Lesson 18: Tablets for textbooks in Schools

Tablets for textbooks in Schools, this lesson talks about how the tablets could replace a textbook as one of the resource in student’s learning. It is said that technology is being viewed as a savior. Given the fact that students are enamored by computer games which take much of their time at home. The use of tablets in public schools in the country may be difficult considering certain factors, it cost and the technical expertise for the learning software is not widely available. There’s really possibilities that the textbooks could be replaced by tablets nowadays because of its uses. We all know that how useful tablet is aside from its capacity to store information, you can access different website to help you get through with the activities on class.

                       My experience in this lesson is that we’ve been divided into 2 groups and did a debate, on what is more advantage the tablet or the textbooks of course! At the end of the debate nobody was declared as the winner because even we all know how useful the tab is, we can’t assure that it will last forever, we could still expect some technical problems on the gadget. I often wondered why the government didn’t realize that It’s better to use those gadgets in education. But then, we cannot guarantee that this will give us a good technical service.

                       As a reflection to this lesson, I must not only rely on the things that technology could offer still, our textbooks could give us the right learning the students needed. But of course! I’ll encourage myself to master those things because today we need to learn how to do multi-tasking. I also reflect that as a future teacher, the students should be taught how to use these gadgets properly in a good means wherein they will be inspired to navigate through the use of this gadgets without going to those restricted websites whenever they will use it as a means of learning.

                       In application to this, I will teach my students on the proper usage of the technology so that they will become better individual who are technically aware and who knows the limits of the gadgets that they are using in the school. As it was mentioned that students nowadays were being addicted on computer games, as a future teacher maybe I could turn their addiction on computer games by means of giving them an educational games where their intelligences will be develop.

Lesson 17: Educational Technology 2 Practicum

In this lesson, it talks about how Educational Technology 2 offers the students the experiential process of adapting to technology integration within a student-centered paradigm. Where there are essential requirements for the ET 2 practicum phase will be, in the practicum phase, the use of Basic Microsoft Word was being initiated wherein the tutorial familiarizes each individual learner to the basis of Microsoft word. The students will be taught to type, edit and format text, sentences and paragraphs. This lesson is not only about learning the MS Word alone but also this includes the Microsoft Powerpoint which this will train the learners to prepare Powerpoint presentations to enhance the teaching of the subjects. The learning of internet also as tool of inquiry was also included in this lesson. This will facilitate the finding of source of information appropriate to a learning task.

                       My experience in this lesson is that, since we all face these digital learners, I was able to realize Internet is really very important on the activity that we had previously, it taught me that being brainy isn’t enough you must have the skills.

                       As a sort of reflection, I reflect that being a future teacher I must learn how to use these application like the MS Word, MS Powerpoint and the use of internet as tool of inquiry because my students would really need now a skillful and brainy teacher who could give them a satisfactory learning. I must be confident enough on delivering my lectures on class especially on using the ppt because through this presentation it will help me and the students to be participative. As I learned before in using the ppt. the teacher must put it in their mind that she/he must use some attractive object, colors or an appropriate design on the slides not merely whole text alone. Through it this will catch the students’ attention.

                       In application to this lesson, as I said earlier I will use all the things I’ve learned and apply it in my lectures. As a means of continuous learning I will master those applications so that whenever I’ll have my lecture the students will learn from me more.

Lesson 16: The Internet and Education

In this Lesson, the Internet is the largest and far-flung network system-of-all-systems.

Everything is coordinated through the Internet and this is done through a standardized protocol. The computer must be equipped to gain access to the Internet.

A view educational uses of the Internet

Today, even elementary school graders in progressive countries like the United States are corresponding via e-mail with pen pals in all 50 states.

Educational software materials have also developed both in sophistication and appeal. There is now a wider choice from grammar lessons to discovery and innovation projects.

My experience on this lesson is that, The Internet has introduced improvements in technology, communication and online entertainment, but it is also incredibly useful for education purposes as well. Teachers use the Internet to supplement their lessons. The reporters were good in giving their report with a comprehensive details on their report. The activity was well done.

As a sort of Reflection we must know how to use the internet well in education, though its very useful to us we cannot deny the fact that sometimes we over used it.

In application, as a future teacher, i must learn how to use the internet properly and share it to the class, because even though we already have the background about it, we still become vain on using it.

Lesson 15: Understanding Hypermedia

Lesson 15 talks about, Hypermedia. Hypermedia is nothing but multimedia, but this time packaged as an educational computer software where information is presented and student activities are integrated in a virtual learning environment. Most educational IT applications are hypermedia and these include:

·        Tutorial software packages

·        Knowledge webpages

·        Simulation instructional games

·        Learning project management

Characteristics of hypermedia applications

1.     Learner control- this means the learner makes his own decisions on the path, flow or events of instruction.

2.     Learner wide range of navigation routes- for the most part, the learner controls the sequence and pace of his path depending on his ability and motivation.

Discussion

1.     Hypermedia provides autonomous learning. How is this better than the traditional classroom learning, which often fails to consider the case of slow and poor individual learners?

ü Hypermedia is nothing but multimedia. It provides the information needed and also the activities to be made by the students to exercise their learning abilities. They have lesser chance to be left behind and greater chance to cope and pass, since there are provided tutorials for them to easily learn.

2.     How can the teacher help slow and poor learners using the traditional teaching methods?

ü They may conduct remedial classes for the slow and poor learners to cope with the studies.

3.     Hypermedia provides an atmosphere of search, exploration and discovery. How can the teacher provide such an environment in the traditional classroom?

ü Books can be used as source of learning. And the teacher may provide pictures, models, or mock-ups for the pupils to see the real structure of a thing.

My experience on this lesson was great because, i was able to know what hypermedia is. The reporter was good in presenting their report and i was able to learn from them.

As my reflection in this lesson, Hypermedia is very effective to use, it is very useful tool for a the teachers,it can use to motivate the learners and with the use of hypermedia,the teacher easily catch the attention of the students.

By using this hypermedia it is very important as a future teacher to use it properly and the teacher must have a wide knowledge on using this.

Lesson 14: The Software as an Educational Resource

As what i've learned in this lesson, there are two kinds of software:

1.     The system software. This is the operating system that is found or bundled inside all computer machines.

2.     The applications software. This contains the system that commands the particular task or solves a particular problem.

In turn the applications software may be:

(a)  A custom software that is made for specific tasks often by large corporations, or

(b) A commercial software packaged for personal computers that helps with a variety of tasks such as writing papers, calculating numbers, drawing graphs, playing games, and so much more.

Microsoft windows

This provides the following:

·        User convenience- just click a file name to retrieve data or click from program to program as easy as changing channels in your TV screen

·        A new look- fancy borders, smooth and streamlined text fonts

·        Information centre- Windows puts all communications activities (e-mail, downloads etc. in a single screen icon); adapts/configures the computer for the Internet.

·        Plug and play- configures the computer with added components, such as for sound and video.

Instructional software

In evaluating computer-based educational materials, the following can serve as guidelines:

§  Be extremely cautious in using CBIs and ‘free’ Internet materials

§  Don’t be caught up by attractive graphics, sound, animation, pictures, video clips and music forgetting their instructional worth

§  Teachers must evaluate these resources using sound pedagogical principles

§  Among design and content elements to evaluate are: the text legibility, effective use of colour schemes, attractive layout and design, and easy navigation from section-to-section (such as from game to tutorial to drill-and-practice section)

§  Clarity in the explanations and illustrations of concepts and principles

§  Accuracy, coherence, logic of information

§  Their being current since data/statistics continually change

§  Relevance/effectiveness in attaining learning objectives

§  Absence of biased materials (e.g. gender bias or racial bias)

Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

 it is said that the Singapore has set the global pace for student-centered learning with a 2:1 (2 pupils with one computer) ratio in its masterplan for IT in Education. This shows that even in other progressive countries, the 1:1: pupil-computer ratio is still an ideal to be achieved. Reality therefore dictates that schools face the fact that each classroom, especially in public or government schools, may not be equipped with the appropriate number of computers.

          The creativity of the teacher will have to respond to the situation, and so cooperative learning will likely be the answer to the implementation of IT supported learning in our schools. But the situation may not be that bad since there are motivational and social benefits to cooperative learning and these can compensate for lack of hardware that educators face.

 Defining cooperative learning

            Cooperative or collaborative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in a common learning task. It is often also called group learning but to be truly cooperative learning, 5 elements are needed:

1. A common goal

2. Interdependence

3. Interaction

4. Individual accountability

5. Social skills

          Therefore not every group work is cooperative learning since students working on their work sheets physically sat around a table may be working together without these features of cooperative learning.

From several studies made on cooperative learning, it is manifested that cooperative learning in its true sense is advantageous since it:

(a) Encourage active learning, while motivating students

(b) Increases academic performance

(c) Promotes literacy and language skills

(d) Improves teacher effectiveness

          In addition, there are studies show that cooperative learning enhances personal and social development among students of all ages, while enhancing self-esteem and improving social relations between racially and culturally different students.

Cooperative learning and the computer

    Researchers have made studies on the learning interaction between the student and the computer. The studies have great value since it has been a long standing fear that the computer may foster student learning in isolation that hinders the development of the student’s social skills.

            Now this mythical fear has been contradicted by the studies which show that when students work with computers in groups, they cluster and interact with each other for advice and mutual help. And given the option to work individually or in a group, the students generally wish to work together in computer-based and non-computer-based activities. Reflecting on this phenomenon, psychologists think the computer fosters this positive social behavior due to the fact that it has a display monitor – just like a television set – that is looked upon as something communal.

            Therefore researchers agree that the computer is a fairly natural learning vehicle for cooperative (at times called promotive) learning.

Components of cooperative learning

            Educators are still wary about the computer’s role in cooperative learning. Thus they pose the position that the use of computers do not automatically result in cooperative learning. There therefore assign the teacher several tasks in order to ensure collaborative learning. These are:

· Assigning students to mixed-ability teams

· Establishing positive interdependence

· Teaching cooperative social skills

· Insuring individual accountability, and

· Helping groups process information

          These are in addition to assigning a common work goal in which each member of the group will realize that their group will not succeed unless everyone contributes to the groups’ success. It is also important for the teacher limits learning group clusters (six is the ideal number in a group) so there can be closer involvement in thinking and learning.

 As an application to this, the following are given as a sort of learning.

   Discuss the difference between peer competition and positive interdependence in a group. Simply said, aren’t there debates in group work?

ü Peer competition is the learning that happens with peers. They exchange ideas with each other. Confidence in peer competition is more exercised. In positive interdependence, there is learning within the group. Others may be shy and others may be confident enough to share their ideas.

2.     What can be done in case some members of a group do not show positive interpersonal and communication skills? Can the teacher help in this situation?

ü There are persons who are too shy to express what they want and share what they know. The teacher may help by letting them contribute one by one so that they can overcome their shyness.

3.     Do skills in listening, negotiating, compromising, punctuality, tolerance (giving others a chance to speak) part of the social skills needed in group work?

ü These things are probably the most important things in a group work. It can surely help to let the students enjoy peace while learning.

4.     How can group members ensure that each member of the group is also accountable for the group work, and not totally depended on others? In practical terms, how can the teacher grade individual students fairly in a group activity for one single output?

ü The participation of everyone in the group must be strictly observed for the teacher to know how he/she gives grade to each and to be fair for those who actively and willingly contribute to the topic. One from the group may be obligated to list all the names of contributors to each topic they take.

5.      While cooperative learning is a very good avenue for teachers to help students learn effectively, why is it not to be adopted in all classroom learning situations?

ü Cooperative learning should be applied often but the teacher should also have the time to discuss so that students may also learn from the teacher and not just only from the group.

Lesson 12 - Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

           In this lesson, we shall see now the teacher can expand his option to make himself more effective and relevant in the 21st millennium information age. In particular, the lesson shall respond to questions on student-centered learning approach, particular helps on designing and adapting students-learning activities shall be examined.

in addition, suggestion shall be made on how a student-centered classroom (SCL) can be supported by information technology (IT)

The Traditional Classroom

         It may be observed that classroom are usually arranged with neat columns and rows of student chairs, while the teacher stands in front of the classroom or sits behind his desk. This situation is necessitated by the need to maintain classroom discipline, also to allow the teacher to control classroom activities through lecture presentation and teacher-led discussion.

The SCL Classroom

          In industrialize societies we find knowledge-based economies in which workers depend on information that can be accessed through information and communication technologies (ICT's). Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration and instruction, schools in these developed economies have also adopted the support of ICT's. Their students have now become active not passive learners, who can interact with other learners, demonstrating independence and self-awareness in the learning process.

Generally the new school classroom environment is characterized by student individually or in groups:

Performing computer word processing for text or graph presentations

Preparing power-point presentation

Searching for information on the Internet

Brainstorming on ideas, problems and project plans

As needed, the teacher facilitating instruction, also giving individualized instruction to serve individual needs.

As a sort of reflection, SCL environment is very useful especially if a nation wants to progress and develop. There are some schools here in the Philippines who already adopted the SCL environment in instruction. Others object from it since they think that and SCL can be noisy and unwieldy.

          As we all know, in the traditional classroom, a teacher can discipline and manage his/her students. The teacher in that has always the first and final say in the lesson. But the difference is that in the traditional classroom, a student can sometimes feel intimidated and bored since it is always the voice of the teacher who echoes most of the time and leads the discussion. While in a SCL environment, it gives students the venue to interact with each other, be motivated as everyone can participate and enjoy. It can be as noisy as it is, but it gives the students independence and self-awareness. It does not mean that in a SCL, the teacher can no longer do classroom management. The teacher still is the one more knowledgeable than his/her students,