The proposal aims at improving access of computers
The proposal aims at improving access of computers to help students in the campus with their schoolwork. Improved computer access amongst students can have a direct effect on the way they perform since computers can store extensive information that can be retrieved with ease, help in presentations of schoolwork, has audio-visual capabilities that enable teaching to be intuitive and more comfortable for the learners to grasp the information being put across. The methods that were used during the research included the use of questionnaires to gauge the opinion of the participants concerning the subject matter, interviews that were in sessions of five minutes per student with each interviewee being asked questions that dwelled on the importance of computers in a campus. The interviewer also used the journal “Redefining the Digital Divide: Beyond Access to Computers and the Internet” to gauge the participants understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of having computers among learners. The result of the research showed that most students believed that having easier access of computers would improve the standard of learning while and ease the performance of the school functionalities that are computerized like accessing the school portal at ease, checking fee balances amongst others.
Chapter I: Introduction
Chapter I; Introduction
Computers play an essential role when undertaking most of the tasks today since it can take multiple computations within a short time frame; machines also have a significant impact on the education sector inclusively. With the help of computers, learning has become more interesting since computers devices are capable of storing a lot of data that when processed gives information that can be used for decision making, It has audio-visual functionalities that are very useful while teaching since it enhance understanding. Enables good presentations of data and facilitates good communication when the devices are well connected not forgetting it has internet capabilities promoted by the Internet Service Provider (ISP). The research proposal tries to look into ways of improving and increasing computers in the school with the aim of improving learning and enhance student productivity; the objective is to increase computers in the school. Computers have great significance to students and aid in education.
Chapter II: Literature Review
Chapter II: Literature Review
Aliyu, Younus, and Tasmin (Ph.D., n.d.) suggest that a computer is a machine that takes in data from the external environment, stores it, and gives an output. Data is processed after inputs are entered by the micro-controller that processes data to give back output to the end-user through an interface depending on how it is programmed (Feng, Lazar, Kumin, " Ozok, 2017). The earliest examples of computers include the abacus and astrolabe computers. Processing takes place in four steps namely; inputting of data, storage of the data during processing and displaying of the final output to the end-user (Aliyu, Younus, " Tasmin (Ph.D., n.d.).Modern computers are much more powerful and can undertake millions of computations within a given second. Today people use personal computers to do almost anything from the workplaces, from the comfort of their homes, and schools amongst learners (Feng, Lazar, Kumin, " Ozok, 2017).Machines are of great help in automation of tasks such as controlling and monitoring of the traffic lights, undertaking medical, surgical operations amongst other uses (Haugland, 2015). A user interacts with the computer using the user interface. Command line interface was majorly used around the 1940s and required a bunch of codes crunched into the system, and the networks would be fed with commands in batches using paper tape or punch card (Haugland, 2015). The mouse or the touchpad is also computer interfaces, other good examples of computer interfaces include the multi-touch screen that takes advantage of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), gesture sensing that responds depending on certain body movement, voice recognition, augmented reality, spatial interfaces amongst others. Haugland (2015) suggests that for there to be a great improvement in the education system there is need to introduce computers in both secondary and primary schools. Though computers are viewed as an invention from the future but with the introduction of electricity around the 19th century, it leads to great non-digital and even electro-mechanical devices that undertake calculations that were analog and digital. (Kirk, 2016) According to statistics that was conducted in 2013 it was concluded that more than 70% of the United States of America population access the internet using computer devices. It was also recognized that whites are the ethnic group with more people above three years old that have access to the internet followed by blacks (Kirk, 2016).People from high-income households are also reported to have more access to computer services compared to those from low-income homes. (Valadez " Duran, 2016).For people that are above 25 years of age internet and computer access tends to increase with the level of education attained. Statistics show that around 50% of those that have cleared high school use the internet compared to 60% who only have a high school diploma or an equivalent of the same while close to 90% with a bachelor's degree or higher use the internet using computer devices (Valadez " Duran, 2016). Haugland, (2015) suggests that according to research that was conducted in 2009 it is believed that those between the age of eight years old to eighteen years old approximately 36% have computers in their houses and have internet access. It is found that the youths spend nearly 90 minutes each day doing things that are outside schoolwork this is up from 60 minutes according to research conducted in 2004. States that having computer access in a household doesn’t guarantee better performance in school work or narrowing achievement gaps that are associated with socio-economic status or race but on the contrary, having access to computers with internet access may have detrimental effects on academic achievement of a student. Aliyu, Younus, and Tasmin (Ph.D., n.d.) claim that students having computer and internet access at their disposal will only place them at the risk of exposing them to violence, sexual and age-inappropriate contents. The time that is, also taken sitting in front of a computer monitor takes up the time that would have been spent being active preventing obesity, back, eyes and wrist complications. Valadez and Duran, (2016) claim that computers unless used by responsible students who can work with no supervision they are mostly used for recreational purposes, machines could also lead to physical damages. According to Aliyu, Younus, and Tasmin (Ph.D., n.d.), computers also separate people from the world by socializing with strangers and ignoring social involvement in the real world. According to Feng, Lazar, Kumin, and Ozok (2017), research conducted shows that computers have become an agent of bullying especially among the young population who do not know how to deal with the issue and some even contemplate suicide. Haugland, (2000) claims that the research conducted in 2010 by the cyberbullying research center, shows that more than 20% of those between 12 to 18 years of age said they were victims of cyberbullying.
Chapter III: Aims
Chapter III: Aims
Utilitarian Functions
One of the objectives of including ICT to students is to help them to be able to utilize the essential knowledge and skills that are acquired to be used in their daily lives and preparing students for the world and being able to be open-minded and flexible to the inevitable changes that take place in the world today
Social Aims
Computers can be a means of ensuring and improving socialization of other students with the ICT colleagues; this will enable them to be able to also technological equipment that are outside the school premises and ensure equity since all the learners will have same opportunities to use the ICT facilities that are within the school environs. ICT will also provide better communication with the aid of networking the computer devices will be connected to communication services, and files and resources amongst other resources can easily be shared.
Cultural Acceptance
ICT will help students to become well-mannered citizens in the modern world. It achieves this since it facilitates the appreciation and discovery of various cultural heritage across the globe.
Personal Growth
Computers will help students to grow personally by Inco-operating different forms of learning, facilitate distant learning programs for students, and improve their productivity. Networks will also enable the public to access information quickly over the internet.
Chapter IV: Methods
Chapter IV: Methods
Participants
The participants for the research were 200 undergraduate students that school in the medium-sized institution and given certificates of participation and little monetary token of appreciation for involvement as an incentive when conducting the research. The age of the participants ranged from 18 years of age to 24 years with the mean age being 19 years. The majority of those that showed up were female with a ratio of 65% to 35% that were men. The most common ethnic group was the Caucasian (85.8%), Asian or Pacific Islander (1%), African-America (9.2%) while the native Americans being less than 1 %, the Hispanic was less than 1%, and 2.5% claimed to be from “other “ethnic groups. The majority of those who attended were sophomores (85.8%), followed by freshmen being (10.8%), the juniors (1.7%) and finally the seniors being (1.7%) too. The average grade point average (GPA) was around 3.05 with a range of 2.40.Majority of the participants were single 70%, followed by those who were married at 30%, divorced being 5% and those that were engaged at 5%.
Materials
Paper pencil tests in the form of questionnaires were used to get necessary information from the participants with each filling out open-end questions concerning their view on the importance of computers amongst learners. The student participants were also interviewed separately in sessions that lasted approximately five minutes. The interviewer used the journal “Redefining the Digital Divide: Beyond Access to Computers and the Internet” to gauge the students understanding of the implication of computers to learners.
Chapter V: Results
Chapter V: Results
This section summarizes the findings and the contributions that were made during the conduction of the research that used such methodologies as the questionnaire, interview, research and psychological testing of the participants depending on their understanding of the journal “Redefining the Digital Divide: Beyond Access to Computers and the Internet.” According to the research conducted more than 80% of the students seemed to agree that there was a direct relationship between good performances as access to computer increased since they could be useful for research. Some students also decided that computers could be destruction and about 55% agreed that computers could mainly be helpful to those students who can work with little to no supervision. There was a differ in opinion whether studying using machines was better than studying while referring from books with 70% suggesting that studying from bookstore was more fruitful during study sessions. Some of the participants believed that computers are a great way of learning, but they should only be a necessity to those who enroll for online classes.
Chapter VI: Recommendation
Chapter VI: Recommendation
Improve technological access
For more computers to be included technological advances even if it is through stand-alone and portable devices together with the help of wireless technology.
Improve internet accessibility and technical support
The internet access should be increased so that students can access necessary information that is needed for them to grow academically. The maintenance and technical support team should also be well equipped to ensure that all the computer devices are functioning properly
Increase professional development in Technology
Technological training offered mainly to the administrative staff should provide a high-quality professional improvement in technology. Computer devices should also be used during classes to assist in presentation an individualization of each lesson.
Encourage teacher and learners to embrace technology
The school should encourage technological enthusiasm by seeking ways to use technology to improve student productivity in class work.
Educators as advocates
Organizations such as NEA that are for teachers and other state affiliates can play a role in integrating technology in education and also educating parents of the importance of embedding knowledge to the learning curriculum.
Chapter VII: Conclusion
Chapter VII: Conclusion
Computers are a great way of learning and ensure that students get tones of information that is beneficial. The knowledge from the internet that is computer-aided should only be a compliment of what is taught in class and should not be a reason for students to miss classes. Though computers are an excellent source of knowledge to learners, it is advised that students bury themselves in books rather than staring at computer screens since this leads to better understanding and retention of knowledge. Computers are great and should be embraced.
References
Aliyu, A. A., Younus, S. M. D., " Tasmin (phd, R. B. H. (n.d.). 1 An Exploratory Study on Adoption of Electronic Banking: Underlying Consumer Behaviour and Critical Success Factors. Case of Nigeria.
Feng, J., Lazar, J., Kumin, L., " Ozok, A. (2017). Computer Usage by Young Individuals with Down Syndrome: An Exploratory Study. In Proceedings of the 10th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (pp. 35–42). New York, NY, USA: ACM.
Haugland, S. W. (2015). Computers and Young Children. ERIC Digest. ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education, University of Illinois, 51 Gerty Drive, Champaign, IL 61820-7469.
Kirk, D. (2016). Gender Issues in Information Technology as Found in Schools: Authentic/Synthetic/Fantastic? Educational Technology, 32(4), 28–31.
Valadez, J. R., " Duran, R. (2007). Redefining the Digital Divide: Beyond Access to Computers and the Internet. The High School Journal, 90(3), 31–44.
