Skype and Blog

Skype

Skype is one of the technology application that serves as a medium of communication between people and among a group of people. We have created an account on the Skype for effective communication between the tutor and the students. I have created my own account in the Skype and gain lots of knowledge on how to use an account. I found out that the skype allows easy communicating us.

The picture below is the communication happened using skype.

                

Blog as a communicative tool

We created this blog to update reflection on the five ICT tools.  To use the blog as a communicative tool, my tutor has given us an activity to create a blog. The image below shows the activity assign to us to create the blog. The picture below shows the instruction on how to carry out the activity on the blog.

After using the blog for almost two weeks, I found that it is a great opportunity platform to share my views and reflect on what I learned in the ICT module. Through this blog, I got a chance to read my friend's article and reflection on any topic. The link given below shows my blog.

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.gblogID=6886116440650092761#editor/target=post;postID=4261001489610872630;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=5;src=postname

ICT as Communicative tool

Communicative tool

In the session on ICT as a communicative tool, we were introduced to what is mean by ICT as a communicative tool, two types of communicative tools and ICT as a tool to teach and learn.  Throughout the session on ICT as communicative tools, I like the idea of technology acting as a medium of easy communication between two people or amongst a group of people because technology plays an important role enabling on sharing content and knowledge effectively, saved travel expenses, increase connectivity and encourage innovation.

I found the differences between the two types of communications are easy since the applications or communication tools have been used in our daily life as this modern world is driven by technology. However, some of the tools like wiki and blog are unfamiliar to me as I am being a digital immigrant human being. However, I learnt later that those tools are simple and designed for effective communication. I am also grateful for the following applications as I can communicate easily and well with people around me.

The activity on creating a blog was helpful for me to express and share my passion and learning in the forum, improve my professional skills of writing through the network with my friends and earn more exposure around the world. Moreover, I can record my progress of learning about information communication and technology in teaching and learning for future references through maintaining a journal. I found maintaining journal through the blog was interesting as I could update myself on my progress of learning ICT integrated teaching and learning. 

We have been using email, messenger, WeChat, video conferencing and many other applications in our daily life for easy and effective communication. I realized about all those applications are communicative tools enabling for easy communication between two people and amongst a group of people. There are many other communicative tools to explore and use for effective and easy communication. I look forward to exploring many other new applications for effective communication. Thus, we can also use communicative tools in a school to communicate and with children and parents about children's learning progress.

Thank you

Was Hitler a gay?

Was Hitler a gay?

We have an activity to find out relevant and authentic information on the 'Was Hitler a Gay?' By doing this activity, I have learned how to choose and believe in relevant information from various sources. Thus, the following link will show evidence of whether Hitler was really gay or not.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Evpwybjt8kh_koxcUVvJiLCxCpg2zTGN/view?usp=drivesdk

After searching through various information from varieties of sources, I knew how to differentiate between authentic or duplicate information. It is very simple that we have to look at the authenticity of the source. There are many authentic sources such as BBS, BBC, CNN, etc for authentic information. The research, article, journals by authentic author are also valid information. However, there are many duplicate news and author shared through various forum that becomes a duplicate source of information. Previously, I did not have any idea to check the source and author of information resulted in believing on wrong information. 

This activity on searching authentic information on Was Hitler gay? was helpful since I learned how to look for an authentic source and information. 

ICT as informative tool

Informative Tool

We were introduced to the topic of ICT as informative tools, advantages and disadvantages of using this tool and how it is being applied in a real-life situation. ICT plays important roles to impart information. Firstly, Informative tools are applications that provide large amounts of information in various formats such as text, graphics, sound, or video. We have also discussed on an activity to search relevant information on the topic ' Was Hitler a gay?' In the process of finding information on Hitler about his sexuality, I experienced how to find a piece of authentic information. For detail, I will share separately in an upcoming reflection.
Informative tools are application which provide a vast amount of information in various formats like text, sound, image or video. Student chooses different medium such as reading a text from online or stored in a computer, listening to an audio, looking at an image and making meaning, watching video lessons or tutorial are all part of acquiring information. 

Children gather varieties of information to boost and expand their knowledge and skills. Moreover, It provides a space for the students to learn independently and a free choice of their own. Thus, technology power us by filling knowledge and skills required in our daily life.

At the same time, the teacher's role becomes very facilitative that he or she has to guide children in accessing broader information on the particular topic. Ultimately, it ensures child-centred pedagogy of learning that learners get to learn independently. Thus, they get an opportunity to explore, think critically, activate their knowledge, develop research skills and learn to integrate relevant information. 

Students consider the internet as a virtual textbook, reference library, virtual tutor; learn to study shortcuts and virtual study groups. Hence, Informative tool makes the work of the teacher and students easier and faster.

In this modern world, children are known as digital natives that they are the computer generation, they are born with the technological facilities available around them. The traditional methods of teaching and learning that exist for many decades where the teacher is the only source of information is replaced by  ICT integrated teaching and learning. Thus, children explore information beyond the limited knowledge set in a text. As a result, children integrated, analysed and evaluate relevant ideas on the internet. Moreover, children develop information search skills and enhance critical thinking.

Everyone says that the 21st century is dominated by technology where nobody left without access to the technology. In fact, newborn children are bought up with the different types of technology. Thus, we can see people are using technologies to hear about the world, read information about the world, write about the world, and learn about the world. When I was a child back then in my village, there was no technology to be seen. I saw people either climbing on the roof to call neighbours or walk hours to pass a single line information. Hence, there were limited access and medium to information that comes from people near them. However, the advancement of technologies in this modern world has a direct impact on people's access to information. We can access to information, both near and as far as around the world within a few moments through a small device on our plam. Life has become esair and advanced by huge information through modern technology. We are grateful for the development of technologies that brings information available, connected people around the world to achieve success. Otherwise, we may not know the information around the world and our life would be in mundane. Technology bring positive as well as negative impact to the student's learning. As a teacher, I will teach children on how to find out an authentic source for an information. As we all know that we fond different types of an information in various source. However, an information largely depend on the authenticity of source. There are many duplucate source we find across social media often lead to the misuse of an information. Thus, I wanted to teach on how to find authentic information from the right source.

Thank you

ICT integration in teaching and learning

ICT integration

ICT integration is a means of using technology in another situation to promote efficiency and working condition of it. It is being integrated into the field of teaching and learning in the classroom. This helps the teacher to deliver the lesson effectively and smoothly to the children. On the other hand, students learn better with fun and enthusiasm. Moreover, it caters to the needs of a diversity of children in the class. Hence, the quality of education improves drastically with the help of ICT integration in the school.

There are three different levels of ICT integration teacher can use with the student. The first level or basic level of ICT integration is a process of using technology just to substitute the delivery of the lesson. It is also stated that teaching using technology is more effective than not using it. This level of integration is prevalent in our classroom especially during the presentation as projector and laptop are used just to substitute chalk and green board.

The second level or middle level of ICT integration states, "Technology is purposefully used to promote and support learning in the classroom especially the key points." For instance, software is used to promote learning. As a teacher who is supposed to teach at primary level, I can use any software to promote students learning such as improving pronunciation and vocabulary through different apps. 

The third level or higher level of ICT integration states, "Technology is used by students to help them through a variety of important learning processes." This level of ICT integration is best for enhanced learning for the children. 

The SAMR and TPACT models are two types of ICT integration in the classroom for teaching and learning.

SAMR model is designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. There are 4 degrees of ICT integration in the SAMR model. They are Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition. The first degree of the SAMR model is a substitution and it is a direct substitution of technology. The second degree of the SAMR model is Augmentation and it is about substituting technology in the teaching and learning with functional improvement. The third degree of the SAMR  model talks about technology integration that allows for significant changes in task design in the classroom. The final degree of the SAMR model is a redefinition and it is about the creation of a new task with better design through integration of ICT otherwise it is inconceivable. These are the four degrees of ICT integration in the SAMR model. We are clear that the degree of Redefinition is best followed by Modification, Augmentation and Substitution.

We have another model called TPACT model. It is a framework to understand and describe the kind of knowledge needed by a teacher for effective pedagogical practice in a technology-enhanced learning environment. This model requires understanding plus negotiation among pedagogy, technology and content of the particular subject for effective integration of technology in the classroom. As a result, we understand the importance of well-rounded understanding of pedagogy, technology and content to create an effective learning environment of the children. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F3ZmW5BAomjf7T29GlHOsdcpCinK4Ajm/view?usp=drivesdk

There are differences between these two models. The SAMR model is developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura and this model focus on incorporation technology into the classroom and less on content knowledge vs. Pedagogy. On the other hand, TPACT model was developed by Punya Mishra and Matthew J. Koehler. This model focus on the importance of a well-rounded understanding of pedagogy, technology and content. In conclusion, both models are geared towards creating an effective learning environment in the classroom with the help of technology. I encourage my dear respected teachers and near friends to integrate technology while teaching and learning sessions. If you do, learners learn with fun and acquire knowledge far better than neglecting technology. I wish everyone could integrate technology for betterment.

Thank you