Google classroom as a constructive tools

Like other tools (informative tool) Constructive tools emphasis on Constructivism theory, where the knowledge is constructed or build upon. Here knowledge is constructed by the individual and learning takes place if the individual can construct their own knowledge and apply or generalize it in a new situation. 

We can integrate the constructive tool in lessons by introducing students to join the specific group (eg: google classroom) and discuss on the specific topic- where they will initiate the discussion, answer the questions, comment and collaboratively construct the knowledge.

My google classroom

I should say, " I am ushered towards the world of technology classroom and now to google classroom as well by this module." So what is google classroom? Google classroom is a service that helps the students and teachers to streamline the process of sharing files between teachers and students without physically being present in the lesson. 

This will be very important lesson for me for the future as i can promote and use this methods with my students rather than always teaching in the class. this will not only help me to understand the students but it will but help them to learn effectively with the help of technology. thus it brings effective teaching and learning.

ICT as the situating Tool

What is situating Tool? As soon as I heard the question I surfed my nerves and it says it is the suitable tool to do something in the easier way. BUT it did not suffice me. Then I punched the words on the Google and clicked search. Then here it comes.

SITUATING Tool is used to locate lots of simulations and games which can enhance learning. Students become more effective when it is associated with the computer as the teacher's tool. Situating tool gives virtual reality feeling like the real situation. The computer can create 3-D images on the display to give the feeling that is situated in the virtual environment.

We used graphing Calc and google map as the situating tool.

 

Graph Calc as a situating tools helped me to understand  the easiest way to plot and draw graph in our computer by just entering the equation. This is an interesting way where children can solve their graphing problem in mathematics with the tab of their finger. 

We also used goggle map to search for places and find the direction, distance, latitude and longitude. Most interesting thing i could find using this map is that i was able to visit the virtual places through satellites view. For example;

 

                                               Google map

On the other hand the link provided below will take us to the place where we can learn different subjects and topic on self. 

LINK: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/density

This types of simulation will help the students to learn individually on self and at the same time it will motivate them to learn more as they will get to discover more ideas based on hand on experience. So this is an effective method to teach children rather than always lecturing.

ICT as co-constructive tool

Co-constructive is the process of building knowledge collaboratively through shared understanding. ICT as an enabler creates the opportunity if one is well equipped with its usage. With the use of co-constructive tools we can co-edit, enhance collaborative learning, create active and intentional learning and make the learning more effective by providing comments or correcting each other.

This co-constructive tool supports the social constructive educational theory because this co-constructive tool not only helps in enhancing collaboratively learning environment but also in problem finding and problem solving.

As an activity we were grouped and asked to create Google 

docs using Google ID where one member from each group created the activity template in Google docs and shared with other group members so all can edit and learn together.

All of us came together in Google docs where we were asked to come up with a lesson plan integrating ICT in the classroom. In the page we wrote our own point on the given topic. During the course of writing all of us can write at the same time. It was amazing and awesome to get access to such technology. 

Likewise, if we take into the classroom content context we can make students to use the Google docs to write essays, reflection, report and solve reasoning question and answer. I think it can be applied in all the content area.I never knew about it, it was interesting and enriching and I will never let the stone upturned to use it in future. 

This is the glimpse of our progress in co-constructing our knowledge and understanding on the topic.

Discussion on google dog

 

Video Tutorial (Camtasia)

Most of the times we tend to forget to figure out the hardest difficulties behind the most beautiful scenes of the movies. It challenges the caliber of oneself to stand up from the tremendous workload that you got. Experience of making the video tutorial for the first time was really enriching. I have gone through numerous planning, executing, re-planning, deleting, and updating the ideas and all. It was really enchanting journey and finally came up with this simple video tutorial using Camtasia.

   Video made using Camtasia

I prepared power point presentation with all the information, designed attractive slides using lots of images, short clips, audios and animation. Then with the little knowledge and with the help of videos uploaded in VLE by our tutor, I came up with this video tutorial about the poem “The caterpillar and the butterfly”.  I did necessary edition in Camtasia where I sometimes deleted and had to record it again. That was, in fact the great learning. It was very difficult when it comes to voice narration as I have to do it almost 5 to 6 times, because sometimes it was not fluent, not energetic enough but still then after lots of trails and errors, I managed to produce my video lesson on time.

 

Doing a thing for the first time is tough until we are comfortable and have enough knowledge about it. It was difficult for me at first but later as I discover more, I find it very enjoyable and meaningful. I think it will be really helpful to us when we go to teach in schools. We can create our own videos and use it to teach students rather than always teaching in the same methods. By doing so we will be able to make the class and learning more interesting and at the same time motivate students in learning. So to have an effecting teaching and learning, such method of using videos can be used. That is why i am really glad and thankful to our tutor for assigning us with such a meaningful task.

ICT as a communicative and constructive tools

In today’s digital era, communication is easier than ever before. People can connect with each other, share online content with the click of a button and work together on projects regardless of distance. So the second tool that we have discussed is ICT as communicative tools. A communicative tool is the applications which enable easy communication between the teacher and students, among students beyond the physical barrier. It also helps teacher to improve communication and interaction with participants, fellow teachers and parents. Some of the communication tools are; Skype, discussion forum, emails, zoom, Face book etc. 

After going through discussion I came to know that communication is classified into two types;

• Synchronous (enables real-time communication, helps solving urgent issues)
•       Example: chat, telephone call, video conferencing.

• Asynchronous (not requiring the people communication to be logged on the internet at the same time)
•       Example: e-mail, VLE discussion forum, we chat, face book, blog, wiki etc.

     Discussion on we chat and VLE forum

    

                                 Video conferencing in ZOOM 

Under this we also looked at what is blog? A blog is an online journal or a platform where a writers share their views on an individual subjects. As an activity we were asked to create our blog using blogger.com but before that we watched the videos uploaded by our tutor in VLE forum.

blog created using blogger.com

Before i heard a word blog quite a lot but after going through this topic i knew how to create blog using our gmail account.How and what we have to post in our own blog. we used communication tools like We-chat, VLE and Zoom for the discussion. Communication is not limited to phone calls and text messages and can communicate with others through different means of technology. So i can use this types of communication tools with my students when i go for teaching for effective teaching and learning.

ICT as a constructive tools

In the next session, we discussed on the topic ICT as the constructive tools in VLE which was really enriching- all of my classmates participated where we raise and clear our doubts. As an activity we got a task to design one page simulated advertisement to attract visitor to our locality using PowerPoint presentation with only one slides incorporating all the features and animation. By doing this I was able to use my ideas and information to construct something new.

Constructive tool means the computer/tools used for manipulating information, visualizing one's understanding and building/creating new knowledge. These constructive tools has been used in many ways but we did not recognize it. Some examples of constructive tools are; electronic bulletin boards/Moodle, Social networking sites (blog/face book/twitter), DTP/In-designs/ MS Publisher, Simulation, etc.

Constructive tools emphasis on constructivism theory, where the knowledge is constructed or builds upon. Here knowledge is constructed by the individual and learning takes place if the individual can construct their own knowledge and apply or generalize it in a new situation. So this task of making simulation helped me in improving my skills to work with the power-point. It was great experience where I was able to insert my own voice, song, pictures and shapes in a single slide. I used my past knowledge to organize and present their ideas in attractive format. I think this experience will help me a lot when making presentation, videos and etc. in the future.

In the upcoming blogs there will be discussion on remaining tools.

 

Reflection on ICT as informative tools

When we say ICT, I was referring it to the use of computer and internet but after learning about this topic I was aware of how broad and important ICT is to improve teaching and learning in this digital world. Information and communication technology consists of various tools and systems that can be exploited by capable and creative teachers to improve teaching and learning situations. Lim Tay (2003) classification of ICT tools as:

1.      Informative tools

2.      Communicative tools

3.      Constructive tools

4.      Co-constructive tools

5.      Situating tools

We get information from many sources such as Books from the library, TV channel, Mobile phones, Internet (Social Media), Radio Broadcasts, and newspapers. I also knew that we can collect information in various formats like text, sounds, image or video. But after the discussion of the topic with our tutor, I came to know that ICT as informative tools is not only to collect information but it has lots important aspects in our life. 

It is very important and relevant tools that adheres teacher to provide learning classroom very effective and conducive.  A students reading a text or information, listening to the audio, simply looking at the image and making meaning out of it or watching a video lesson are all receiving information on the particular topic but through means based on their choices.

When we use ICT as informative tools we are providing raw materials to organize, reorganize and expand their knowledge and skills. This is one of the driving tools that a learner gets to learn independently whereby they get an opportunity to explore, think critically, activate their knowledge, develop research skills and learn to integrate relevant information. Hence, informative tools make the work of the teacher and students easier and faster.

In order to make us more aware of informative tools we were assigned with a task to prepare a presentation on Doklam issues by our tutor. For this task I browse as many sources as possible to understand the views of different people on Doklam standoff and came up with the presentation with adequate and reliable information including my own views. I got almost all the information from different websites, videos and all, thus providing ICT as informative tools.

                              Presentation on Doklam standoff

I was able to expand my knowledge on the topic and skills of using power-point by doing such activity, as i gathered more information for my topic and was able to organize and integrate relevant information. Being a future teacher I can use such activities where children gets to share their own points of view and where they can expand their knowledge so that they can think critically and expand their skills. 

ICT in teaching and learning

Work places in this modern time have changed and now we have to update with the changing world. Teaching and learning style have changed and it does not happen only with the use of chalk and chalkboard, face to face in the class but in can happen in online. Therefore being a future teacher, we have to learn to teach the students. 

ICT in teaching and learning is all about enhancing the teaching and learning process through integration of different information and communication technologies. It is very important in the 21^st century to inculcate such skills because the world outside the classroom demands ICT skills. To enhance teaching and learning process as well as to motivate students-obtain active participation from students, ICT got the most attraction these days. Using ICT, it helps to achieve the objectives of the lesson effectively and it assists in teaching and understanding the difficult concepts.

We have learnt about the computer as a tool to teach and learn. There are 5 tools: informative tools, communicative tools, constructive tools, co-constructive tools and situating tools. So, this writing contains my reflection on five tools that we have learnt in this module.