The world evolves at an incomprehensible pace. It was already a great achievement for the people to learn to transmit their messages via some instruments, aside from face to face communication (ie, talking). When they learned to write, they were empowered to have something that they thought impossible to posses.
Later on, new technologies were discovered: the invention of television and radio became invaluable to humanity. Surpassing the restrictions of current mediums, people began sending their messages via wireless technologies.
Not very recently, computers and its use had been revolutionised. It has been found to be very useful, especially to students that are still in the process of learning things. And because of this, the idea of computer aided learning or e-learning was conceptualized. Instructional materials are now transmitted via computers which students may learn at their own pace and place. Online or virtual education has become one of the options for students who didn’t like to leave their homes.
Despite all the advantages of computer aided learning, it remains to harbour some negative effects that should be carefully considered by parents:
- (i) Computer Dependency.
When students are introduced to computers, they have the tendency to love everything that involves computer, mainly because it also gives them some form of entertainment, such as playing games and watching movies.
- With learning also anchored in computers and applications, such dependency will grow. Suffice it is to say, students’ ability to learn using tools other than a computer would be significantly impaired.
- (ii) Unable to Develop Creativity.
Since information is easily stored in computers, students can also easily copy ideas. They don’t need to create their own narrative essays, like the way the old scholars did since they may now get inspiration from past works and just tweak it a bit and their teachers may never know about it.
- Creativity is hampered as students are bombarded with options available for download in the Internet.
- (iii) Difficulty in using the Medium.
Though there is high tendency that students are going to be dependent on computers, there is still a chance that a number of students cannot easily grasp information via computers. This is highly likely for those areas lagging in technology, access to internet connection and computers.
- (iv) Isolates the Learner from other Learners.
Online communities or virtual classes are proffered as the best substitutes. Yet, a wide variety of education experts remain dubious about this online community’s effect to the students’ learning.
In sum, before embracing anything pegged as “high tech,” it would be crucial for every parent to dig deeply. Parents cannot afford to loosely base their decisions (computer aided learning or not) to popular connotations, as this have irreversible long-term effects.