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Advanteges and Disadvantages of CAI Based on This Project

 

Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) is very common and part of our everyday life, and this project showed me how we can use it for advancing our knowledge in chosen topics. I want to reflect on my personal experience with learning CamStudio software through the CAI. I found that there are lots of advantages in using CAI for my personal learning, based on this project.

 

• Main advantage of using online resources for instructions is that you can learn at your own pace in a private environment: anytime-anywhere.

• There is a lot of information online related to any topics you are interested in: this improves research skills of students.

• Motivation is a great driver for using Internet as source of instruction. Students actively participate in learning when they are interested in the topic and adjust amount of personalized instruction as desired.

 

Although I truly believe that today’s everyday learning can not exist without computer assisted instructions, there are some drawbacks in using it.

 

• Biggest challenge of the CAI is absence of the feedback: if student wish to get more information or if information is insufficient they must look further for answers - they are on their own.

• There are so many resources on the internet, it takes time to find relevant learning resources and find the best resources for the topic.

• Although in this case motivation played a great benefit in my learning, I can see that lack of motivation for the ‘forced’ CAI learning could result in poor learning outcome.

• CAI also may require student to have training in the computer technology which can distruct them from the core educational process.

 

My Experience

 

I found this project echoing instructional design strategy. I knew what I wanted to learn; objective has been determined as “being able to create screen-cast video with a voice over instructions”. I had to create my own plan for learning and create my own “course” that would satisfy my learning objectives, as I knew nothing about the subject at that point.

 

I used Internet to find a tool that I could use for this purpose: my main criteria have been 'free to use'. Once I decided on CamStudio I had to find resources that would satisfy my objective-goal of this project. Again, I knew nothing how big or how small my learning curve could be. I choose to go with YouTube videos as they are most interactive tools for learning of software. They provide you with visual information on how to install, configure, use and sometimes even publish. The biggest surprise for me was that I completely missed configuration and publishing part while I was planning my learning plan originally. I watched number of videos before I actually choose the best ones (for me).

 

I found this experience enriching, but I have to mention that main driver for me was motivation. I am relatively computer savvy and I wanted to achieve my goal. This project has been relatively easy to do because I was motivated to learn. I previously worked with videos-editing (digital camera), already had account with YouTube and knew how to post them on YouTube. Most of my learning involved finding appropriate tool, installing and configuring software.

 

I have to mention a side line of this project. CamStudio installs during installation many other programs on your computer, such as tool-bars, malware, etc. I had to clean my computer after I installed CamStudio and remove about 5 programs from it, but I think result is worth trying: CamStudio is a great ‘free’ software for creating screen-casts.

 

 

Demonstration of Learning

 

I've created a short introductory video of the Student view of Athabasca University Graduate Program (GCAP) of Applied Psychology website. This video gives you an overview of the GCAP website and short explanation of the GCAP systems in use (see below).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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