Research Korner: Bronx Adult Learning Center

Abstract                         Information society, knowledge company and lifelong learning all together and are encapsulated the specific case of ICT-based adult learning. Thus, there are different reasons wny ICTs may be capable of making the learning society a reality (Selwyn & Gorard 2006, p. 9). However, there are different factors that must be considered in order to ensure the success of applying CAI in the learning process of adult learners. Based on the responses and opinions of 20 respondents, grouped by those familiar and unfamiliar with CAI in their learning process, the result showed that familiar or experienced adult learners are more certain and secured with the technology, compare with the unfamiliar group. Furthermore, the study found out that adult learners believe that CAI suits to the lifestyles of adult, because it enables them to work at their own speed and at their own will. Introduction CAI involves computer program which act as a personal tutor to a single student, and it can even use to tutor small groups of students or learners (Bostcock & Seifert 1986, p. 23). Training and instruction has traditionally required a presence of an experienced teacher or trainor (Flewitt & Wild 2003, p. 525). . Thus, the great advantage of the said learning or teaching approach is that it is interactive with the use thus it provide an effective powerful tool (Flewitt & Wild 2003, p. 525). Furthermore, it enables the learners to work at their own speed and at their own will. Thus, it help to remove the tension of having a trainor or teacher with deliver the information towards the learners. Interpretation of Data Background Information Table 1 Background Information Age N % 21 – 30 5 25 31 – 40 7 35 41 – 50 2 10 51 – 60 4 20 61 – 70 2 10 Total 20 100 Educational Attainment N   Illiterate 0 0 Elementary 4 20 Secondary 6 30 Tertiary (Bachelor) 5 25 Masters 3 15 Doctoral 2 10 Total 20 100 Working? N % Yes 17 85 No 3 15 Total 20 20   Table 1 shows the demographic group or background information of the respondents in the study. It can be seen that majority of the respondents belongs to the age group 31-40, which included 35% of the entire population of the sample. Then follow by the group 21 – 30 (25%), 51 – 60 (20%), and 41 – 50 and 61 – 70, which both garnered 20% of the entire population. On the other hand, educational background plays a very important factor in the learning process of an individual, particularly regarding the aspect of computer and the Internet. Based on the result of the study, majority of the respondents or 30% have been able to reach or finished secondary education. In addition, 25% of the entire population of respondents have been able to reach or finish their tertiary education or attained their bachelor degree. Another majority group or total of 20% had been able to reach or finish elementary level of education. While only 15% have reached or gained masteral degree, and 10% reached or gained doctoral. Table 2 Perspective of the Respondents Towards CAI Perspective Yes (3) No (2) Maybe (1)   *F % *N % *F % *N % *F % *N % 1. Computer-Aided Instruction will help me to learn more quickly   7   70   2   20   3   30   4   40   0   0   6   60 2. Computer-Aided Instruction will enable me to work at my own speed   9   90   3   30   0   0   2   20   1   10   5   50 3. Computer-Aided Instruction will make it easier for me to learn than with the traditional (teacher) approach     5     50     3     30     2     20     4     40     3     30     3     30 4. I am more comfortable in sitting and working alone 7 70 6 60 1 10 2 20 2 20 2 20 5. I will recommend Computer-Aided Instruction to other adult learners like me.   6   60   2   20   1   10   2   20   3   30   6   60 6. It would be easier to learn by computer compare to other traditional learning instrument such as film and slide     5     50     2     20     2     20     3     30     3     30     5     50 7. I am afraid I could not learn to use computer very well.   0   0   7   70   10   100   1   1   0   0   2   20 8. I would need a teacher as I work on the computer   2   20   10 % 100   8   80   0   0   0   0   0   0 9. Computer-Aided Instruction gives me an idea of having a friendly teacher   10   100   6   60   0   0   2   20   0   0   2   20 10. Computer-Aided Instruction will go too fast 2 20 7 70 8 80 0 0 0 0 3 30 11. I would not mind if I missed a question while I am working on my lessons and my computer because no one would be watching me     8     80     7     70     2     20     1     10     0     0     2     20   Table 2 shows the result of the study regarding the perspective of the respondents towards CIA. The responses were grouped by the experienced and inexperienced respondents, in order to compare their opinion towards the said teaching approach. In the statement: Computer-Aided Instruction will help me to learn more quickly, it can be observed that the experienced or familiar respondents are more confident with the said technology, 70% of the entire sample believe that the said statement is correct, while 30% do not. On the other hand, the responses of the inexperienced respondents are more uncertain, because only 20% of them believe that the statement was real, 40% believe that it was false, while majority of the group or 60% of them were not sure. During the interview, one of the uncertain respondents stated: On the other hand, regarding the statement, Computer-Aided Instruction will enable me to work at my own speed, 90% of the familiar respondents agree, while 10% were not familiar with the said teaching approach. On the other hand, only 30% of the unfamiliar students disagree, while 50% or majority of the group was not sure. 50% of the experienced respondents believe that CIA will make it easier for them to learn, compare with the traditionalapproach, while 20% disagreed, and 30% were not sure. On the other hand, the said uncertainty can also be observed on the responses of the unfamiliar respondents, because 30% of them agree, 40% disagree, and 30% of them were not sure. Another important advantage of applying CAI in learning process is that it gives individual the feeling of independence, by working alone. Thus, in the statement I am more comfortable in sitting and working alone, majority of both groups agreed, 70% in the familiar group and 60% for the other. 10% of the familiar respondents disagreed, while 20% in the other group. On the other hand 20% of the both groups were not sure. In connection to the first statements that were analyzed, the statement I will recommend CAI to other adult learner like me was agreed by 60% of the familiar respondents and 20% by the other group, while disagreed by 10% for the familiar respondents, and 20% by the other group. However, 30% of the familiar respondents and majority of the unfamiliar respondents were not sure. In connection to that, 50% of the familiar respondents and 20% of the unfamiliar respondents believe that It would be easier to learn by computer compare with other traditional learning instrument such as film and slide, while 20% of the familiar and 30% of the unfamiliar respondents disagreed with the said statement. On the othe hand, 30% of the familiar and 50% of the unfamiliar respondents. One of the important factors to consider in applying CAI in adult learning programs is the initial reaction of the adult learners towards computer. Some of them are afraid that they will not be able to learn using the computer. In connection to that, the statement I am afraid I could not learn to use computer very well, 100% of the familiar respondents disagreed, while it can be observed the uncertainty and insecurity of the unfamiliar respondents because 70% of them agreed with the said statement, while 20% were not sure, and only 10% of them believed it. Thus it reflects on the statement, I would need a teacher as I work with the computer, where in 100% of the unfamiliar respondents to agree, while 80% from the other group to disagree. 100% of the familiar respondents believe that CAI gives them the idea of having a friendly teacher, while from the perspective of unfamiliar respondents, 20% disagreed, while 20% were not sure. Another common concern of adult learner towards CAI is the belief that CAI will go to fast, thus it can be reflected on the response of the unfamiliar group with 70%, while 30% of them were not sure. However, it can be observed from the familiar group, that the said belief were not that true, because majority of them or 80% disagreed. Above all, due to the independence, 80% of the familiar and 70% of the unfamiliar respondents believed that they would not mind if they missed a question while they are working with their lesson because no one would be watching them. On the other hand, 20% of the familiar and 10% of the unfamiliar students disagreed with the statement, while 20% of the unfamiliar students were not sure. Conclusions Based on the different data that have been analyzed, it can be said that familiar and unfamiliar adult learners in CAI has different perspective on the impact of the said teaching approach in their learning process. Thus, it can be observe that the familiar adult learners were more confident, reliance and secure with applying CAI in their educational process. Furthermore, it can also be observed that the familiar concern of the unfamiliar respondents regarding the usage and application of CAI in their learning process is their background regarding the basic manipulation and use of the computer. Thus, most of the respondents who are not familiar with the said technology were not sure if they can use computer to the fullest, and if it can help them to make their learning process easier and faster. As a result, most of the unfamiliar respondents were not sure if they will be able to learn by using CAI alone. On the other hand, both of the groups believe that CAI will be very helpful, because it will enable them to learn on their own, at their own speed or time. Thus, it can help them to become more discipline at the same time, more self-dependent, which enables them to become more confident with what they are doing. Above all, based on the perspective of the familiar or experienced respondents, it can be said that they believe that CAI has the power to change their learning process, at the same time, enables them to learn more in field of technology.     Recommendations for Change One of the most important things to consider is the initial perspective of the adult learners towards CAI. This is because of the fact that majority of adult learners feel uncomfortable and uneasy by using CAI or even computer in their learning process. This is primarily because of their ignorance or lack of knowledge regarding the computer. In that case, it will be important for any educational organizations and programs to focus on the process of informing their adult learners regarding the different basic information regarding computer. This will help them to become familiar with the history as well as the different usage and advantages of computer. This will help to boost their self-confidence. Recommendations for Future Research For future research, it will be important to focus on comparing the impact of CAI with the result of traditional teaching approach. This will enable the researcher to focus on more detailed factors that are related to education process. Furthermore, it will also be important to focus on the aspect of long-distance education which uses web-based CAI in learning process of adult learners. References Bostock, S. & Seifert, R. (1986). Microcomputers in Adult Education. Routledge. Flewitt, P.E.J. & Wild, R. K. (2003). Physical Methods for Materials Characterisation. CRC Press. Selwyn, N., Gorard, S. & Furlong, J. (2006). Adult Learning in the Digital Age: Information Technology and the Learning Society. Routledge.

Perspective of Experienced and Inexperienced Adult Learners in Bronx Adult Learning Center

Abstract Information society, knowledge company and lifelong learning all together and are encapsulated the speci...