• {5} Briefly discuss your sense of the value of using the kind of program we used today:
• The resources that are available today are good. However, the way things are being used should be the main issue. Some teachers are dependent purely on the softwares and not his/her ability to teach. Program might be good for some, but there are students that still need the old fashion approach.
• I think it is important just to break up the monotany of the classroom, but not so much as a privat tutor. It makes reviewing, and possibly learning, more fun than sitting and listening to the same voice all day.
• The value can be great with a serious student who is willing to look over a solution once getting an answer wrong. Those students who don't take the time to do that will find that it will take the eternally long to finish the course. Also, I think that maybe after hearing or seeing the same positive reinforcements over and over again, the effect diminishes.
• I think it would be a useful tool for students who are reviewing what they know, but I do not think it would be appropriate to say that one could "learn" much about what algebra is by going through this program. Kids would hardly want to be bogged down with reading why they chose a wrong answer. Nuabces like why one thing is more coorect than another could probably be addressed better verbally.
• Not very much at all there seemed to be a large number of questions but they became repitious and boring likewise the positive reinforcement I was recieving was not that great either
• I think that this program is a good tool to see what the students know and need more emphasis on. It's a good review tool.
• The only value of ths program in my mind is that it keeps kids quiet for a long period of time. I hated these in elementary school.
• I think that it is good to use to review things but it should not by any means take the place of a tutor.
• I don't think that children will actually learn from computer programs. They just want to hear the sounds the machine make for a correct answer. When they get an answer wrong, they will not read the explanaion. They will focus on getting told they have done "a good job." After a while, they will become bored and will lose interest.
• I felt like a mouse in cage. After a while, the program got very boring and I didn't want to play anymore.
• I like the idea of using programs, because it is yet another "fun" way to learn, but I don't think these kind of programs should be used in every lesson. It gets boring. We need to let students use a variety of ways to learn. Like I said I think it is fun, and a great way to review a lesson, but not to teach it for the purpose of learning.
• It is far from ideal. Some diagrams were arranged vertically making visual comparison difficult. Watching the screen is very tiring. I prefer looking at a piece of paper instead.
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• Not much
• I think that the tutoring programs on computers are of great use to students. It allows the student to recieve the extra help in better understading what the student is presently learning. I think that the computer tutorial programs are of great value to students and their education today.
• I don't think that this would have much value if it was being used as anything more than a tool to help tutor the kid as a way to have a new "fun" =) way to study. I think that by only using this program it would not be helpful because the student wouldn't necessarily completely understand let alone be able to learn from his mistakes.
• I do not think that a computer program is ever going to be capable of replacing the teacher. As an aid, this program may be useful for review, but it involves very little interaction which does not allow for maximum learning.
• This program could be an alternative to doing review problems on paper -- no more valuable, but maybe more fun to do on the computer. As far as a learning tool, I think this program has little teaching value. The student is on his own, just guessing as he goes. A live teacher could certainly interact infinitely better than this.
• It was a great review for us. It might be good for students who have already mastered their skills. It is an ecellent way to test their knowledge. However, I do not think that this program could replace a tutor. I don't think it is a good techer, but it is a good tester.
• I think is a great tool to use in classrooms. not only does it introduce students into the multimedia world but it is also a different way to teach students.
• This program is valuable because it allows the student to recieve nonstop tutoring and learning by using this software. Also the student can work at his or her level and higher grade levels at his or her own pace. These programs save the teachers time and effort.
• I think that in some ways this program could be very valuable to students. If a student who already understood the material worked with this program, then it would be an excellent review. But if a student did not understand the material, then I think he would have a hard time dealing with this program.
• I did not learn. The only thing this was good for was getting right or wrong answers. If I was interested I could figure out how to get the right answer.
• The program is good once in awhile to reinforce concepts that have already been taught but not as a substitue for one on one interaction.
• i feel that it would be good because it gets the children interested in the concepts and gets them to think without the aid of any pencil or paper. they have to get the answers based on their knowledge. since it's on a computer it keeps the kids very interested because it could be fun.
• Provides, possibly, the only one on one teaching the student may get that day or week. Does teach and forces ineraction.
• i don't think it would be that beneficial especially if the student has questions to ask but can't because they are talking to a computer. this program would be okay as practice for a student who already has an undestanding but is just getting extra help.
• The value of this type of program is drilling and practice. This program allows the student to practice topics that should have been taught and the drilling allows mastery of the topics. But the program does not allow learning to the extent of skinner's criteria.
• i don't think it would be that beneficial especially if the student has questions to ask but can't because they are talking to a computer. this program would be okay as practice for a student who already has an undestanding but is just getting extra help.
• I think that a student will come to respect a machine more than a person and he/she will assume that learning or school just consists of a set of multiple choice questions when in fact it can be so much more with student/teacher interactions and student/student interactions. Also the machine doesn't really help you with the exact problems you miss, rather it drills similar problems.
• It would be a good review, but it can only explain in the same way. It can not redirect and it doesn't change it's examples too much. It is geared towards answering the questions not general concepts. It is useful in some ways, but it doesn't replace real people interactions and rewards.
• I think it is a pretty valuable experience. The computer can give the student valuable feedback on each wrong question. This allows them to see what they did wrong and learn how to correct it. I think the program would hold the students attention and be interesting. However, I don't think a program like this should replace traditional teaching, but it would be a good suppliment.
• i think that the program would be usefull, but only when used as a kind of tool to supplement some teachers lessons. i think that the questions were extremely challenging, sometime even for me, and that isn't a bad thing, but a student would definately need a teacher there to coach them through.
• I feel using this type of resource today can be benifical to students in many ways. One way it helps students is that students can learn a subject area at his or her own pacewithout feeling left behind or lost in teh classroom setting. This can also help tecahers with the problem of having students at ultiple levels na given topic. This program alo allows teh tsudent to earn in am entertaining atmosphereto relieve the stress of a normal classroom seting.
• i have no value. i am a statistic in the development and testing of this program.
• i really liked it, but being so monotone, and repeating the sae way of doing things over and over, gets quite boring, it surly does not help in making the subject more interesting, it does go about being a very highly acclaimed teacher, however this is not a great insintive to wanting to do more, and simply reading about a pre-worked problem, instead of watching the teacher work through it, talk about it, and answer questions along the way very bad!!
• The program is interested because it maintains a constant comunication and takes the student to a point where he can figure out the answer.
• I think it is great, it even made me realize how basic math can be . I think all schools should incorporate t his program into their schools they may be able to see kids weaknesses better.
• It is great at reinforcing someting that has been taught in class. It serves as a great practice device, but it does not aid the students that struggle in the subject.
• in a less distracting environment, i think this would help kids learn tremendously. if its fun for us at this age, younger kids would want to use this system.
• i think that this sort of resource should not replace a teacher but could help to make the teacher's job easier. maybe the teacher could give a small lecture about how to work certain problems before taking the class to the computer lab.
• I think it would be benificial in younger classrooms to entertain students, so much of their time is spent in front of the Tv or computer, we might as well put it to good use, have them play math games on teh computer to enhanse their learning
• it's useful if you have a way to enforce that all students work and think about what they're doing. otherwise it will do little good.
• It doesn't teach, but it could be a decent evaluation tool.
• It is valuable as perhaps a review of material, but not as a teacher of material.
• While it's not a perfect fit for Skinner's criteria, the tutorial program's interactive relationship with the student's actual performance with direct feedback through positive reinforcement and supportive material would likely make it quite efficient as a teaching tool similar to what Skinner described.
• When I learned math, I used a pencil and paper in order to get to my answer--that was my interaction with math, the actual writing helped me learn it. Computers attempt to pull out that necessary process for me. It might increase the ability to do math in your head but the computer seems to take out that key step when solving problems. Although Skinner's criteria is valid and somewhat ideal, the implementation is not exactly what it's cut out to be.
• I think that this kind of program could be very beneficial if used alongside classroom teaching. This could help the educators to see how well the students are understanding the material they are being taught.
• the value of using this program is very beneficial, it provides another way to interact with classroom material. through the various sounds and visual displays, the learning process is continued and reinforced
• When I learned math, I used a pencil and paper in order to get to my answer--that was my interaction with math, the actual writing helped me learn it. Computers attempt to pull out that necessary process for me. It might increase the ability to do math in your head but the computer seems to take out that key step when solving problems. Although Skinner's criteria is valid and somewhat ideal, the implementation is not exactly what it's cut out to be.
• The program seemed more like worksheet learning. It didn't really teach or lead the student to the correct answer. The student already has to have a pretty good grasp of the questions and subjects being asked. It would be a good program to increase speed in responses but for learning new material, I'm not so sure about
• The program used today is beneficial in several ways. One of those ways is that it helps the student learn fundamental concepts in any subject area and reinforces the same ideas and principles. It does keep the attention of the student because he/she is always busy trying to get the right answer. the best part about the machine tutor is that gives positive reinforcement to the child by little signs that pop up when the student asnwers correctly. I think that is a must for any kind of teaching tool.
• Well, I think the tutoring machines are helpful in some sense to the students in order to hel a student to solve a problem, but it is also helpful to have someone that would also teach the concepts to the student. Also, if the machine is used after students learn certain concepts of math or any particular subject then the machine is a very helpful tool for the student to review its knowledge and to be encouraged fo the well done job.
• I think it is useful for a short amount of time. It allows students a little time for them to move at their own pace and learn independenty. I also introduces them to a different apparatus. However, it is too easy for the child to move on without understanding the problem, and therefore they may not be learning much at all.
• It is a good tool to reinforce learning, but in no way does it replace the vaule of a good teacher or a tutor. For learning to be more effective a student must be able to ask questions to truly inderstand what he or she is doing
• I think the program we used today would be better as a reinforcement tool as opposed to a teaching machine.
• It allows a student to cover material (particularly for review purposes) outside of class without the need for a teacher. The only problem is that the program is limited in the way the lessons can be presented. For a traditional teacher the lesson can be modified "on the fly" to suit the individual student and help them better understand. The program, though, is limited to what it can do immediately. If there is a lack of understanding on the part of the student, all they can do is keep repeating the same exact lesson that is presented in the same exact way and hope for eventual understanding.
• This program might be valuable to use right before a test at a point when the student should know the concepts really well and only need to review... or when a substitute will be teaching the class.
• I think this program is comparable to a worksheet. It does have extra perks such as "resources" and the ability to review the "lesson" while working the problems, but I did not feel that it effectively promoted learning.
• I think this could be a useful tool to schools, although dangerous. The "machine" should, in no way, provide a substitute for a human teacher, but rather supplement the teaching. Too much reliance on computers to teach might retard students from learning who need the attention of a human teacher.
• The program we used today could be benefecial in changing the learning environment occasionally. It could help a student who is looking for extra stimuli.
• I think that programs like these are pretty neat, but I think the real thing is better. If the child had any questions the computer wouldn't be able to explain as personal as a teacher would.
• one real strength of the program is it's immediate responsiveness to the student. assuming kids are allowed to move at their own pace, then there is no one rushing or slowing them. the lesson becomes individual. in fact, where is the teacher in all this? kids can do these programs at home or even in the classroom, with everyone moving at their own pace it would be hard to coordinate any sorts of group activities. i would like to think that we are not out of a job as teachers, i would like to see how these programs can mesh with human teaching too. until then, they are not valuable to me. we have to remember that we are all first humans, and second, students. we have been learning from humans all our lives and i don't think it is healthy to cut out the human teacher entirely. maybe these programs could be a kind of homework, to prep the kids for exploratory and "how do we use this" lessons in class.