The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Ash Nallawalla ash@melbpc.org.au |
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Are computers advancing education? I believe that the answer is definitely "Yes". I will leave it to the educators to debate the finer points but I can comment from the student's viewpoint.
About 20 years ago, computers began to appear outside the realm of Computer Science faculties and "EDP" departments into private homes and schools. Even ten years ago, computers had not truly "arrived" for most schools. Then came easy access to the Internet and more schools were fitted with PCs. Educators increased their expertise in using computers.
These days I don't hear people asking if a school has any computers, or if an office worker uses a computer - it is taken for granted. It is also assumed that "everybody" has access to the Internet, which I believe has made a major contribution to education.
Distance education was once conducted through the post and our unique School of the Air. I was fortunate to be one of the first students to study with a computer and modem back in 1987. Deakin University offered a Graduate Diploma of Computing, which required using "Austpac", a packet-switched network that required a local data call to reach a distant computer. Students were able to collect and submit assignments in their own time.
Today, the computer has been rightly reduced to the status of a tool and there is more attention given to content. Content has always been crucial and nowadays Internet researchers are challenged to identify and separate facts from opinions.
Instructional technologists are constantly challenged to choose the best tool to teach a given topic. Traditional, classroom learning involved the delivery of content on a proverbial plate to the student-text books, film and video, reference material, classroom notes and handouts. Numerous attempts have been made to reduce this to hypermedia, both on digital media and online. I don't believe there is any substitute for face-to-face learning in a class- room, but for those who must learn remotely and in their own time, technology has come pretty close to replicating the classroom experience.
PC Update Online
Stan Johnstone has earnt his honorary life membership of Melb PC several times over, as he has continued to work tirelessly as a volunteer for Melb PC on many fronts. Stan has scanned the pages of every issue of PC Update where an electronic copy was not available and placed them online at http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/. Great job, Stan!
If your old article is not visible online, it means that the office does not have a signed release from you wherein you give Melb PC permission to place your article online. If you know a former member who would like to see their article online or if you fall in that group, please download a form from the same PC Update URL. Sign it and send it to the user group office and notify Stan at online@melbpc.org.au.
The Committee has managed to get a copy of an extremely fast search tool, ISYS, courtesy of its makers. It is not yet in operation but the wait will be worthwhile.
Reprinted from the September 2002 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
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