LESSON 12 Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning In this lesson, we shall see how the teacher can expand his options to make himself more effective and relevant in the 21 st millennium information age. In addition, suggestions 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 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 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 discussions. The SCL Classroom 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 a
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LESSON 11 The Computer as the Teacher’s Tool In this lesson, we shall look at the computer, but this time from another perspective the computer as the teacher’s handy-tool. It can in fact support the constructivist and social constructivist paradigms for constructivist learning. Constructivism gave stress to knowledge discovery of new meaning/ concepts/ principles in learning process. While social constructivism is constructing knowledge by the individual learning in constructivism, knowledge can also be socially constructed. SUMMARY OF THE TWO LEARNING PERSPECTIVES Learning Framework Constructivism Social Constructivism Assumption Knowledge is constructed by the individual Knowledge is constructed within a social context Definition of Learning Students build their own learning Students build knowledge influenced by the social context Learning Strategies Gather una
LESSON 10 The Computer as a Tutor The computer is one of the wonders of human ingenuity, even in its original design in the 1950’s to carry out complicated mathematical and logical operations. COMPUTER – ASSISTED INSTRUCTION (CAI) The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as classroom tutor. Even with the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must: · Ensure that students have the needed knowledge and skills for any computer activity · Decide the appropriate learning objectives · Plan the sequential and structured activities to achieved objectives · Evaluate the student’s achievement by ways of tests the specific expected outcomes. DISCUSSION 1. Do you believe CAI in some future time can replace teachers in a classroom? · No, I don’t believe that CAI can replace teachers in a classroom in some future time. Because as what I’ve said, co
LESSON 9 Computers as Information and Communication Technology Through computer technology, educators saw the amplification of learning along computer literacy. Much like reading, the modern student can now interact with computer messages, even respond to questions or to computer commands. Soon the Computer- assisted instruction (CAI) was introduced using the principle of individualized learning through a positive climate that includes realism and appeal with drill exercise that uses color, music, and animation. THE PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC) AS ICT The 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; emails, chat roo
LESSON 8 Higher Thinking Skills through IT – Based Projects Four Types of IT- Based Projects which can effectively be used in order to engage students in activities of a higher plane of thinking. A. Resource- based Projects In these projects, the teacher steps out of the traditional role of being a content expert and information provider, and instead lets the students find their own facts and information. B. Simple Creations Creativity as an outcome should not be equated with ingenuity or high intelligence. It is said to combine three kinds of skills/ abilities: 1. Analyzing – distinguishing similarities and differences/ seeing the project as a problem to be solved 2. Synthesizing – making spontaneous connections among ideas, thus generating interesting or new ideas. 3. Promoting – selling of new ideas to allow the public to test the ideas themselves To develop Creativity, the following five keys may be recommended: 1. D
LESSON 7 IT for Higher Thinking Skills and Creativity Today, students are expected to be not only cognitive, but also flexible, analytical and creative. In this lesson, there are methods proposed for the use of computer- based technologies as an integral support to higher thinking skills and creativity. HIGHER LEVEL LEARNING OUTCOMES To define higher level thinking skills and creativity, we may adopt a framework that is a helpful synthesis of many models and definitions on the subject matter. Complex Thinking Skills Sub – Skills Focusing Defining the problem, goal/ objective – setting, brainstorming Information Gathering Selection, recording of data of information Remembering Associating, relating new data with old Analyzing Identifying idea constructs, patterns Generating Deducing, inducting, elaborating Organizing