City College of Health Science and Technology, Zaria

CITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,
ZARIA
AN ASSIGNMENT ON ICT
BY
PEACE ZEHAM
REG. NUMBER: CCHSTZ/398/21
QUESTION: IS A COMPUTER A BLESSING OR CURSE TO

THIS GENERATION
SEPTEMBER, 2021
INTRODUCTION
Over the past few years, computers have become a vastly popular household
item. The luxury of emailing messages as opposed to charging up the phone bill is
more appealing. Checking news, weather, and sports via the Internet is a
convenience that many are taking advantage of.
Our children’s lives are already getting influenced by technology – and this is just
the beginning. Computers and Internet are here to stay and software titles
targeting young children continue to increase. Computer science is has become a
compulsory subject in Indian schools. Today, we find computers in use
everywhere, whether we go to reserve a train ticket or to a Bank. This is because
it is faster and helps us complete our work without mistakes/errors. So Parents
too have realized the need to help their children develop strong computer skills.
Children are learning to read and write with computer games instead of
homemade flash cards. They are reading their bedtime stories online instead of in
bed with their parents. Slowly traditions are being broken and the computer is
becoming a child’s learning tool. Many parents are buying computer learning
games instead of board games and pop-up books.
Parents are leaving the learning up to the computers and spending less quality
time with their children. The most important learning step for children is
interaction with others. If they are sitting in front of the screen all day, they do
not learn to share, wait their turn, or even something as simples as manners.
Children need to be in contact with other children, adults, and animals. They need
to experience things first hand not off a computer screen.
When children log on to the computer their innocence is noticeable. Children are
an easy target for adults who pose to be other children with similar interests.
Sexual offenders often chat online with children and then make plans to meet
them or slowly filter information about them.
Children are innocents and honesty on the computer can pose some huge
problems. They do not know any better and usually it will only harm them in the
end.
One benefit of the computer age is that children are becoming smarter. They are
growing up computer literate and will have that as a huge advantage. Computer
literacy is becoming a huge job qualification and feeling comfortable with one will
put them a step ahead.
Children will also be able to complete homework on line. In some places, if you
miss school you can find out the assignments that you miss and catch up. This is
very helpful if your child comes down with the flu, but do you want them to feel
like it is okay to miss school because they can catch up with their computer?
Overall, children can benefit from computers if they are used wisely. Parents that
supervise their children when they are on the computer can ensure that
everything is happening safely.
Computers are the wave of the future, but old fashioned learning techniques
should not be forgotten. A child needs to interact physically with other people
and not learn everything from computers.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS FOR YOUNG

CHILDREN?
Computers help children to be in control of their experience, to set their own

pace, and to select the level of challenge with which they feel comfortable.
Computers help children to use all of their senses to extract information.

Computers fascinate kids and can draw their full attention, which often results in
a deeper focus and concentration.
Computers enable children to learn through creating, just as they gain hands-on
knowledge and understanding when they build forts, make up stories, and paint,
increase their skills
As they master computers, children build positive attitudes toward technology

that will pay dividends for the rest of their lives.
COMPUTERS BENEFIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
Good educational software enables children to develop and practice a broad

range skills. It can help them learn, for example, about letters, numbers, shapes,
colors, and rhythm. Good software can also help children develop their
understanding of cause and effect, higher order problem solving, procedural
thinking, and creative expression. Today, the wide range of multimedia available
for kids in India is really amazing.
Emotional skills: By using a computer children develop self-confidence and self-

esteem as they master computer skills and use the computer to make things
happen. This also gives them a reason to smile!
Social skills: In the classroom setting or in the home when their friends or parents
are available, children often prefer working with one or two partners over
working alone, which leads to the development of social skills.
COMPUTERS BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Computers have proven extremely beneficial to kids with certain speech, audio,
and motor limitations. Kids with special needs can use alternative input and
output devices (assistive technologies) to interact with computers and do things
that they normally could not accomplish independently. They benefit especially
from having access to an on-demand, patient tutor that allows them to work at
their own pace. What they achieve through using a computer enhances their self-
esteem and provides them with a greater sense of control and engagement with
the world. The internet provides them with the best of knowledge for their
treatments and they can be in touch with doctors or friends through the internet,
in India or Abroad. Also, the internet can later help them earn their means of
livelihood.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS FOR YOUNG
CHILDREN?
Computers are very engaging and can exercise a strong “holding power” on
children as well as adults. They really seem to mesmerize children. Since we do
not yet understand the impact of this power, we need to monitor the amount of
time a child spends before a computer.
If the software is not age-appropriate, children are likely to become frustrated

and associate a computer with failure.
Kids with access to software that is not age appropriate may be exposed to such
negative influences as violence, strong language, and over-stimulation from fast-
action graphics.
Frequent and prolonged computer sessions may pose physical health risks for
children. The most frequently cited are visual strain, harmful effects of radiation,
and posture and skeletal problems. In the case of normal usage and normal
operating conditions, however, research has shown that computer monitors are
safe and do not compromise the health of our eyes and that computer monitors
emit little or no harmful radiation. What does seem to pose a hazard is the strain
placed on a child’s posture and skeletal structure if she consistently uses a
computer set-up designed for an adult.
For Surfing the Internet, parental involvement & control is a must.
HOW DO THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS COMPARE?

Overall, the benefits seem to outweigh the drawbacks. And, the fact is, actively
involved parents can control most of the drawbacks. This puts even greater
responsibility on parents to be vigilant and conservative in their judgment about
their children’s computer usage. A regular and constant watch is very necessary,
especially regarding the internet. Although cyber laws in India are trying to
regulate the content within Indian sites, the Internet hold no barriers since it is a
World Wide Web. Parents could install parental control tools to prevent children
from going to undesirable sites.
JUST WHAT IS CHILDREN’S COMPUTER EDUCATION
Years ago, computer literacy was defined in terms of specific knowledge of

computer technology and terminology. Today, it is regarded more as a continuum
of awareness, skills, experience, and attitudes based on the age and capabilities of
the individual child.
1. An awareness of what the computer can do – that it is a tool for learning

and finding out about things, and for expressing and creating things.
2. An awareness of ideas and behavior that are a part of the computer
culture, such as knowledge of safe behavior on the Internet.
3. Basic operational skills learned by immersion in a variety of software
programs.
4. A body of successful experiences that over time develop within a child an
intuitive feel for dealing with new things that he encounters in a computer
environment. Typical examples are how to navigate a new program and
how to “trouble-shoot” when something isn’t working.
5. An attitude of discovery, mastery, purposefulness, and pleasure in using
computers.

City College of Health Science and Technology, Zaria

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

City College of Health Science and Technology, Zaria

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

City College of Health Science and Technology, Zaria

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,

QUESTION: IS A COMPUTER A BLESSING OR CURSE TO

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS FOR YOUNG

Computers help children to be in control of their experience, to set their own

Computers help children to use all of their senses to extract information.

As they master computers, children build positive attitudes toward technology

COMPUTERS BENEFIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS

Good educational software enables children to develop and practice a broad

Emotional skills: By using a computer children develop self-confidence and self-

COMPUTERS BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

If the software is not age-appropriate, children are likely to become frustrated

HOW DO THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS COMPARE?

Years ago, computer literacy was defined in terms of specific knowledge of

1. An awareness of what the computer can do – that it is a tool for learning

You might also like