Week seven ~ ICT and the Learning Principles of the Primary School Curriculum

I wonder what we are going to learn in this week. Our lecturer and the tutors always have a new knowledge regarding technology. I cannot wait to learn for today. This week, we learnt about ICT and the Learning Principles of the Primary School Curriculum. Basically, they are three approaches ways in using ICT in teaching and learning.

1. Learning about ICT

2. Learning with ICT

3. Learning through ICT

            I found that it is essential to apply these three approaches as we can understand better how to manipulate ICT in maximum level. Sometimes, we are too eager and too ambitious to integrate ICT in our classroom. Nevertheless, we are not equipped ourselves fully the knowledge of ICT. What I can say is as a teacher going to be, knowledge and readiness to apply ICT in the classroom are important. The principle should be mastered very well so that children can benefit the lesson vividly.

            The use of ICT in the classroom is essential especially its specialties to convey the limitation of our effort. For example, the previous assignment requirement that we have done before is we need to produce a video that the content cannot be delivered without using a video clip. Like scuba diving, it is quite difficult for teacher to demonstrate the action of scuba dive without integrate it with ICT. As humans have limitation to do thing, ICT is needed to help us in our teaching and learning process. However, we should remind ourselves to use it wisely and think again whether the lesson is better to use ICT or not. This is because we have to bear in mind that children in early stage of learning process are still in concrete stage. The relia is important to be applied n the lesson. So, as a teacher, the effectiveness of the lesson is depending on the teacher. Even though she uses latest technology and extraordinary relia but students cannot cope with it, it is no use at all.

            After Miss Chin has presented her presentation, Prof Maznah has something to say to us. It is regarding our SMARTboard assignment. She asks on our progression. Yet, she tells us about the Interactive Whiteboard by Tolley. This note is really important to us as it gives us idea and guideline on how to design very “SMART” and interactive activity. There are 12 guidelines that can be implemented in my assignment. As she presented in front, I am keep thinking how am I want to apply these guidelines as I do not know how to use it. But I know, our tutors are there to help me. I decide to try it first and if I am face with difficulties, I will approach them.

            She also stress on the use of learning theories in our activities. as the assignment is meant for children, we should think and consider their human being development. For instance, it is good to apply Behaviourism, cognitivism theories in the activities. For cogntivism theories, it can be applied by designing activities that make them engage actively in the lesson. So, as IWB offers this opportunity, I think I have to think deeper and start to plan interactive lesson.

 

 

Week six ~ reflection & new assignment

After we have sent our assignment, a short reflection has been conducted by Prof Maznah. Basically, she wants to know feedback from regarding the assignment. She reminds us to watch our friends’ work and give comments for their hard work. The audiences’ appeal should be taken seriously as we have to set purposes of making the video. If the video clip is for academic purposes, we need to ponder what is the objective, how does the video meet the objectives or the learning outcomes? Even though we have sent the assignment, the reflections are beneficial for our future as we can apply it if we want to produce it for our students someday.

There is another new thing this week. Guess what? No, you are wrong. Keep guessing. Ok, let me tell you. Today, we get our next assignment. Still remember my last entry about the Smartboard short course? Yes, it is really related on what we have attended last week. This time, as I wish, we get opportunity to use smartboard. The assignment is we have to design activities for primary classroom using smartboard. Like the previous assignment, we have to work in group of five which is my Sky High group. The activities are meant for either these three subjects which are English, Mathematics and Science. Since Sky High consists of both Maths and Science students, we decided to divide it according to our minor. Husna will design activities for Science, me for Mathematics and the other three group members, Kasthuri, Huda and Komathi design activities for English. 

In order to give us clear view on how to design the activities, Miss Chin has shown some examples of our seniors’ masterpiece. Amazingly, there is one senior has prepared about 100 activities  I cannot feel that I can do like her. However, when there is a will, there is a way. We have reminded to think again what the main purpose to have Smartboard activities is. If we tend to prefer quantity, we need to make sure the quality is parallel with the quantity. I think that the important thing how I am going to design interactive activities as that is the purpose of design activities using smartboard. 

Week five ~ SMART BOARD COURSE

Today is the day where we send the video clip assignment. Actually, I am quite nervous because I am worry if they are no viewers want to view my video if it will be uploaded in youtube. (I have updated this entry and this is the url to link to my video entitled: Like and Dislike http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba2slijDwj0 ) When I sent my assignment, I feel satisfied with work. This is because I have considered the criteria to produce this video clip. Prof Maznah gave us some questions to be pondered while producing the video clip.

is it appropriate to have the video when the content can be delivered easily with a demonstration or a picture or a book?

            Luckily, I found this reminder. So, since my topic is about hobbies, I modify the hobbies which cannot be delivered without using the video clip. That is why I chose hobbies like surfing the net, surfing at the sea, scuba diving, ice climbing and so on. These hobbies cannot be delivered without using the video clip. If the hobbies can be demonstrated without using video using, so there is no purpose we use video clip to teach them as it is easier to convey it in the class.

 

We have been told that for this week we will have a short course about using Smartboard. Actually this is our second time having this course as the first time has been done while we were in IPIK. Still, the course is held in MU. Our presenter for this course is Ms Fenny. She also has met us before as she was the presenter for our last course.

What make me wonder is the difference between the first and the second course. At first, I think maybe our lecturer wants us to master the Smartboard very well and that is make her to have another course for us. Yes. Miss Fenny told us that that the Smartboard has been upgraded to 10.0. There are some features has been added in this new Smartboard. So, that is why we have this short course.

I am quite impressed with her presentation on using Smartboard. I wonder if I can use Smartboard smartly like her. Then, she told us that she has presented many courses and that makes her improve her presentation. So, I realize that if we want to be a good presenter, we have to try it more often and believe with ourselves. I hope one day I can use and master the usage of Smartboard.

This course is only about three hours. Within this time, we get opportunity to design activities using Smartboard. Personally, it is quite difficult for me to use the functions in the Smartboard. This is because I do not know how to use it. Even though Fenny has taught us earlier, I still need guidance to use as I am a person who needs to try first by myself until I understand to use. However, my group members help me in order to use it. Now, I started to think. How am I going to use Smartboard for my students if I am master to use it? It makes me excited to learn more on how to use Smartboard.

Week four ~ Local links on ICT

            In week four, we have been introduced to local link on ICT. They are variety of online education that has been prepared by ministry of education like example, cikgu.net, eduwebtv, MOE, ETeMS, BTV and etc. These websites have different approach and each of them as their own specialities. However, the main purpose it is being constructed is because to help teachers in Malaysia to get information or anything about education field.

            For example, ETeMS website.

 

What is ETeMS?

ETeMS has been proposed as an urgent interim measure to ensure that teachers of mathematics and science (MST) will have basic capacity to use English as the medium of instruction. Bearing in mind the limited duration of interaction, ETeMS is not to be regarded as a complete language development course, but rather, one of several support mechanisms introduced by the Ministry of Education to encourage the MST to further develop their English language competence to a level that will engender optimal performance in and outside the classroom.

 

The overall aim of ETeMS...

To enhance the English language skills of Mathematics and Science teachers to enable them to reach effectively using English as the medium of instruction.

 

My mother is a Mathematics primary school teacher. She has attended this course. This is a beneficial course as my mother gets opportunity to improve her Englsih. I can see her improvements as  she is more confident to speak in English in her classroom. She has been taught Maths in malay for about more than 10 years. Imagine, how difficult to teach maths in English because the terms in maths are different now. But, by attending this course plus there is online link to ETeMS, it is a bonus for my mother to improve herself.

I think being a teacher is very lucky because the ministry of education has prepared many links for us. It is such a waste if these online links did not use wisely. As for myself, I will surf these links more often in order to equip myself with the latest and current information about teaching profession. This is important because we know what is happened outside there. Besides, the information is just on our finger tips as we just need to surf it in the net without go to the MOE in order to find the latest info.