Lesson 11: The Computer as the Teacher’s Tool

 Constructivism as an approach allows students to construct their own concepts and meaning about anything. Constructing can be done socially, so the term social constructivism emerged.

  Constructivism as an approach is employed when a teacher makes use of computer as a tool in teaching.

    It is now easier for teachers to provide avenues in which higher-level of thinking can be achieve by students since computers now can have problem-solving and simulation programs installed in it. Specifically, a computer can be used by the teacher:

 ·         as an informative tool – A computer can provide vast amounts of information in any form (text, graphics, sound or video). With the Internet, a computer can provide global information on anything. Computer alone is helpful but with the Internet, it becomes even better. A teacher can use this to teach his/her students develop researching and evaluative skills (choose among sources which is/are reliable).

·         as a communication tool – With Internet, communication has become better. A teacher can have a virtual class thus defying space and still pursue the teaching and learning process. 

·          as a constructive tool – With the programs installed in the computer, students can construct their own works. They can organize their ideas into multimedia presentations or through texts. A teacher can use the computer to allow his/her students to develop their own concepts or express themselves through computer creativity activities. 

     ·  as a co-constructive tool – Students cannot only do an original work in the computer but they also can share their works with others. The teacher can make use of this computer function to develop cooperation among his/her students.

     I have become a constructivist since I got hold of a PC. I get to express my ideas and create anything through it. I get to develop certain skills (like basic editing, text, video, photo, and audio). I get to communicate with other people through the Internet. I was able to share my works to others. Indeed, a computer is just a tool of the teacher because what we are learning from the soft wares are just additional to what we are learning in reality. DNA fingerprinting software for example, we are already taught on how to do DNA isolation manually and the software just served as an additional drill to master more the technique.