Discuss five (5) advantages and five (5) disadvantages of using
computers in educational institutions
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information,
or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve,
and process data. In education institutions,
computers perform many tasks. The
following are the five (5) advantages of
using computers in educational institutions
(i)
Storage: In educational institutions a
computer can transfer data quickly from storage to memory, process it, and then store
it again for future use. Many computers store enormous amounts of data and make this
data available for processing anytime it is needed.
(ii)
Communications: Most computers today can communicate with other computers,
often
wirelessly.
Computers with this capability can share any information processing cycle
operations — input, process, output, and storage — with another computer or a
user.
(iii). Aids
in teaching: Computers facilitate audio-visual representation of
information, therefore, making the process of learning interactive and
interesting. Computer-aided teaching adds a fun element to education.
Presentation software like PowerPoint and animation software like flash among
others it enables the teachers hardly uses chalks and boards while delivering
lectures. They just bring presentations on a flash drive, plug it in to a
computer in the classroom, and the teaching begins. There is color, there is
sound, there is movement - the same old information comes forth in a different
way and learning becomes fun.
(iv)
Facilitate distance education: Many times, it happens
that students are not able to enroll for degree courses which they are
interested in due to lack of money or because the institute is far away from
their residence. The introduction of distance learning has solved all these
problems. The distance learning programs or online degree programs provides
education at much affordable costs than the costs incurred on full- time
training.
(v) Saving paper. Computers enable storage
of data in the electronic format, thereby saving paper. Memory capacities of
computer storage devices are in gigabytes. Moreover, these devices are compact.
They occupy very less space, yet store large amounts of data. Therefore,
electronically erasable memory devices can be used repeatedly to save papers.
Five (5) disadvantages of using computers in educational institutions
(i). Cheating: Using
computers to cheat is a widespread problem in universities and colleges. Students
might search online for answers to test questions or have answers sent to their
computers by other students. Students are able to access huge amounts of
information via computers and may present that information as their own. This may
be difficult for universities to prove because of the broad scope of the
Internet and difficulty of finding all possible sources of information.
(ii). Creates distractions in the classroom: The
use of computers in the classroom can create distractions, especially when
students use them for personal reasons while the teaching is going on.
The only way teachers can control this bad behavior, is by setting rules on
when and what to use computers for while in the classroom, failure to comply
with the terms, students will stand a great risk of losing their computers.
(iii). Poor writing skills: the
computer can not accurately teach students how to write a correct essay or
sentence. Computers do not teach punctuation, paragraphs, and verbs or nouns.
A computer can auto correct a wrong word and it can also do some
essential basics in writing, but the best job must be done with the paper and
pen. Teachers can easily read through students notes and correct them.
(iv).
Expensive: Computers are expensive, so not every school or student will
be able to afford a computer of their own in the classroom. In most
schools, students will have to share one computer per a group 5-8 people.
It is mainly private schools that provide these facilities to each student.
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