Uses of Computers in the Educational Field

Computers are used in a variety of settings within the educational field. They can be used by guidance counselors, administrators, web masters, library media specialists, students, teachers, clerical workers and food service employees for many different reasons. Computers lend an organizational hand to schools, and they also improve productivity in several areas. For these reasons, computer technology has become an essential part of the educational system.

Clerical Staff and Food Service Employees

Educational clerical staff members use computers to store and maintain student records at both the district and the building level. Because student information needs to be readily accessible at all times, computers provide the means for teachers, parents and other school personnel to communicate and share information easily. Many school districts use SIS (School Information Systems) databases to track student attendance, progress and personal or health information. These records can often be imported into other educational departments and areas; for example, some school library cataloging software can upload student records from the district's SIS, which makes it much more manageable to input large amounts of student data.

Food service departments in schools can use computers to monitor student lunch accounts, report student free-and-reduced lunch data, and add money to student accounts once payment is received. Additionally, computers can be used for point-of-sale purchases in school cafeterias.

Guidance Counselors and Social Workers

Guidance counselors and school social workers use computer technology to communicate with teachers and parents, and they also use technology to keep and monitor student records. Additionally, counselors use computers to monitor student academic transcripts and grades as well as report information to necessary authorities or departments.

Administrators

School administrators at both the building and the district levels use computers to communicate electronically with other staff members and parents, and they also use computers to generate letters and documents for parents, send automated phone calls to parents or staff (weekly announcements or school cancellations) and report data to their state departments of education. School administrators also use computers to administer computer-based standardized tests to students and to monitor and track student assessment data.

Building and District Webmasters

Computers are also used in schools in order to maintain websites. Many school districts have building-level web masters, while a few also employ district-level web masters to maintain school and teacher websites. (In many schools, individual teachers are also required to maintain their own websites.) School web masters upload important documents to electronic document files, update calendars and important school information and provide helpful links to parents and teachers.

School Library Media Specialists

School library media specialists use computer technology to catalog books and keep student checkout records. Additionally, many school libraries maintain websites that serve as portals for their student populations. The portals allow students and teachers to access subscription-based resources including databases and encyclopedias. School librarians are often able to upload and maintain school library OPACs (online public access catalogs) that students and parents can utilize to search for books and resources at home.

Teachers

Teachers use computers for a variety of reasons. They use computers to keep electronic grade books; maintain and update personal websites to share information with families; communicate with other teachers, parents and administrators and use software to create classroom newsletters. Teachers also use computers to access information, engage in video conferencing, research various topics and create and update lesson plans. Teachers use computers to design personalized web-based learning programs for students, and they also allow teachers to design assignment requirements and web quests for student use. Finally, teachers can use computer technology to generate and utilize electronic testing for their students.

Students

In school settings, students use computers to learn both with and from technology. Computers enable students to research a variety of subjects, create projects to demonstrate learning and sort and synthesize information. Students can also use computers to view assignment guidelines and requirements at home and communicate with teachers about assignments. Some students use computers to blog about what they've learned or communicate with other students around the world.