ГОУ СПО САМАРСКИЙ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ПЕДАГОГИЧЕСКИЙ КОЛЛЕДЖ

Методические указания

по организации самостоятельной работы

по английскому языку

230105.51 «Программное обеспечение ВТ и АС»

Разработал преподаватель:

Ломоносова Л.Н.

г.о. Самара, 2010

COMPUTER LITERACY

Text 1

The use of computers in education is not new but until 1980s there was a computer assisted instruction primarily in universities. With the coming of inexpensive microcomputers their applications nave become more versatile. Today we can see the microcomputer in schools, institutes, universities, in training teachers, engineers, businessmen. It ideally answers the aims of mass education from primary school on up.

In many subjects the personal computer helps to do long or complex calculations. In others it builds up large data banks of information. Computers are very useful to drill students in spelling .vocabulary or arithmetic. They can point out mistakes and repeat the drill. A student may go on to the next question if his answers are correct. He can learn the material at his own pace.

Computers help much in teaching laboratory sciences. A student can carry out, on the computer screen, long, expensive or otherwise impracticable experiments in physics, chemistry, or social sciences.

So the computer is a part of school or institute curricula today. It can drill students in the facts and figures which they are to know. It can aid to carry out scientific experiments. At the same time students learn something about the computer and programming, and they may learn more if they become interested. In England, for example, most examination courses in computer studies have some or all of the following elements: history of computers, principles of programming, computer languages, computer applications, social problems of computer technology, etc.

In a well-run school with creative educational aims, the computer can function as a teacher's assistant. It can free teachers to do what teachers ought to do — help students to discover the world.

Every teacher should prepare himself for the application of computer technology. The ability to operate the computer is an important basic skill today. A teacher must become familiar with computer equipment (hardware) and know how to use this hardware in the classroom. He must learn how to select computer programs (software) to make them an integral part of his lesson plans. He also must have basic knowledge to discuss uses and effects of computer technology with students and other teachers.

There are some groups of problems in computer assisted instruction (CAI): the elaboration⁰ of the theory of CAI on the basis of modern scientific concepts; the creation of the CAI technology; psychological and pedagogical questions of the projection of teaching systems. The final aim of such systems is to make the process of learning interesting and easy.

NOTES

with the coming — с появлением

have become more versatile — стали более многосторонними

spelling правописание

to become familiar — близко познакомиться

elaboration — разработка

Text 2

An electronic computer is one of the greatest achievements of the man. Today computers play chess, compose music, translate from and into foreign languages, help to solve many important problems in science, engineering, business. They save a lot of time and energy, operate at great speed, store large quantities of information, carry out long and complex operations. There are some categories of computer application: business, science, medicine, engineering, education, home.

The business segment is one of the largest. Computers process a large volume of data in a short period of time. No man can do 500,000 sums per second, but a modern computer can. Databases, spreadsheets, and word-processors help business to run more efficiently, make administrative work easier.

In science and engineering, computers do calculations, draw diagrams, process the results of experiments, keep records, help with different kinds of chores.

In medicine databases, diagnostic devices, monitoring systems serve doctors in their work, in medical and laboratory research.

The ability to work with a computer is a necessary basic skill today. In primary and secondary schools pupils learn how to operate a computer. Computer-assisted instruction helps students to study at their own pace more intensively, and helps teachers to do their work more creative.

At home most often people use personal computers to play video games or for education, to teach children. Computers serve as word processors, electronic message centres and personal finance devices.

There are some social problems of computer technology. The most important is the elimination of jobs by computers. Another problem is the invasion of privacy, the security of all confidential data banks. Still another is a technophobia, a fear of machines in general and of computers in particular. Very often the technophobia is the result of the elimination of jobs or the invasion of privacy. Scientists study all these problems to find a way out, because computer technology has a great potential for more progressive transformation of our society.

NOTES

chores — черновая работа

monitoring — мониторинг, наблюдение

at their own pace — собственным темпом message — сообщение

elimination of jobs — упразднение рабочих мест, должностей

invasion of privacy — посягательство на секретность

security — безопасность

Exercises

• Read the words. Pay attention to the word-stress. Guess the meaning. Check the meaning by the dictionary.

A bank, business, complex, a result, medicine, a category, energy, administrative, a period, a diagram, a machine, a technology, transformation, arithmetic.

• Give the Russian for the following words.

To solve arithmetic problems, to operate at the speed, to carry out complex operations, a great achievement, computer applications, to process data, to make administrative work easier, database, spreadsheets and word processors, to do calculations, computer-assisted instruction, computer technology, invasion of privacy.

• Fill in the gaps with prepositions where necessary.

• Today computer translate … and … foreign languages.

• Computer technology has a great potential … more progressive transformation of our society.

• They operate … a great speed.

• There are some social problems … computer technology.

• Computers process a large volume of data … a short period … time.

• In schools pupils learn how to operate … a computer.

• One of the social problems is the elimination of jobs … computers.

• Answer the questions.

• What are the categories of computer applications?

• What do you know about business applications of computers?

• How do computers help scientists and engineers?

• What is a computer application in medicine?

• What place do computers occupy in education?

• How do people use computers at name?

• What are social problems of computer technology?

• What is a technophobic?

• Complete the interview. A “computer press” correspondent takes an interview from an English sociologist.

Journalist: ………….

Sociologist: Computers are very popular in England today. 90% of young people have an experience how to operate.

Journalist: ……………

Sociologist: 73% of them have computers at home and 67% use home computers every day.

Journalist: ……………..

Sociologist: 93% operate computers at school.

Journalist: ………………

Sociologist: 75% of young Englishmen think that computers make their life easier and more interesting and the knowledge of a computer helps to find a good job.

Journalist: Are there any social problems of computer technology in England?

Sociologist: ……………

• You would like to buy a PC. Try to explain to your family the necessity to buy it.

Application of computers Many Users, Many Uses

Publishing, of course, isn't the only business that uses microcomputers extensively. If you look closely, you will find that almost every business has been, at the very last, affected by their use. Equally important are the effects the microcomputer has had on homes and schools. Let's take a look at some of the varied applications that computers have in these three areas.

Education

You have undoubtedly seen a few of the ways in which computers are used on campus. For writing papers, typewriters are becoming a thing of the past. Most students find that using a word processor is much faster and far more convenient, especially - then it comes to editing and revising. But besides the universal word processing program, what other types of application software do students use in their studies? In writing papers, another useful tool is hypermedia software, such as HyperCard for the Macintosh. Hypermedia programs are similar to database programs but less rigidly structured. HyperCard, for instance, allows writers to create a set of electronic note cards and then create links between them. Using such a tool, a writer can work out the structure of an argument or presentation before writing it.

The most widely used application after the word processor is the electronic spreadsheet. In addition to helping students keep track of finances, spreadsheets are invaluable as research tools. This is especially true in the sciences, where empirical evidence is often numeric. For example, if you are conducting a psychological study, the quality of your research depends largely on the number of people in your study. But as your sample size grows, the amount of math involved in analyzing your study grows too. Spreadsheet software is designed to make this kind of work easier. Most programs, in fact, have statistical functions built in and not only does the software speed the numeric calculations, but with a few commands you can also generate graphs and charts that summarize your data or your analyses.

Another common application used in research is database. In much the same way that we collected data about articles we read during the research phase of this book, students use databases to organize their own research. Whereas spreadsheet is good for organizing numeric data, database software is excellent for collecting many kinds of data, including numbers, text, graphic images, and even sound. Once you have collected a large body of data, you can use the software to search through it, organize it, and pick out specific subsets of related data.

Computers graphic software is even used in the arts at school. Fine arts majors can create startling images, using computers. They can even combine more traditional formats with electronically generated material.

Home

The first place that microcomputers appeared was home. Today, applications geared for the home market are more diverse than ever. One popular type is software that you figure your taxes. The people who own a home, or work at home, or have outside investments, these programs can help identify items on which taxes must be paid and where deductions can be listed. These programs can save your incredible amounts of both time and money.

Games are also popular on home computers. Some of the best-selling types are adventure games, flight simulators, and sports games such as golf and football.

Databases have proven to be invaluable at home. People find it very convenient to organize data about their books, their recipes, or their collections (such as stamps). Insurance companies encourage their customers to keep a careful inventory of their valuables in case of fire or theft, and database software is an excellent way to do it.

In addition, people at home use all the same types of software as they do at school or at office. They use word processors to write letters, spreadsheets to keep track of finances, and communications software to access information services.

Office

The biggest market for application software is the office, and the uses for microcomputers are as varied as the businesses that use them. As in schools, the most widely used applications are word processors and spreadsheets. Creating documents (correspondence, reports and so on) and managing finances are the two most commonly pursued tasks in an office.

Another application that has steadily grown with microcomputer use is electronic mail, or E-mail. E-mail lets one computer user send a message to another user on the other side of the building — or the other side of the planet. As long as both users have access to a common computer network, they can communicate. Using E-mail is a lot like using a modem, except that the two users don't have to be using their computers at the same time. With E-mail, a businessperson just types a message to a client or associate and sends it. When the recipient next accesses the E-mail application, the message will be there waiting. Businesses have found that this type of communication can save large amounts of time and money.

Another application for which businesses have found great use is presentation graphics. Whether you are selling an idea or product to your boss or to a potential customer, presentation graphics software can help get your point across. These programs give you a great deal of power to create and format charts, graphs, and accompanying text.