Computer Assisted Instructions in College Algebra
One of the most troublesome and terrifying courses for students in Tertiary Level is College Algebra. The researchers had come up the idea of developing a Computer-Aided Instruction in this subject for a better and easy way of the teaching-learning process of the students. Computer-Aided Instruction (CAI) is a tool where learning and acquiring skills are the focus.
Education is said to be the most important treasure that an individual should have because it is a life long journey for every person. Everyone is expected to go to school to learn different subjects or have some kind of way to acquire knowledge and skills. School is a place that you go to learn new things, rules, and concepts but today through the use of information technology there are a lot of ways to get the desired knowledge.
College algebra is one of the interested and challenging subjects in most colleges and universities. It is an advanced form of algebraic studies that covers general concepts of polynomials, exponential and logarithmic functions. To get the full understanding of the whole subject students should have an accurate research material most commonly a book. Students can also learn their subject through discussions of their teacher in the classroom. This way of teaching bring hassle for the teacher because they should think the best message to capture the listeners mind and how their messages is being understand. For the student, they don’t have a chance to recall the part of the lesson whichthey clearly not understand especially for the low and slow learner. But as a revolutionized country, we can do better processes of teaching and learning the subject. Computer contributes a lot of ideas and offers different benefits of every student.
Computer –Aided instruction (CAI) is one of the computer tools which are designed to teach, guide and test the student or a learner until a desired level of proficiency is attained. It captures the student attention because the program is interactive and engaged the students’ spirit of competitiveness to increase their learning stability. It also moves at the student’s pace and usually does not moves ahead until they have mastered the skill. Program provides differential lessons to challenge the students who are at risks, average and gifted.
Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the study is to develop a Computer-Aided Instruction in college algebra.
Specifically, theobjectives of the study are:
- To develop a CAI that provides a secure and private way of learning that the low and slow learners can be able to absorb the lessons and acquire skills in a more easy and convenient way.
- To develop a CAI that provides a method of teaching where students can learn the lessons quickly.
- To develop a CAI that serves as a remedial lesson for students who are slow learners in College Algebra.
Significance of the Study
The researchers believe that the proposed CAI is considered useful for the students in terms of learning and acquiring skills in the College Algebra and it ensures a fast and reliable learning process. Computer-Aided Instruction in College Algebra System will bring significance to the following:
Instructors/Professors. The CAI helps primarily to the one who is handling the subject for more effective teaching methodology and interactive teaching-learning processes.
Students. Using the CAI, the students can easily interact to the teacher because drills are provided in each topic of the subject.
Researchers. This study will give the researchers a venue to further develop their programming skills. This study will also improve the research and thesis writing skills of the researchers.
System Description
This section presents the actual system hierarchy which is composed of the main menu and sub-menus. The developed CAI is composed of two Main Menus – the Instructor and Student which each of the menu gives an option of the user such as Registration, Exam Results, Lesson Bank, Question Bank, Pre-test, View Lesson, Post Test and View Results respectively.
System Implementation and Mechanics
The developed CAI is composed of two main forms: the instructor and student main form, in which both form are composed of different submenus.
- LOG-IN FORM. This program feature provides a login menu for user access level. A valid username and password must be given in order to access the main menu of the system.
- Instructor Main Form. A system feature that provides Registration for students and enables the instructor to post lessons and exercises.
- Registration Form. This feature registers name of students.
- Question-Bank Form. A feature that provides a space for the instructor to encode questions for exercises and tests.
- Lesson-Bank Form. This feature enables the instructor to post and update lessons.
- Test Result Form. A system feature that generates summary of test results of a student.
- Username and Password Menu. A system feature that enables the user to change username and password.
- Logout Menu. This system feature enables the user to re-login. Re-login is needed every time a user wants to exit from its own user account.
- Exit Menu. This feature enables the user to close the application.
- Student Main Form. A system feature that provides Pre-test and lessons for the students.
- Pre–test Menu. This feature provides pre-test examination for the student.
- View Lesson Menu. A system feature that enables student read the lesson.
- Posttest Menu. This feature that provides posttest examination for the student.
- My Result Menu. This feature that allows students view their exam results
