Lesson 18 Tablets for Textbooks in Schools

Lesson 18

Tablets for Textbooks in Schools

          Today, books are still the primary medium of instruction in most schools. It is doubtful if these will totally be replaced by digital technology reading tools, but there are now perceptions that virtual literacy may very well ease out textual print literacy.

       Moreover, today technology is being viewed as a savior. Given the fact students are enamoured by computer games which take much of their time at home, educators has begun to think that the computer screen can very well serve as a powerful educational medium.

        Many schools are now engaging their students with tablets for textbooks in schools. One of the most popular example of this is the De La Salle in which administrators, teachers, parents and other stakeholders have made it possible through reasonable IT payments, full support of parents and teachers in the IT advancements.

          Since this concept deals with highly advanced innovation in school facilities and administration, I have no experience that is similar to it. But, I do have indirectly related experiences with using tablets for textbooks in schools. I or even most of the students in Central Mindanao University downloads reference materials from the internet and then view them to our smart phones/android phones/tablets or PC’s. Thus, these experiences can really relate to what De La Salle students are experiencing today.

           It is really a great help if tablets are used as textbooks in schools, it is because of its advanced design and efficient usage. If students will be granted the chance to experience it, the students will really enjoy while learning many things through the handy and effective tablets.

         I can apply the knowledge about tablets for textbooks in schools when I will teach soon. It is because I know that the gradual advancements of technology and the satisfaction of curiosity of educators with the help of other people like IT experts will really realize this plan throughout many schools in the Philippines sooner or later.

Lesson 17 Educational Technology 2 Practicum

Lesson 17

Educational Technology 2 Practicum

          It is important for us as professionals-in-training or even for professionals that we know some basics about the application and proper usage of technology as what was indicated in the Educational Technology 2.

PowerPoint Presentation

Microsoft PowerPoint

§  Is a presentation program developed by Microsoft.

§  The software allows users to create anything from basic slide shows to complex presentations.

§  Often used to create business presentations, but can also be used for educational    or informal purposes.

How to Create a PowerPoint Presentation?

1. Open PowerPoint. You will see a blank screen with two boxes in the middle of the screen. One of the boxes says "Click to add title," the other says "Click to add subtitle."

2. On the tab at the upper left side of your screen, hit the "File" tab.

3. On the vertical toolbar to the left, hit the "New" tab.

4. If you wish to use a template, click on the "Sample templates" box.

5. Click on the template you want to use, depending on the purpose of your presentation.

6. If you wish to use a theme, click on the "Themes" box in the "New" tab.

7. Click on the specific template or theme you want to work with from the list of choices.

8. Once your theme is loaded, click on the "Click to add title" and "Click to add subtitle" boxes and add the title and subtitle (if necessary) of your own presentation.

9. After deciding on a title, click on the "New Slide" button in the "Slides" tab up top.

10. Continue adding information and pictures as you see fit. In PowerPoint, however, less is often more.

11. Once you are finished with your PowerPoint presentation, go to "File > Save As" and save your file so that you can retrieve it later.

12. When you want to view your presentation as a series of slides, click on the "Slide Show" tab and then click on "From Beginning" top left.

13. Do’s and Don’ts

Ø Don’t read your presentation straight from the slides.

Ø Don’t forget your audience.

Ø Don’t overload your presentation with animations.

Ø Do use animations sparingly to enhance your presentation.

Ø Do follow the 5/5/5 rule.

Ø Do choose readable colors and fonts.

Ø Do follow the 5/5/5 rule.

Ø Do choose readable colors and fonts. Not this.

          Not just in IT or Educational Technology and other technology related subjects, I experienced plenty of things like making electronic visual aids such as power-point presentations and other programs or software capable of doing such.

          It is indeed, convenient for us to use electronic visual aids but we must also consider the availability of resources. Thus we should take into considerations the different precautionary measures if we will use such product of technology or medium of instruction such as electricity, reliability and effectiveness of the medium in relation to the subject matter.

          I can apply the learning in this topic in many ways not just in teaching but also in studying. But to give importance to the teaching paradigm first, in teaching there are plenty of applications of power-point presentations one of them is as a learning medium together with the teacher.

Lesson 16 The Internet and Education

Lesson 16

The Internet and Education

          The internet “Net” is the largest and far-flung network system-of-all- system. The internet is not really a network but a loosely organized collection of about 25,000 networks accessed by computers on the planet. It is astonishing to know that no one owns the Internet and it has no central headquarters.

          Everything coordinated in the Internet through a standardized protocol (or set of rules for exchanging data) called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). To gain access to the Internet, the computer must be equipped with what is called a Server which has special software (program) that uses Internet protocol. Originally developed and still subsidized by the United States government, the Internet connect not only commercial, industrial, scientific establishments but all other sectors including education and its libraries, campuses, and computer centers.

          The vast sea of information now in the Internet, including news and trivia, is an overwhelming challenge to those who wish to navigate it. Every day, the Net user-population and the available information continue to grow, and new ways are continuously being developed to tour the Internet.

          The most attractive way to move around the Internet is called browsing. Using a program called a browser, the user can use a mouse to point and click on screen icons to surf the Internet, particularly the World Wide Web (the Web), an Internet’s subset of text, images, and sounds are linked together to allow users to access data or information needed.

          Today, even elementary school graders in progressive countries like the United States are corresponding via e-mail with pen pals in all 50 states. They ask probing questions like, “What is your state’s most serious problems”, or How much does pizza cost in your state? This educational activity prodded by their schools are paying dividends from increasing the pupil’s interest in Geography to a greater understanding of how people live in large cities and other places in the United States or the world.

          As a student, the internet and education for me, is indeed as what I experienced is inseparable today. It is because considering the great positive impacts of internet in my studies; I observed that most school requirements or activities were made possible and easy by internet. Also the great attraction of the Internet is that once the sign-up fees are paid, there are no extra charges. Electronic mail, for example, is free regardless of the amount of use. In contrast, individuals using the Internet on their own personal computers must pay on-going monthly fees to whoever is their service provider.

          The synergy of internet and education is indeed, a great favor for us students and also for teachers. Moreover, the future of the Internet seems limitless. Already its complexity has spawned and continues to spawn Net sites including new demand for services to business, industries, science, government, and even homes. Many experts predict that the Internet is destined to become the centerpiece of all online communications on the planet and in some future time in the solar system using interplanetary satellite communication stations.

          I can continue to apply internet in education in the classroom it is because educational software materials have also developed both in sophistication and appeal. There is now a wider choice from rote arithmetic or grammar lessons to discovery and innovation projects. But the real possibility today is connecting with the world outside homes, classrooms, and Internet cafes. And today schools are gearing up to take advantage of Internet access, where they can plug into the Library of Congress, make virtual visits to famous museums in the world, write to celebrities, and even send questions to heads of states.

Lesson 15 Understanding Hypermedia

Lesson 15

Understanding Hypermedia

Most educational applications are hypermedia and these include:

·       Tutorial software package

·       Knowledge webpages

·       Simulation instructional games

·       Learning project management and others.

Characteristic of hypermedia applications:

          Get the learners’ attention. Recall prior learning. Inform learners of lesson objectives. In the use of hypermedia the following instructional events will prove useful to the teacher:

·       Introduce the software and its distinctive features

·       Provide learning feedback

·       Assess performance

·       Enhance retention and learning transfer.

           As a student and an individual who is inclined to technology, I can say that I have been using different useful products of technology such as the hypermedia. These experiences were through power-point presentations in reports, videos, audio, texts, animations and many more activities in the school, home or even in the society.

        Understanding hypermedia is really important not just for us students or teachers but also for other people. It is because we are inclined with it in our daily life activities in school, home or in the environment.

          I will apply the usage of hypermedia to enhance and further substantiate the learning’s that will be acquired by my students and also to boost my effectiveness as a teacher by requiring my students to make outputs from specific subjects or topics in the curriculum such as video editing, photo editing, comic strips, magazines, music and many more.

Lesson 14 The Software as an Educational Resource

Lesson 14

The Software as an Educational Resource

          The System Software is the operating system that is found or bundled inside all computer machines, Applications Software contains the system that commands the particular task or solves a particular problem, Custom Software computers that helps that is made for with variety of tasks such as writing specific tasks often papers, calculating by large numbers, drawing corporations graphs, playing games, and so much more.

         Moreover, a self-contained operating system provides: User convenience A New Look Just click a file name Fancy borders, to retrieve data or smooth and click from program to streamlined text fonts program Information Center Plug and Play Puts all Configures the communications computer with added activities (e-mail, components, such as downloads etc., in a for sound and video single screen icon).

         As a student, I had a lot of experiences which involves the usage of the different software as educational resources in diverse subjects such as science, mathematics, literature and many more.

       Software as an educational resource is indeed a great innovation in the teaching paradigm. These educational software, will boost the positive outcomes of the teaching-learning process through its abundant help in any aspects in the field of education.

         I will apply the different software as educational resources in my future classes. I will make sure that these different educational software should be used in accordance to the different subjects and interests of the learners in order to promote the development and acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Lesson 13 Cooperative Learning with the Computer

Lesson 13

Cooperative Learning with the Computer

          Cooperative or collaborative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in a common learning task which have the 5 common goals:

1.       A common goal

2.    Interdependence

3.    Interaction

4.    Individual accountability

5.    Social skills

          It is manifested that cooperative learning in its true sense is advantageous since it:

·       Encourages active learning, while motivating students;

·       Increases academic performance;

·       Promotes literacy and language skills; and

·       Improves teacher effectiveness

          Learning interaction between the student and the computer promotes interaction between the students 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.

          As a student, I experienced many school or classroom activities which involve cooperative learning with the computer like video-editing, photo-editing, and many more.

          It is really important to engage students with collaborative learning activities with the use of computer but the teacher should facilitate properly to endure that the elements of collaborative learning is fulfilled.

          In the future, I will indulge my students into the joy of the true essence of collaborative learning with the computer through different activities that will surely uplift their knowledge and skills.

Lesson 12 Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

Lesson 12

Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

          In this lesson the ways of how the teacher can expand his options to make himself more effective and relevant in the 21^st millennium age. Getting out from the traditional classroom and its practices and into the student-centered classroom (SCL).

          Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration and instruction, schools in these developed economies have also adapted the support of ICT’s. There students have now become active not passive learners, 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 for texts 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 the instruction, also gives individualized instruction to serve individual needs

          I experienced a lot of things in relation to this lesson-like most of the students do. It is because our batch today belongs to a new curriculum in which the lessons that we learn were not being spoon-fed to us. For us to acquire certain information we tend to do it individually or by the help of the teacher indirectly through the help of IT.

          Information Technology (IT) and Student-Centered Learning (SCL) is indeed, a very good combination. If both of these will be successfully used by teachers along with the other teaching-learning strategies and approaches, the product of the instruction will always be affirmative.

          Someday, I will apply these techniques to my future students for them to enrich the development of the skills of learning by themselves and critical-thinking skills. It is because these were already applied since elementary but not as thorough as in the high school and college.

Lesson 11 The Computer as the Teacher’s Tool

Lesson 11

The Computer as the Teacher’s Tool

          In this chapter the computer is used in the perspective of being the teacher’s handy-tool and it supports the constructivists and social constructivist paradigms of learning.

          Constructivism was introduced by Piaget (1981) and Brunner (1990). They give stress to knowledge discovery of new meaning, concepts/principles in the learning process. While knowledge is constructed by the individual learner in constructivism, knowledge can also be socially constructed. Social constructivism is an effort to show that the construction of knowledge is governed by social, historical and cultural context. Moreover, it is supported by Lev Vigotsky and John Dewey. Vygotsky stressed that learning is affected by social influences and Dewey sees language as a medium of social coordination and adaptation.

          As we all know, the computer has many capabilities. Based on the two learning theories, the teacher can employ the computer as a/an:

·       An information tool

·       A communication tool

·       A constructive tool

·       As co-constructive tool

·       A situating tool

          In the classroom setting – not just in IT, Educational Technology or any computer related subjects I observed that teachers are trying to employ technology in every possible way. In connection with, I also experienced few times to be a teacher like in our micro-teaching and also in class reporting. I usually use computer as a tool in teaching and/or reporting.

          Using the computer as a teacher’s tool is indeed a very effective way of facilitating the classroom. We should be thankful because aside from technology’s efficient use, it also has many features to offer that will really help the quality of teaching-and-learning process.

          Computers can be applied by teachers before (preparation), during (classroom instruction) and after (evaluation) the class.

Lesson 10 The Computer as a Tutor

Lesson 10

The Computer as a Tutor

          Educators saw much use of the personal computer. It has become affordable to small business, industries and homes. They saw its potential for individualization of learning and they devised strategies to use the computer to break the barriers to individualized instruction.

          One of these strategies is the Computer-Assisted Instruction(CAI) in which the computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his/her role as classroom tutor.

          Even with the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must:

·       insure that students have the needed knowledge and skills for any computer activity.

·       decide the appropriate learning objectives.

·       plan the sequential and structured activities to achieve objectives.

·       evaluate the students’ achievement by ways of testing the specific outcome.

          On the other hand, the students in CAI play their own roles as they:

·       receive information

·       understand computer instructions for the activity

·       retain/keep in mind the information and rules for the computer activity

·       apply the knowledge and rules during the process of computer learning

          During the computer activity proper in CAI the computer, too, plays its roles as it:

·       acts as a sort of tutor (the role traditionally played by the teacher)

·       provides a learning environment

·       delivers learning instruction

·       reinforces learning through drill-and-practice

·       provides feedback

          I experienced Computer-Assisted Instruction way back in my freshmen years in high school. But this experience is more prominent in college in which students really need PC’s in order to cope up with some classroom discussions and subject requirements not just for us taking a degree in education but also to students from other field of specialization.

          Computer can indeed function as a tutor through CAI. I am really glad of this innovation specially that we are already in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) generation. Even if there are a lot of students in the classroom, the teacher can facilitate the learning effectively through the help of computers.

          I will apply CAI when I will be teaching soon. It is because CAI will allow the individual students to learn at their own pace, motivate learning through a challenging virtual learning environment, assists students through information needed during the learning process, evaluate students responses through immediate feedback during the learning process, and also give the total score to evaluate the students’ total performance. Furthermore, the computer cannot totally replace the me as the teacher because as a teacher I shall continue to play the major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller.