
so that they could give exercises to their students. This method obviously helps teachers a lot as
they do not have to draw the exercises manually. The process would be very, very slow and
messy if they did. The measurements for the drawings would be really accurate, the functions are
vary and for teachers, it is effortlessly easy. Thus, using computer as tools for learning is really
convenient and beneficial to everyone.

In addition, computer is also widely used as tutor in education which is students will be
tutored, assessed and guided by the computer. This usage of computer is very relevant to the
environment of schools nowadays. Some things could be taught in class but when it comes to
giving exercises and to make assessment, using computer is more effective and the results will be
accurate. Moreover, teachers do not have to waste time marking their students exercises as the
computer will do the work for them. Computer as tutor will effectively help students to
understand the subjects they are learning more profoundly because it will be an individual
learning. It might be really hard for a teacher to diagnose a class of 40 students problems in
certain subjects but with the help of the computer, it could be easily detected. This type of
learning is called the individual learning. One student will have a computer as his personal tutor
and the computer will only focuses on him. It is not a time consuming process and the students
would have more fun interacting with the computer. In the tutorial sessions with the computer,
students are given information, exercises and by analyzing the the students answers, the
computer itself will give feedback. After the results of the exercises are produced, there might be
a drill in order to strengthen the students understandings about the subject as well as to make
sure the things they learnt will be in their long term memory. Other than that, the computer could
provide virtual reality program, simulations and games. Blended learning is also one of the
examples of computer as tutor. It is used widely now because of its efficiency and multiple
functions. Having a computer as a tutor would give a new experience to the students and it helps
students to memorize things spontaneously. They do not have to use the rote learning method.
Hence, computer is a really good tutor for students in this generation.

Last but not least, the third function of computer in education is as tutee. Tutee is defined
as student, so in this context, the students themselves will be the teachers for the computer.
Computer as a tutee can be defined as teaching something or giving instructions to do some
functions or tasks by the learner (Taylor,1980). They have to teach the computer to do tasks
using the language that the computer could understand. The students program instructions for the
computer and it will do what the students asked them to do by following orders. For instance,
again, the AutoCAD is not just a tool for teachers. It depends on what do they use it for. In this
situation, lets say that after a teacher shows and teach his students on how to use the AutoCAD,
he gives an assignment which required his students to use the software by themselves. They
would have to give directions to the computer in order to draw using the AutoCAD. At first,
students will surely face hardships in using the software but with the teachers assistance and by
using their logical and critical thinking, it helps them in building their knowledge and enhance
their ability to solve problems. Computer programs not only provide assistance for learning facts
and their relationships, but they have become useful tools for the learning of problem solving and
decision making (Starkweather, 1986).It has so many benefits and advantages as students need to
think and analyze the process of teaching the computer. Teaching a computer needs a higher
level of thinking and this is what we want from the students. So, by doing this, the students will
automatically develop their skills and knowledge when they are dealing with the computer.

As a conclusion, computers play a very crucial part in our education system today
because it obviously helps easing tasks for both learners and educators. Computers as tools, tutor
and tutee is the greatest idea invented and we should be thankful that this method of learning
exists because as we can see, it is very useful and fun, at the same time. In the future, it could be
the catalyzer of students great performance in both studies and soft skills. More programs in the
computer related to education should be increased so that the vision and mission of teachers all
around the world could be a reality with the assistance of the computer.



REFERENCES :

Nicholas Vernadakis, Andreas Avgerinos, Eti Tsitskari, Evridiki Zachopoulou. 2005. The Use Of
Computer Assisted Instruction in Preschool Education: Making Teaching Meaningful. Early
Childhood Education Journal 33(2): 99-104.

Taylor, R. P.. 1980. New York: Teachers College Press. The computer in school: Tutor, Tool,
Tutee 3(2): 1-10.

John A. Starkweather. 1986. The Computer As A Tool For Learning. The Western Journal Of
Medicine 145: 864-868.