Computer as a multipurpose universal instrument of education
In our days computers have become an important component part of all spheres of science. There are a lot of advantages of this device which makes any work associated with the theory, calculations and modeling more easily and quickly. Especially computers find industrial application in academic life.
The main feature of all kind of computers is the ability to making calculations. Now it is not necessary to spend much time for converting and counting of equations, functions and other. All of the mathematic operations are made automatically by the machine. It is very useful for students because they are obliged to do some kind of works which contains a routine calculations, lab works, etc. For example software package called MathCAD enable to solve many mathematical tasks of any complexity.
Another function of the computer is a capability to create models of systems and processes. Any person can create a virtual object or operation with it and watch how it will be works. Frequently in aviation it is very difficult and expensive to make a prototype of the plane. That is why a constructor should make a model of the aircraft by the computer before creating a real one. In the labs of Institute of civil aviation students make virtual objects from electrical systems to the accidents during flight of the airplanes.
One more important thing is the information storage. Every day people who are engaged in science have a deal with some kind information. Libraries, archives, storehouses are require a lot of space and costs. But now all necessary information can be saved in the hard driver in size with a palm. Also it can be extract or copy for a second. There is no necessary to carry many books, papers, cartridges, pictures. Lecturers use a projector instead of posters, show presentations, videos, which improve the effectiveness of lectures. Students get a possibility to correct their works without rewriting of all of material.
In conclusion, computer has many other advantages like internet, entertainments and different tools, but all of these functions are directed to improve our academic life and make it easier, let people work harder, more effective and fast.
Student Essay 2
In contemporary life almost all activity of people is artlessly associated with a computer, wherever it is – at production, in a bank, in a shop, even in a car and at home. All in much is connected with use of quickness and simplicity of a computer. This attainment of engineering engages also the process of education. All that is connected with education should possess traffic rapidity, true and full data accessing. But what would be, if computer progress had bypassed academic life?
There wouldn’t be such simplicity and rate of necessary study literature accessing. So, in libraries, all book data bases have been entered in the computer, as well as data bases regarding students, who are making use of it. I have appreciated it myself, when I was searching near a half hour the textbook, which I needed , without use of computer data base.
Internet access would be impossible in that case. Internet is now the most reliable and speedy way of data exchange and it is difficult without it as if we have no hands, eyes and ears. Neither postman is able to deliver necessary information in any place of the world within several seconds, but Internet!
And the most important, at least for engineer profession, there wouldn’t be calculation simplicity. All that would take a lot of time for a student of an engineering university to solve large and complicated tasks is calculated for several seconds and even quickly with the help of a computer. I can confirm that from my experience, as far as all my yearly essays had been done solely with the help of a computer!
So, now it is clear, what a computer means for academic life: rapidly, easy and reliable. The process of education would be much difficult without these criteria, however, one cannot rely on education only by means of a computer, because there is probability to become a lazy student, the main thing one should remember- a computer is not a substitution of student’s knowledge that is an aid for it receiving.
Discussion Questions
1. Do the essays address the assignment task? Why or why not?
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2. What does each writer do well?
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3. What grade do you think each essay received? Why?
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4. What does each writer need to do to improve the essay?
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Ex. 5. Watch video aided instructions «Overcoming writer’s block», fulfill the given tasks.