Computer Assisted Instruction

CAI

1. EDU 03: TECHNOLOGY AND
COMMUNICATION IN EDUCATION



ASSIGNMENT: COMPUTER ASSISTED
INSTRUCTION






Submitted by,
Vismaya M D
Roll no 50
Social science

2. INTRODUCTION

Computers have become omnipresent and ubiquitous today and found in every
walk of life. Computer influence every sphere of human activity and bring many
changes in education, health care, scientific research, social science, law, music
and painting. When computer is used as an aid to teaching method of instruction, it
is called computer assisted instruction. CAI is the type of instruction which makes
use of computers. CAI is the method of instruction in which there is a purposeful
interaction between a learner and the computer device for helping the individual
learner to achieve the desired instructional objectives with his own pace and
abilities at his command. It is an interactive instructional technique whereby a
computer is used to present the instructional material and monitor the learning that
takes place.

3. Computer Assisted Instruction
Computer assisted instruction is an interactive instructional technique whereby a
computer is used to present the instructional material and monitor the learning that
takes place. It is a self learning technique, usually offline/online, involving the
interaction of students with programmed instructional materials. CAI is a natural
outgrowth of the application of Programmed instruction. The aim of CAI is to
provide individualized instruction to meet the special needs of each learner. It
needs some efficient and flexible device that can store a gigantic amount of
organized information and use selected portion to meet the needs of individual
learner. A computer is such a device, which can cater to the needs of individual
learner. Computer can store a vast amount of information suiting to the needs of
individual learner.
CAI allows every student to move at his own speed. In classroom the teachers will
be too fast or too slow for students. In either case the students will lose interest.
CAI can eliminate this problem. It allows students to study any subjects at any time
they wish. The normal school with a fixed timetable doesn’t give this freedom. The
computer also gives special attention to each student, keeps tracks of their
difficulties and is extremely patient.
Apart from teaching subjects like mathematics, CAI can also be used for science
experiments without the student going to a laboratory. CAI is particularly good for
subjects like arithmetic, languages and computer programming. Even the retarded
children will easily understand the concepts using the computerized classroom.
CAI provides text, multiple choice questions, and problems, immediate feedback,
notes on incorrect responses, summarizes student’s performance, exercise for
practice, worksheets and tests.
Characteristics of CAI
Stored instructional program: it is an instructional technique, in which the
computer must actually instruct the student, and the computer contains a stored
instructional program designed to inform, guide and and test the student until a
profile level of efficiency is retained.

4. Student’s response: the computer is used to control the presentation of stimulation
to a student. Computer is based to accept and evaluate the student’s response and
to present further stimuli based on that interaction calculated to shape student
responses in the desired manner, the student uses a terminal is generally equipped
with the information display and the student response devices.
CAI uses the computer which follows for individual, individually paced and
individualized instruction, since the computer’s behavior is dependent upon the
responses of the student.
In CAI there are two way interactions between an individual student and the
computer just as happens in the tutorial system between the teacher and an
individual student.
The computer is able to display the instructional materials to the individual student.
The individual student takes benefit of the displayed material and responds to it.
These responses are attended by the computer for deciding the future course of
instruction displayed to the learner.
The interaction between the individual learner and the computer device helps in the
realization of the set instructional objectives.
Main Features of CAI
Interactive and can illustrate a concept through attractive animation, sound, and
demonstration
Allow students to progress at their own pace and work individually or problem
solve in a group.
Provide immediate feedback, letting student know whether their answer is correct.
If the answer is not correct, the program shows students how to correctly answer
the questions.
Offers different type of activity and a change of space from teacher led or group
instruction
Improve instruction for students with disabilities because students receive
immediate feedback and do not continue to practice the wrong skills

5. Capture the student’s attention because the programs are interactive and engage
the student’s spirit of competitiveness to increase their scores
Move at the students own pace and usually do not move ahead until they have the
mastered the skill
Provide differentiate lessons to challenge students who are at risk, average or
gifted.
TYPES OF CAI
CAI can take a variety of forms for providing self individualized instructions to a
learner depending on the computer services availed.
Informational instruction- It helps the learner get the desired information he
needs, hence the computer can serve the role of an enquiry officer to respond to the
students enquiry with answers it had stored. It provides minimal interaction
between the student and computer programme. The purpose of this type of CAI is
to provide essential information for the acquirement of concepts and skills.
Drill and practice- It provide opportunities for students to repeatedly practice the
skills that have previously been presented and that further practice is necessary for
mastery. It helps in the development of variety of skills. The advanced
programmes on drill and practice select the problem of varying difficulty levels on
the basis of the student’s performance during the earlier sessions. The computer is
known to have good memory for the errors of the learners and therefore provides a
very effective teacher in providing the students proper materials for their drill and
practice.
Criteria for drill and practice
 Format is interactive
 User can establish the pace
 Provision made the progression in levels of difficulty
 Items of same level came selected at random
 Employs motivational technique
 Rewards presented for correct responses and incorrect responses handled
appropriately

6.  Teacher can modify content
Tutorial- It includes both the presentation of information and its extension into
different forms of work, including drill and practice , games and simulation. The
program teaches the student a body of knowledge by presenting the information
and asking question, giving hints etc. tutorials can free the faculty members from
teaching some of the routine basic material and at the same time the students may
find the tutorials more interesting and fun than the instructor’s lecture
Instructional Games – the learners are provided with a variety of well designed
computer games, these games should not be confused with the academic type of
games. Their purpose is only to provide intellectual challenge, stimulation of
curiosity and serve as a source of motivation to the individual learner. Game
software often creates a contest to achieve the highest score and either beat others
or beat the computer. Extend of learning depends on the type of game.
Eg: games on spellings, name of places, and general knowledge
Simulation- these software can provide an approximation of reality that does not
require the expenses of real life or its risks. Students can get clear direction and
high level of interest is maintained throughout the process. It is used for providing
training to the students.
Discovery- discovery approach provides a large database of information specific
course or content area and challenge the learner to analyze, compare, infer and
evaluate based on their explorations of the data
Problem solving – this focuses on the process of finding answer to the problem
rather than the answer itself. Here, the students are provided with programmes that
can make them think about the ways and means of solving the problem
systematically. This helps children to develop specific problem solving skills and
strategies.
Practical work oriented instruction- CAI programmes can provide valuable help in
supplementing laboratory and other practical work. A student can learn so many
things about the science experiments before actually performing them in his
practical class by watching and following a computer programme made for this

7. purpose. Thus, he gets necessary skills and experiences about the practical task in
other fields before actually engaging such practical activities.
Uses of CAI
The capability of individualizing both the means and ends of instruction.
The capability of doing research.
It permits evaluation of effectiveness of the teaching procedures as well as
teaching materials.
It develops the way of assisting teachers and authors in the development of
instructional materials.
The capability of evaluating alternative media used to implement and support
instruction.
CAI means using computers to teach people, it does not mean teaching people to
use computer or teaching people about educational technology. Computer can be
used in education.
It is a powerful tool for the teacher in the instructional process. CAI directly
interacts with the students individually and with the teacher.
Role of teacher in CAI
There is no base in fearing that introduction of CAI will eliminate the teacher from
instructional process. It is true that CAI can do a number of teaching functions
quire effectively but this does not imply that it can diminish the role of the teacher.
Even when education is imparted through CAI, teacher is very much there. Rather
there may be more than one teacher. Of course in CAI the role of teacher will be
changed. The role of delivering lectures will be substituted by the role of guiding
the students in the proper use of computers.
Through CAI teacher can improve the quality of their educational contribution to
the teaching learning process. CAI can’t appreciate the emotions of the students.
There must be teacher to appreciate it. Without the active participation of a teacher,
CAI can’t solve psychological or educational problems of the students. In CAI it is
the teacher who determines the objectives of education and plans the lessons,

8. which can achieve best results. To monitor and to evaluate the progress of students
in CAI teacher has to evaluate it. By the introduction of CAI only the classroom
will change, from chalkboard to monitor. There will only change in the role of
teachers. Nothing can diminish the role of teacher in teaching learning process.
Merits of CAI
CAI enables instruction to be individualized. It is helpful in adult education and
continuing education. It is helpful for physically impaired learners. It can provide
learning inputs through audio and video. It will help in extending the reach of
education to distant and remote areas and among various sections of the society. It
is very useful in training of a variety of skills from typing to flying aero planes
using the technique of simulation. It enables high quality instruction for distant
learning, made possible through net varsities and the internet. The learning
materials are usually available on CD ROMs and can be conveniently handled,
since these digital discs possess large storage capacities, such discs are cheaper
compared to equivalent quantities printed matter. The educational software not
only carries information in the form of graphics, audio and video, but also provide
interactive learning experience. They contain hyperlinks to navigate to related
topics, provide quizzes and give feedback and reinforcement for correct answers,
thus making learning a pleasant experience.
CAI helps to the one to one interaction. It will act as a great motivator. It gives the
freedom to experiment with different options. Instantaneous response or immediate
feedback to the answers elicited. It allows students to proceed at their pace. CAI
helps teacher to devote more time to individual students. Its privacy helps the shy
and slow learner to learn. It pays individual attention. Every individual can learn
more and more rapidly. Multimedia helps to understand difficult concepts through
multisensory approach. It is a self directed learning method in which the student
can decide when, where and what to learn.
Limitations of CAI
Speech and writing analysis by computer, in a useful form, seems to be many years
away. The computer fails to appreciate the emotions of students. The emotional
and warmth climate which is created by the teacher in direct classroom interaction
with the students is missed by the students in CAI. The peripheral equipment puts

9. constraints in the ways on which a student can interact with computer. It fails to
develop essential features of language competency. Some students get more tired
in CAI than conventional study. CAI is a sort of mechanical approach to education
and learning becomes mechanical too. Over use of multimedia may divert the
attention from the content. Lack of infrastructures and non availability of good
CAI packages may also affect the learning process.
Experts are needed in CAI. Computer aided instructions need the help of the
computer engineers, lesson writers, system operator etc.CAI program do not in
themselves solve psychological or educational problems. Computer programs of
conventional type do not work like human beings at all. CAI fails to develop
essential features of language competency where the ability to generate or
construct meaningful sentences is essential. It was pointed out that some students
got more tired than conventional study or felt like quitting the study.CAI can’t
appreciate the students’ artistic endeavor and can’t strengthen his friendship and
deepen his perception of those around him. The peripheral equipment puts
constraints in the ways on which a student can interact with the computer.

10. CONCLUSION
Now we are living in the world of computer. It helps to do our activities easily.
With the introduction of computer in the education system we can most of the
students get a good benefit from this. Using computer assisted instruction students
can get the information clearly. Through various types of CIA children will
become more interest in their studies and it will help them to learn a concept till
understood by the student. It is helpful for many students. It has many advantages
in the education and it never removes the role of teacher in the education and it
also has some limitation which can be cleared by a teacher. All of these will help
children to study and understand their studies.
REFERENCES
www.researchgate.net
https://link.springer.com
www.readingrockets.org
www.slideshare.net