Lesson 8: HIGHER THINKING SKILLS THROUGH IT-BASED PROJECTS

SUMMARY:

          
           There are four types of IT-based projects which can effectively be used in order to engage students in activities of a higher plane of thinking. (1)The Resource-based Projects, the teacher steps out of the traditional role of being an content expert and information provider, and instead lets the student find their own facts and information. (2)Simple Creations,they can create their software materials to supplement the need for relevant and effective materials. (3)Guided Hypermedia Projects is production of self-made multimedia projects can be approached in two different ways: As an instructive tool, such as in the production by students of a PowerPoint presentation of a selected topic. As a communication tool, such as when students do a multimedia presentation like graphs, photos, interviews and video clips. (4) Web-Based Projects, students can be made to create and post webpages on a given topic. Creativity projects as tools in the teaching-learning process can be achieved with the assistance of advisers adept in the technical use of Internet Resources.

REFLECTION:

          Through IT-based projects, higher - order thinking skills are developed and students are given projects that let them learn in their own pace and pattern, with the teacher acting as a facilitator. Students who engaged in these activities, searching for information, organizing and synthesizing ideas, and creating their own presentations are the ones who demonstrates higher thinking skills and creativity. Learning had become more enjoyable for students and in return they also develop skills for lifelong learning. 

Lesson 9: COMPUTER AS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

SUMMARY:            

          Instructional media consist of audio-visual aids that served to enhance and enrich the teaching- learning process. Examples are the blackboard, photo, film and video. On the other hand, educational communication media comprise the media of communication to audiences including learners using the print, film, radio and television or satellite means of communication. For example, distance learning were implemented using correspondence, radio, television or the computer satellite system. 

Uses of the Computer as ICT in Education:

The PC

               Communication Media                                                            Audiovisual Media

                      (Internet)                                                                              (Multimedia)

               E-mail (text and video)                                                         Text, sound, graphics, chart, photos                  Chat rooms                                                                          Power-point presentation

               Blog sites                                                                             CD, VCD, DVD player

               News services (print, video clip)                                           Educational Software

               Music/movie/television room                                                          (Internet)      

                                                                                                           Educational websites

                                                                                                           Softwares, coursewares

                                                                                                           School registration/ records                                                                    

Programs normally installed in an ordinary modern PC:

• Microsoft Office- program for composing text, graphics, photos into letters, articles, reports, etc.
• Power-point - for preparing lecture presentations
• Excel- for spreadsheets and similar graphic sheets
• Internet Explorer- access to the internet
• Yahoo or Google- websites; e-mail, chat rooms, blog sites, news services (print/video), educaional software, etc.
• Adobe Reader- graphs/photo composition and editing
• MSN- mail/chat messaging
• Windows Media Player- CD, VCD player, editing film/video
• Cyberlink Power- DVD player
• GameHouse- video games

REFLECTION:

          The use of ICT has become an integral part of our society. Mainly, the computer, the Internet and social media had become a huge part in different aspects of the society; economy, industry, and education. In teaching, ICT is very useful in the sense that information and communication are important elements in teaching. As teachers, we share and give information to our students during instruction. And to be able to deliver this information, effective communication is important. Through the use of ICT,  teachers and students can share and communicate information outside the classroom environment. It can be a tool for information gathering, storing, and communication. The vast capabilities of the computer and ICT are useful and essential in the world today, for it can shrink the global world and we can easily connect with different people from far distance. 

Lesson 10: THE COMPUTER AS TUTOR

SUMMARY:          

          The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his/her personal role as classroom tutor. It should be made, however that the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play the major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller. Even with the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must insure that students have the needed knowledge and skills for any computer activity. The teacher also decide the appropriate learning objectives, plan the sequential and structured activities to achieve the objectives and evaluate the students' achievement by way of tests.

REFLECTION:

          A tutor can also be not human. A tutor can be a thing and that thing is the computer. We are now in a modern world where the use of computer is increasing rapidly. With just one click, access to information is in an instant. And as future teachers, we must be equipped with skills and competency in using the computer. Using computer software that supplements that lesson and act as tutor to students are helpful in the teaching - learning process, and the teacher acts as the facilitator in this kind of instruction. 

Lesson 11: THE COMPUTER AS THE TEACHER'S TOOL

SUMMARY:

Informative Tool. The computer can provide vast amounts of information in various forms such as text, graphics, sound and video. The Internet itself provides an enormous database from which user an access global information resources as well as educational information directly useful to learners.

Communication Tool. Given the fact that the Internet can serve as a channel for global communication, the computer can very well be the key tool for video teleconferencing sessions.

Constructive Tool. The computer can be used for manipulating information, visualizing one's understanding and building new knowledge. The Microsoft Word is an example wherein it allow users to organize and present their ideas in attractive formats.

Co-constructive Tool. Students can use co-constructive tools to work cooperatively and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge.

Situating Tool. By means of virtual reality extension systems, the computer can create 3-D images on display to give the user the feeling that are situated in a virtual environment. A flight simulation program is an example which places the user in a simulated flying environment.

REFLECTION:

          The computer is an effective tool for teachers in teaching and for students to learn. There was a saying "A nail without a hammer is useless", and if you relate it in teaching, without tools the teacher may not be able to teach the students effectively.The computer have a lot of capabilities that a teacher can utilize. Effective use of the computer and proper integration of its uses in instruction changes the manner of teaching and learning. We know we can use computers, all we need is to treasure the benefits it brings in the educative process. 

Lesson 12: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN SUPPORT OF STUDENT - CENTERED LEARNING

SUMMARY:        

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

        In the student - centered classroom ,the 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 who are performing computer word processing, preparing power-point presentations, searching for information in the Internet, and brainstorming on ideas, problems and project plans as needed. The teacher facilitating instruction also gives individualized instruction to serve individual needs.

REFLECTION:

          The usefulness of the computer is a main concern when it comes to student - centered learning. With the computer's vast capabilities, it allow teachers to let students be independent learners and not merely being spoon - fed with information by the teacher. They can search and gather information on their own, exploring answers to their questions independently developing their higher thinking skills. The students are the primary concern for teachers and they become the center of the teaching - learning process. Information Technology supports this kind of learning environment.

Lesson 13: COOPERATIVE LEARNING WITH THE COMPUTER

SUMMARY:       

          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, five (5) elements are needed: a common goal, interdependence, interaction, individual accountability, and social skills. It encourages active learning while motivating students; increases academic performance; promotes literacy and language skills; and improves teacher effectiveness.

         The teacher is assigned 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. It is also important for the teacher to limit learning group clusters  (six is the ideal number in a group) so that there can be closer involvement in thinking and learning.

REFLECTION:

          The computer is a natural learning vehicle for cooperative learning. It promotes cooperation and collaboration within students working on a same task, also it develops enthusiasm and a sense of belonging between individual within a group  who shares a common goal. Every individual is given a sense of responsibility to do his part in achieving the goal. Each responsibility is important for the other members where each result is interdependent with each other to achieve a good overall result. Social skills are also develop while students interact with each other, boosting their self - esteem. 

Lesson 14: THE SOFTWARE AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE

SUMMARY:        

          The computer hardware can hardly be useful without the program or system that tells what the computer machine should do. This is also called the software. There are two kinds of software: the systems software, which is the operating software that is found or bundled inside all computer machines; and applications software, which contains the system that commands a particular task or solves a particular problem. In turn, the applications software may be; a custom software that is made for specific tasks often by large corporations, or 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 also referred to as a program,  is an operating environment between the user and the computer operating system. Actually, Windows is in itself a self-contained operating system which provides user convenience, a new look, information center, and plug and play configurations.

        Instructional software can be visited on the Internet or can be bought from software shops or dealers.  But beware since computer-based instructional materials need much improvement, while web-based educational resources are extremely good or what is complete garbage.

REFLECTION:

          In using the computer, software is being used. There are software for entertainment, business, and also for education and instruction. Software is important because the computer is useless without it. It cannot function in the way that we know if there is no software, nor it can be useful to us. Choosing appropriate and updated educational software as teaching material is the responsibility of the teacher and the school. Somehow, learning is quite interesting when educational software is used.