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Computer Assisted Learning

CAL stands for Computer Assisted Learning.

CAL courses may use ...

  • text - notes and other resources
  • graphics
  • sound - a commentary or music background
  • animation 
  • self assessments - for the student to know how much has been learned.

CAL systems use interactive computing.

 

 You are using CAL right now!
Benefits of CAL...
  • more interesting learning with interactive systems and multimedia - so greater motivation
  • students can learn at any time
  • students can learn from any place eg home
  • students proceed at their own pace
  • not so many teachers needed

 

Pupils generally learn better when they study on their own and can learn at their own pace.
CBT = Computer Based Training - Using the computer as an instructor. CBT may include tutorials, practice exercises and feedback on the student's learning progress.

 
Virtual Reality systems are being developed where the user puts on a helmet which projects images into the eyes using small computer screens, and a virtual reality glove which inputs the users hand movements. 

Although great for computer games, there are serious uses as well. VR systems are being developed to help student surgeons; a CAT (Computer Aided Tomography) scan can create a 3-dimensional picture of the human body. A surgeon can put on a VR helmet and feel as if he is walking around inside the patient! He can view eg a tumour from different angles etc..