The process of using computers and computer programs to assist students in learning is known as computer-assisted learning. Traditionally, the term referred to stand-alone computer programs that aided in the reinforcement of subjects taught in schools. With the widespread use of the Internet, the term has expanded to include learning that takes place on computers and via the internet. As technology has advanced, the terms “computer-assisted learning” and “online learning,” or “e-learning,” have become interchangeable.
Computer programs that run on their own are common in computer-assisted learning. These programs are intended to supplement lessons taught in traditional classrooms. Typing and languages are popular subjects for computer-based learning. The type of adaptive repetition that a computer program can provide is beneficial to students learning these subjects. This adaptability means that the program can identify patterns of weakness and tailor questions and activities to strengthen those areas in a way that a written workbook could not.
Computer-assisted learning has expanded beyond the use of a computer program on a single terminal in a one-way interaction with a machine, thanks to the widespread use of the Internet in academic institutions. The Internet is being used by educational institutions all over the world to increase the interactivity of learning technology. A large number of colleges and universities provide online learning programs that allow students to attend classes from afar. Professors use web-based software to encourage students from all over the world to participate in class in real time.
Not only has computer-assisted learning become nearly identical to interactive online learning through curricula offered by educational institutions, but there has also been an increase in peer-based learning via computers and a shift in the way knowledge is collected and stored for learning purposes. Rather than relying on a computer disk with a program to drill a student on a language, the student can use the Internet to log into a chat room and interact directly with a native speaker. Similarly, rather than inserting a CD-ROM containing a research collection, a student can access research databases and live collections that are updated frequently via the Internet. User-created encyclopedias, also known as wikis, extend the realm of computer-assisted learning into the realm of collaborative education.
Custom program design is perhaps the one area of computer learning that has not been redefined as a result of the Internet’s use. Custom software to teach specialized subjects is still produced by companies. A flight simulator program, for example, is an example of specialized learning that is unlikely to migrate to an Internet-based format.