Introduction
Due to the rapid development of technological achievements computers became an inalienable part of the educational process. Still, using a computer for different educational purposes does not always demonstrate its value in practice. Many experts argue that there is no difference between the educational level of students of high school who used computers and different software is quite the same as the level of students who did not handle any technological facilities during education. However, other experts argue that the benefit of computer usage in high school is just the question of the nearest future. There are various aspects students may master with the help of computers which were unachievable several decades ago. All teachers of Saudi Arabia should be informed about the necessity, inevitability, and benefit of computers and technological achievements introduction to the contemporary system of education.
The researcher chooses the students who study in the high school stage to investigate the issue of computer usage in high schools Physics classrooms in Saudi Arabia because different computer software is highly beneficial for high school students in the aspect of Physics learning. High school students achieved basic knowledge and skills in previous stages of education. That is why computer application will be an inalienable part of education. The researcher wants to investigate the process of computer introduction into the high school Physics classroom in Saudi Arabia. The researcher highlights the necessity of computer application during Physics classes which would be beneficial for students taking into account different aspects of the field of science. Physics is developing science, and what was a breakthrough many years ago, is an outdated thing. Computer help students on high school level comprehend and develop their skills in the sphere of outdated and new achievements in the sphere of Physics. Moreover, computers help model and display various physical phenomena, which is impossible from the point of view of the common environment.
Background
Speaking about computers introduced into the educational process, technological achievements became a part of education on different stages in many countries all over the world. Computer generation in high schools of European and western countries began about thirty years ago. While in Saudi Arabia application of computers and teaching of computer skills commenced in the 90s of the last century.
The main difficulty of computers introducing into the schools of Saudi Arabia is the question of changing the whole system of education. Nowadays there is the problem of training teachers to use computers during lessons. On the one hand, teachers have to know the basic principles of computer usage. On the other hand, teachers have to master different software which may benefit the education of their concrete subject. However, not all, if not to say that the majority of Saudi Arabia teachers refuse to apply computers during education. They consider that the application of different technological achievements contradicts the pedagogical approach. Still, some teachers admit that there are no effective courses for preparation and re-training teaching staff from the aspect of computers usage.
Another problem the education system from the point of view of application computer products during lessons Saudi Arabia faces today is the necessity of crucial changes which are to be made in the aspect of rigging and informational support on computer technologies usage. It means that lots of manuals and textbooks should be changed and new ones are to be introduced to make the application of computers not only the subject of technological achievements and computer era but also make it work for the benefit of the educational process.
Theoretical Framework
The introduction of computers and other technological achievements into the system of education to the schools of Saudi Arabia was held on different stages. On the one hand, various disciplines are closely connected with computer usage. On the other hand, the fact that lots of spheres of contemporary life are connected with computers meant the necessity to introduce computer programs to the educational system. “When considering the domain of computers in education, we recognize that it is in a constant flux. There are many pressures for acceptance and incorporation of computers at all levels of education” (Plomp and Pelgrum, p. 250).
Apart from the necessity of computer introduction to the system of education, the application of different technological achievements in the high school’s Physics classroom in Saudi Arabia is important from the point of view of visual presenting and modeling of different physical aspects. It is not a secret that school laboratories cannot provide all necessary conditions to realize and display this or that physical phenomenon. However, the fact that the educational program of Physics becomes more complicated on the high school stage, means that laboratories would be more complicated as well. So, it is rather difficult, if not impossible, to display this or that Physical experiment. That is why computer models of different Physical phenomena are highly beneficial for the educational process in the aspect of Physics. Moreover, computer software allows high school students to create different physical phenomena themselves and evaluate their knowledge in the field of Physical.
Reference
Plomp T., and Pelgrum W. J. (1991). Introduction of Computers in Education: State of the Art in Eight Countries.Computers Educ. 17(3), 249-258. Web.