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Figure 1. The upper limit of the capability of traditional teacher- centred schooling. Asymptotic performance was realized near 1960 |
Use of CAL for Faster Industrial Development.
J.N. Kagenyi
Institute for Meteorological Training and Research-NAIROBI
P.O. Box 30259 Nairobi, e-mail:
joseph.kagenyi@lion.meteo.go.ke
ABSTRACT
This paper will try to introduce the importance of Computer Aided Learning CAL as a modern tool that will facilitate faster learning of vast information available in scientific and non-scientific fields. It will also introduce basics of CAL development. Our education system will need a change so as to accommodate new innovations like CAL in the curriculum.
The industrial development in the last century has generated a lot of information. This information requires a medium through which it can be synthesised and taught to people of all walks of life in a ready to use format. Currently the information flow is faster than it has ever been in the past. Any process or mechanism that would increase the learning capacity and speed is certainly a good choice to many.
The current teacher-centred system that depends on the knowledge and experience of an individual has a lot of limitations. Research findings show that the current education system has reached asymptotic such that no improvements can be made without changing the whole education process performance (Branson, 1987,1997). Computer aided learning is a learner-oriented system. It is a product of research and development in Education technology, that is; it is a scientific system, which is scalable on time and space. The learner determines the speed and direction to follow. It will revolutionise the teaching approach.
CAL will affect education systems of the world in all training institutions and at all levels, teachers, parents, government agencies, and business community. Most world governments will invest in the new innovations in preparation of the people to the New World order in terms of every area of humane socio-economic activities.
CAL has proven to be a suitable tool that synthesises information and present it in a systematic, easy to understand to the learner. With multimedia technology the use of audio-visual application and animations in CAL enhances the learning as well as the understanding. It has reduced the paperwork. It has also an advantage over the other teaching methods in that it can address a greater number of learners in both classical and non-classical way. CAL modules can be sent or accessed by any computer in the Internet.
Some disadvantages of CAL are that it is expensive when compared to teacher-centred training. It demands high skills and special equipment.
CAL development process goes through several stages: Front end analysis, problem analysis, solution analysis, content analysis and use of subject matter experts SME, media analysis, script writing, storyboard design, use of Instructional designers (ID), then authoring language, quality assurance (QA). Software and equipment issue is also very important when designing a CAL module.
For the success of CAL innovations in Africa there is a need for acceptance and utilisation plan.
Learning is a social process that integrates skills, experience and knowledge from person(s) to person(s) through defined or undefined media. The industrial development in the last and current century has generated a lot of information. This information requires a medium through which it can be synthesised and taught to people of all walks of life into a ready to use format. How best this information is received by the learner will determine how well it will be transferred from one person or location to another for application.
There are many methods of teaching or training people. Some of these methods can not fully meet the modern demands of training of personnel.
New methods have evolved trying to solve the problems on training needs for various organisations.
The objective of this paper is to show that CAL can be used to facilitate faster learning of vast information available both in scientific and non-scientific human activities.
The factors that cause the failure and success of adoption are discussed. Some factors that have been applied to integration of new ways into the training curriculum are also discussed.
Basics of CAL production processes are briefly mentioned.
The rationale of using CAL is it’s suitability to synthesise information and present it in systematic, easy to understand way to the learner. With multimedia technology the use of audio-visual application and animations in CAL, enhances the learning as well as the understanding.
History on communication technology indicates that there has been an introduction of at least a new innovation in every decade from 1950. See table 1 below.
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Period |
Innovation introduced and description |
Acceptance level |
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<1950 |
Traditional teaching-centered methods; classroom based. |
Excellent .No alternatives at that time |
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1950s |
Films used in training |
Fair |
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1960s |
Broadcast educational television, Audio-visual aids such as filmstrips, slides and, new technology of programmed instructions |
Fair. Still applied in some countries even today. |
|
1970s |
Videocassettes, remote access audio and video, computer assisted instruction (CAI) |
Successive. It is complementary to traditional methods. |
|
1980s |
Videodisc and two- way interactive video |
Poor. It flopped due to incompatibility |
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1990s |
CAL and multimedia, the Internet (the medium of the day) |
Internet has a success story, beginning 1993 it has more than 30 million users in 5 years only (Graphics, Visualisation 1997) . CAL has great promises. |
Table 1.
The history of new innovations since 1950 to 1998.Most of the above media did not reach the expected levels.
The only technology that persisted is the videocassettes. The reason being that they were designed and standardised both in terms of hardware and software. Many generic videocassette recorders are compatible with earlier cassette tapes. They can be manufactured from different corners of the globe.
The success of the Web or Internet is seen as a result of lack of monopoly. No one owns the web. It is a product by several interested individuals and organisations and each member maintains his own WEBsite. The Language is also universal using the Hypertext transfer protocol (http). Many computers have the ability to use the most common browsers that is, Microsoft Internet explorer and Netscape Navigator.
TEACHER Gives Knowledge and experience (but Limited) to the -----------> Students. The students rely on this source 90 % plus good or bad there is no other alternative.
Research in the areas of education technology indicates that traditional teaching method that are teaching-centred have reached their best. It can not be improved in terms of performance unless the whole teaching process is redefined in terms of the learner. This is shown by figure 1 below as suggested in "the upper limit hypothesis" by Branson (Branson, 1987).
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Figure 1. The upper limit of the capability of traditional teacher- centred schooling. Asymptotic performance was realized near 1960 |
This figure means that by about 1960 the existing teaching-centred model was about 97% as effective as it could ever. The teacher-centred system that depends on the knowledge and experience of an individual has a lot of limitations in that the teacher has his limitation in knowledge and capacity to hold information at a time. A paper written by Berliner and Biddle (1995) and Bracey (1991,1992,1993) provided data that supported "the upper limit hypothesis". The data indicates that the academic performance in American schools remained unchanged for the period 1973-1993 (for 20 years). The data provided evidence that asymptotic performance had been reached using traditional processes. In most schools in Africa the performances are even worse on average. This is due to lack of facilities and skills in education.
7.0 Teaching Methods
There are many methods of teaching such as discussion method, exercise method, case study method, workshop, lectures and notes, conferences, seminars, Computer aided learning etc.
Each method is applied depending on the needs of an organisation and the nature of the training problem that is being addressed. It also depends on the degree of understanding that is intended.
8.0 Computer Aided Learning
8.1 What is computer aided learning?
Computer aided learning is a learner-oriented system in contrast to teaching-centred method. The learner determines the speed and direction to follow.
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With CAL you relax and work to your best. You determine the pace as well as the schedule to learn and interact with more than just a stream of one idea. You visualise through the database for relevant information as you proceed. At a click of a button you are in a different book or library or subject. |
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A CAL module can be used as a tutorial, drills, case study or reference of information for specific fields, depending on the nature of the problem the Instructional designer is addressing.
9.0 Methodology
9.1 A systematic Research and Development Approach.
The focus of systematic research and development is on different line from that of traditional or competition type of teaching in trying to solve the learner performance problem. Research and development process tries to eliminate the failures in the traditional methods by designing a new process that articulates each element comprising the whole system to make it work. Applying system analysis and design techniques, in which you improve the current system by addressing the identified failures. Each subsystem must be made to work so that the main system performs efficiently towards achieving the goals.
This system identifies the faulty parts of the system and deals with each at a time. It has borrowed ideas from successful organisations that work well toward satisfying the customer. Scientific ideas were also borrowed from quality science that states that all performance results are caused by processes. Good outcomes come from good processes and bad outcomes are the result of faulty processes and not people.
The result of Research and development was Learning-based Model shown in figure 3 below.
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Figure 2. The Research $ Development design Model that provides the opportunity for asynchronous, random access to stored knowledge and learning materials for all members of the academic community. |
Figure 3 represents a conceptualisation of the research $ development learning based model. It consists of four main elements
Internet added local area Network would fit the model above which would give a high degree of success.
Performance support system facilitates the work of students, teachers, and other members of staff.
After such ideas are presented to design teams, each to deal with specific areas like Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment by one group, Management Operations and Logistics by another, and Mission, research and development and human development another team. The product from each of these teams is a balanced information clear and elaborate. Some project undertaken in Florida (USA) under the title Florida SchoolYear 2000 (Education Technology, 1997) produced a model represented by figure 4.
The terms of reference for each team were to meet with all stakeholders (the public, the business community, parents, and others as a means of obtaining design requirements for new system) and involve them at every level of the design.
The result was the Learner-Based Model, which forms Computer Aided Learning (CAL). A tool that has all the interactions for a learning system.
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Figure 3. The operations model for the Florida Schoolyear 2000 initiative. Design teams comprising all stakeholders groups contributed to the subsystem features and functions. The integration of all subsystems was to provide for essentially paperless internal operations. |
This is an iterative design that fits the solutions to stakeholder requirements. It is capable of being modified as need arises. When a specific subsystem is at fault it is addressed and the system continues.
Figure 4 presents a conceptualisation of the systems model with all elements focusing on learning. All these functions are articulated to be sure that the new model could achieve one major goal: continuous incremental improvements. This is to ensure no reaching the upper limit in the near future.
For faster Industrial development the training of students, managers and technical personnel is essential. To achieve these goals highly skilled personnel are required and also sometimes sophisticated equipment needed. Need for standard level of manpower in a highly competitive world requires standard training materials and faster access of any essential information .
The international bodies like WMO, ICAO and many others that employ specific cadres of personnel would need their training materials in a ready to use format and able to control on what is taught.
More training of manpower will be needed so as to fit in the modern world of management information systems (MIS). This will demand the use of CAL, which will eventually affect scholars in training institutions and at all levels, that is, teachers, parents, government agencies, and business community. This is essential if the goals of a developed world are to be achieved for the modern international communication system.
The education institutions will need to invest in modern equipment so us to train large number of persons in the shortest time possible.
The training of persons and the exchange of ideas and information necessities the use of a modern approaches that are more versatile and learner-driven. A training method like CAL that reduces the paperwork and time to peruse through is a better training tool for both industrial and faster economic development.
10. Factors that inhibit adoption of new media:
2. Inhibition of human contact. Any media that limits human interaction is bound to fail. Instructors and students want to be together as a social interaction. Learning is a social process as mentioned earlier.
3. Disruption of legal and economic status. This means that technology has three main effects:
E.g. the telephone was intended to improve business communications
The transient effects are it invades privacy. Any one who knows your telephone number can call you, Unintended effects: it creates long distance relations with friends and enemies alike.
10.1 Factors that affect successful implementation of media for learning
E.g. The ASMET Vol.2. (May 1998). Integrating satellite imagery of ITCZ into the analysis process. Designed by African meteorologist for African meteorologists in partnership with the instructional designers
New media technologies need to be controlled locally.
E.g. .The ASMET Project has trained four African Meteorologists as Instructional design and CAL production for local use.
11.0 CAL PRODUCTION PROCESS
:See the presentation in Power point Download.
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Acceptance and Utilization PlanThis is a plan that establishes the procedures and processes that will ensure the adoption and sustainability of the new media like CAL project. Without Such a plan the chances of continued success are significantly reduced. Research literature suggests that successful use of computer aided learning is not solely a function of well-designed materials. In fact requires an acceptance and utilisation plan that address three main areas that are
13.0 Results
13.1 Advantages of Computer Aided Learning
13.2 Disadvantages of computer aided Learning:
Initially it is costly, but on long term basis it is economical.
14. Conclusion:
It is now evident that with application of systematic research and development we can develop our own CAL materials with a high certainty of their success in implementation. The CAL will address training problems in various areas for industrial development. Mass training can be done using CAL and Internet as media that will be effective. Although third world countries are economically poor they will attain Industrial development much faster than the western world. The Information transfer from the developed countries to developing countries is faster and effective than it was ten years ago.
We have the technology it is a matter of time and good planning. Most institutions of learning should approach training using computer aided learning as a media that will improve the performance of most students. The era of cheap labour in third world will soon be gone and an institution could have fewer teachers but with enough skills on CAL they will manage training by networking computers in classrooms at minimal long term costs.
The vision on CAL in Africa is that we need to train more Instructional designers to help in the design of user-defined CAL modules that will educate the whole of Africa in less than a quarter of a century.
References:
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ASMET Vol.2. (May 1997). Integrating satellite imagery of ITCZ into the analysis process.
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Industrial report 1996
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The Asymetrix Guide to Interactive Online Learning. ASYMETRIX LEARNING SYSTEMS, INC.
Two African weathermen discussing points from a CAL module.
