Essays

Computerization in every field is the order of the day. No one had imagined that computers in the forthcoming years would play such a decisive role in technology. No aspect of life has been left untouched by computers. They have invaded our professional lives, our homes, our medical facilities, our entertainment modes etc. Thus, besides being educated, it has become extremely necessary to be computer-literate in order to survive, Hence, education too has been reformed and revolutionized to suit the need of time. It is necessary that a child learns computer as normally as he studies other subjects. Thus, from a primary and now even from the kindergarten level, computers have become an indispensable part of education.

It was in 1984, during the time of Rajiv Gandhi that computer was introduced on a massive scale in India for the first time. In 1966, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay prepared the first computer  n India. Then a number of other computers were produced by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. In fact, Rajiv Gandhi had stressed on the bright future of IT in India. Gradually, a revolution in every  field took place and today it is a pre-requisite for a person to have at least the basic knowledge of computer.

The government is keen on spreading computer education. Computers have been introduced compulsorily from the middle level classes. In bigger cities, children are introduced to computers even before they are taught alphabets. Computers help to bring in hands-on experience in the classroom. Children learn to recognize things and objects, they learn to spot animals, recall colours and relate to  sounds of different kinds. Computers in education thus have a promising future. In higher education they can be used even more effectively. We can use computers for showing a trans-sectional view of a human cell; the flow of blood circulation in the body, the movement of planets in the Solar System, the layers of lithosphere, the working 3-D model of an atom etc. For such things, a student had to previously exercise his imagination or rely upon models and diagrams which in fact did not prove much helpful. Computers can be of great help in teaching not only Science, Social Science but Languages as well. Teaching can be made more effective and interesting with the use of computers.

Programmed instructions can be controlled according to the learning capacity and pace of the learner. They can be designed to cater to the needs of individual learners. It may take a few more years, but in the near future computers will definitely overtake every other classroom teaching method. They will be helpful in computerization of every sector, industry and department - is opening new options and avenues in career formation. With the IT revolution, there has been an explosion of knowledge which has promised infinite possibilities for computer wizards of the nation.

Internet has condensed the knowledge of the entire universe into a screen of 80 columns and 24 rows. Any kind of information is just a click of mouse away. It has made possible the transfer of information very convenient, quick, easy and useful, A child sitting in a small town in India can access the research papers of Harvard University or for that matter refer to the library of Oxford or Cambridge or even any kind of Encyclopedia or Dictionary. Nothing is beyond reach for a student with a heart thirsting for knowledge.

Yet one cannot think of displacing man-power in education completely with computers. Nothing can take the place of a teacher interacting with his students in a class, and that too a machine. Computers can prove helpful and be used as an effective teaching aid but to think of them as the sole deliverers of a generation will be foolishness. However, excessive reliance and dependence on computers should be avoided. A judicious, reasonable and intelligent use of computers will enable us to reap better benefits from computers not only in the field of education, but as we can see and foresee, in numerous other fields as well. Computers will definitely be the order of the future. This millennium is called the Millennium of Computers and Information Technology, and rightly so.