Computer Managed Learning (CML)

          Unlike CAI, where in computer is used in tutorial work, CML makes use of the computer in a different role in instruction. In CML the main role of the computer is record-keeping and it does not provide any direct instruction to the learner. It takes over the other responsibilities of the teacher like evaluating the response sheets of students, gathering and sharing information about each learner and updating the same periodically, finding the resource options available for every individual student to learn a topic, monitoring the learning of the student while he is making use of the instructional programme selected to suit his potentials and directing the learners what to do next (i.e. Evaluation, Record-keeping, Retrieval of reports, Find resource options, Prescribe and Control lessons). This type of instruction, though indirect, helps to assess the learner's present level of knowledge, weakness or gaps in his learning and remedial action possible.

Comparison of CMI with Conventional Instruction

          As compared to conventional classroom instruction, the computer Managed Instruction (CMI) developed by Daniel Davies appears to have many superior features.

          In conventional instruction, the teacher must make the decision instead of the computer. He must decide what to teach (objectives) to whom (entering behaviour) and how (procedures). And he must determine the extent of the student's success (performance assessment). All decisions are interrelated and interdependent. The teacher must be very careful when he makes decisions in his pre-tutorial phase. Very often the teacher has only one programme available for students of widely varying entering behaviour in conventional instruction. But the professor function in the computer model has access to a store of knowledge and alternative programmes which the teacher cannot have. Hence Stulurow and Davies believe that only computers have the capacity to make all the decisions and accommodations and enlightened pedagogy requires.

          Further, due to self-learning, students attain higher level of proficiency. As student's learning is monitored continuously, requisite changes are incorporated in the instructional programme then and there so as to make it more effective.