Group 1B4 Activity 6: Role of the teacher

This activity contained quite a lot of new ideas for how ICT is changing the teaching learning process. It is clear that the introduction of ICT into the teaching learning process has brought widespread changes to the way teachers teach and how children learn.  Old ways of teaching and learning have lost their relevance and students are now becoming more autonomous and are using technology to do independent and collaborative learning; and this is happening even at a very young age.

Teachers are now therefore forced to change not only the way they teach and engage their students, but also the way they monitor and assess them. Truly ICT is changing the face of teaching and learning and teachers have to adjust to the new roles of facilitator, moderator and guide rather than conductor or director of learning.

With the introduction of ICT into the teaching learning process the role of the teacher will undoubtedly change.   The teacher in an ICT saturated classroom will not be the main constructor or director of learning but instead will assume the role of moderator/facilitator, guiding students to use the technology to construct their own knowledge. In this setting, teachers will no longer be using a computer for the sake of the novelty, but instead will be using it as a tool for teaching and learning. e.g. networked computers where several groups of students can be instructed at the same time and students and teachers can collaborate with each other.Because traditional methods of teaching and learning are becoming outmoded teachers have to ensure that they remain up to date with the new and emerging ICT especially since classrooms are changing.  Teachers can no longer be purveyors of knowledge, but instead will have to allow students to use the resources of ICT, such as the internet to gather information for projects, to connect and collaborate with other students and teachers in and outside their geographical sphere and  avail themselves of other and learning and research opportunities

Group 1B4 Activity 5: Myth of Computer Literacy

Let me start my reflections on this activity by stating that I much prefer to do my discussion on the Partners in Learning page than using e-mail.  The reason for my preference is that because of the way the discussions are set up on the PIL site, it is easier and quicker to see at the same time the discussions that are ongoing and also respond to them at that time.   It also saves time that would be needed to search for and open e-mails that sometimes won't even open. 


Perusing the literature tied to this activity has made my thinking about computer literacy completely different. The section that discussed what computer literacy is and what it is not was especially illuminating to me. Now I am brought to the realisation that computer literacy is so much more than knowing how to use a computer.

The Integrated Approach brings purpose to learning ICT skills and is a better way to teach the skills as learners acquire concepts even while they are learning the skills.


 

Group 2A-5 

Activity 7: Spreadsheets as a learning resource

I must confess that I had never heard of the principle of 'just in time learning'.  I think it really makes a lot of sense especially in relation to the use of the computer. I have often heard the saying, "if you don't use it, you lose it" and this is so true when you link it to learning about how to use the computer, rather than learning with the computer.  I have attended courses that taught me how to use Excel and how to use databases, but because I have not been using these tools on a regular basis, my skill in using them is at best minimal.  In comparison, I am now forced, in this course to learn more about and use Excel and now my competence level has improved tremendously, while the database skill level is as low as it has ever been.

I like to work with the computer, but this course is presenting me with so many new ways of  working and learning with the computer; it's like venturing out into a whole new world. 

This way of teaching and learning with the computer has implications for the teaching of IT skills. It suggests that IT should not be regarded as a subject on its own but rather integrated into teaching and learning as a tool to enhance the teaching/learning process.

Group 1B-4 


Activity 4b: Minimally Invasive Education

I see this type of education becoming the norm as children are now learning to be less dependent on teaches to construct knowledge for them.  They are now more eager to explore and experience learning concepts in a new way.  It clearly demonstrates that:

• we cannot continue to use a one-size fits-all approach to teaching.
• We will be forced to find new strategies to produce more independent and innovative learners.
• We must understand that teachers will no longer take centre- stage in classrooms.
• ICT is a key factor in promoting this kind of learning; however, students do not need to be taught the how of using the computer as much as they need to know the why and when.

I have learnt quite a lot from doing this activity and as a result, I am more keenly aware of how students learn and how they should be taught.  I was especially fascinated with Dr. Mitra's work, because I, (and I believe that there are many others like me) held the view that children must be taught how to use the computer before actually using it to do anything.  His work has reawakened in me the idea that children, left to explore can and will construct their own knowledge and make their own discoveries about a wide array of new knowledge and concepts.

Group1B-4
Activity 4a: Spontaneous Learning

I found this discussion on spontaneous learning very informative.  I know that learners do not really come to school not knowing anything.  However, I do not think that most teachers really try to bridge the gap between school (scientific) learning and spontaneous learning.  What we tend to do is to teach from the curriculum, making sure that all the relevant topics are covered and not considering that learners already have something in them that we should build on. 

Educators now have a challenge, that is, to be translators of scientific concepts into language which learners understand, decide when to teach the concepts; and continuous monitoring and communicating with learners to ensure that they are linking what they already to know to what they are learning.  This indicates that teaching is becoming more learner centered. 

It is also important to note that even though we are trying to facilitate teaching and learning with ICT, it does not mean that there is no need for teachers in the classroom.  What it suggests to me is that classrooms will become more learner-centered where teachers act as facilitators to guide students' learning as they discover more and more new concepts and build upon those concepts that they have already acquired.

Group 2A-5

Activity 6B: Symbol Distribution

I like when I have to discover things on my own when working on the computer.  It stays with me more too.  I especially enjoyed activity 6B- Symbol Distribution.  Just completing the activity, taught me so many things about working with graphs, e.g. formatting the plot area, or the background, changing the line colour and writing in the the chart and axes titles.

Again, in doing this activity, I see how helpful the collaborative approach is, especially in learning new concepts. For example, I submitted my graph without naming the axes and it was one of my other group members who brought that too my attention.  I was then forced to go back to decide how to label these axes and by exploring the tool bar, I was able to locate and find the icon that would allow me to drop down the menu to label the axes.  I then went further to reformat my chart even more and could have done even more, if I were willing to spend more time doing so.

When I put the students in my place, it demonstrates the joy that they will feel when they are able to have like accomplishments and also assist their peers in reaching these milestones.  We, as educators, must therefore seek to afford our students these opportunities for discovery and exploration in using ICT in their learning experiences.