Computer Aided Learning (CAL)

Computer aided learning has become a veritable system adopted in acquiring knowledge or information. The computer has become an effective tool that could be used in implementing virtually all required human endeavour with the appropriate software to backup such.
Learning as a process entails the acquiring of knowledge through various means which could range from direct human interaction where knowledge is directly passed from one person to the other or it could be inform of learning via a pre-designed system where such knowledge could be acquired whenever it is required.
Computer aided learning can come in various forms. I simply categorized these into two which are conscious or direct learning and subconscious or relative learning. Sissel, G. S. et al., in their research identified two learning systems, implicit and explicit learning. (Sissel, G. S. et al., 2000.).
Conscious or Direct Learning
This type of learning is more cognitive as it is rightly designed and channeled to a particular base. It is systematically structured to aid progressive acquiring of knowledge. This learning process is formalized and structured to follow a particular pattern or flow. “It is 'educative learning' rather than the accumulation of experience. To this extent there is a consciousness of learning - people are aware that the task they are engaged in entails learning” (SMITH, M. K., 1999)
Subconscious or relative learning
This mode of learning is not planned or arranged. Knowledge is acquired through performing some activities which inherently places some knowledge in the mind by virtue of the process taken in the learning process. This gained knowledge is not directly sought for but comes as an unsolicited attachment relative to the process involved. The try and error method of solving a problem can also be said to fall into this category of learning system where a number of unstructured methods are adopted to arrive at a solution without initially conceptualizing the idea.

Computer Learning Methods
Various learning methods have been identified through the computer user interface. The user interface forms a very important aspect of the computer learning system. This interface is designed to aid the user interaction with the system for efficient and effective learning. The user interface is also said to be; "the parts of the system with which the user comes into contact physically, perceptually or cognitively." (Sissel, G. S. et al., 2000.).
Human computer interaction is seen as a method of relating with the computer in an interactive manner. It is analogous to a two way reaction where an action from a side triggers a reaction from the opposite site.
The computer user interface consists of the various parts of the computer system ranging from hardware to software. The monitor or screen, keyboard, mouse, light pen all form some of the hardware parts of the user interface.
User interaction with the computer could be graphical which is known as Graphical User Interface, (GUI) where the user interact with the system by using the mouse in triggering an event or it could be through the command line where the user types the required command needed to perform the action. Example of GUI is the Microsoft Windows (eg XP or Vista) while Microsoft DOS is an example of command line interaction.