Lesson 17: Tablets for Textbooks in Schools

Lesson 17: Tablets for Textbooks in Schools 

              This lesson discusses about the tablets being a replacement to textbooks in classroom setting or in the teaching-learning process. Today, books are still the primary medium of instruction in most schools. Yet, there is a disadvantage of using books for learning that are being debated upon. The errors in public school textbooks have also been exposed, errors resulting from wrong information, technical mistakes and editorial lapses. Today, technology is being viewed as a savior because the students are enamored by computer games. By that, the educators have begun to think that the computer screen can very well serve as a power point educational medium.

As to the application, future educators cannot meet this if they are assigned to the public or government schools as well as not all private schools will agree to this. So, for us it would be a challenge on how we find alternative ways upon integrating technology in the teaching-learning process for the students to learn far better. We can employ different activities and strategies that will cater the lesson as well as the objectives that will not solely based on textbooks or the students keep on reading with their textbooks without comprehension. But we should not also close our minds that someday all the textbooks will be replaced by tablets or even by the technologies that are being planned to be created for the new millennium learners. By that, we should always be prepared because whether we like it or not, these inventions will stay and progress from generation to generation.

Lesson 16: The Internet and Education

Lesson 16: The Internet and Education

The Internet, also simply called the Net is the largest and far-flung network system of all systems. The Internet is not really a network but a loosely organized collection of about 25,000 networks accessed by computers on the planet.
           Everything is coordinated in the Internet through a standardized protocol called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). To gain access to the Internet, The computer must be equipped with what is called a Server which has a special software program that uses the Internet protocol.
           The great attraction of the Internet is that once the sign-up fees are paid, there are no extra charges. E-mail for example is free regardless of amount use. The vast sea o information now in the Internet is an overwhelming challenge to those who wish to navigate it. The most attractive way to move around the Internet is called browsing. Using a program called the browser, the user can use a mouse to point and click on screen icons  to surf the Internet, particularly the World Wide Web, an Internet's subset of text, images and sounds are linked together to allow users to access data or information needed.
            Educational software materials have also developed both in sophistication and appeal. But the real possibility today is connecting with the world outside homes, classrooms and Internet cafes. Today schools are gearing up to take advantage of Internet access.

Lesson 15: Understanding Hypermedia

Hypermedia is nothing but multimedia, but this time packaged as an educational computer software where information is presented and student activities are integrated in a virtual learning environment. Most educational IT applications are hypermedia and these include tutorial software packages, knowledge webpages, simulation instructional games, and learning project management and others.

          The presentation of information- learning activities in hypermedia is said to be sequenced in a non-linear manner, meaning that the learner may follow his own path of activities thus providing an environment of learner autonomy and thinking skills.

          There are three important features that are outstanding that characterize the hypermedia software:

1.      Learner control - the learner makes his own decisions on the path, flow or events of instruction.

2.       Learner wide range of navigation routes - the learner controls the sequence and pace of his path depending on his ability and motivation.

3.       Variety of media - which includes more than one media but does not necessarily use all types of media in one presentation.

Lesson 14: The Software as an Educational Resource

The computer hardware can hardly be useful without the program or system that tells what the computer machine should do. This is also called the software. There are two kinds of software: the systems software, which is the operating software that is found or bundled inside all computer machines; and applications software, which contains the system that commands a particular task or solves a particular problem. In turn, the applications software may be; a custom software that is made for specific tasks often by large corporations, or a commercial software packaged for personal computers that helps with a variety of tasks such as writing papers, calculating numbers, drawing graphs, playing games, and so much more.

          Microsoft Windows also referred to as a program,  is an operating environment between the user and the computer operating system. Actually, Windows is in itself a self-contained operating system which provides user convenience, a new look, information center, and plug and play configurations.

        Instructional software can be visited on the Internet or can be bought from software shops or dealers.  But beware since computer-based instructional materials need much improvement, while web-based educational resources are extremely good or what is complete garbage.

Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

Cooperative or collaborative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in a common learning task. It is often also called group learning but to be truly cooperative learning, five (5) elements are needed: a common goal, interdependence, interaction, individual accountability, and social skills. It encourages active learning while motivating students; increases academic performance; promotes literacy and language skills; and improves teacher effectiveness.

         The teacher is assigned several tasks in order to ensure collaborative learning. These are: assigning students to mixed-ability teams; establishing positive interdependence; teaching cooperative social skills; insuring individual accountability; and helping groups process information. It is also important for the teacher to limit learning group clusters  (six is the ideal number in a group) so that there can be closer involvement in thinking and learning.

Lesson 12: Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

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/her desk. This situation is necessitated by the need to maintain the classroom discipline and also it allow the teacher to control classroom activities through lecture presentation and teacher-led discussion.

THE SCL CLASSROOM

John Dewey has described traditional learning as a process in which the teacher pours information to student learners, much like pouring water from a jug into cups.

This learning is approach is generally known as direct instruction, and it has worked well for obtaining many kinds of learning outcomes.

THE NEW CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT

v  performing computer word processing for text or graph presentations

v  preparing power-point presentation

v  searching for information on the internet

v  brainstorming on ideas, problems and project plans as needed, the teacher facilitating instruction, also gives individualized instruction to serve individual needs.

Lesson 11: The Computer as the Teacher's Tool

Informative Tool. The computer can provide vast amounts of information in various forms such as text, graphics, sound and video. The Internet itself provides an enormous database from which user an access global information resources as well as educational information directly useful to learners.

Communication Tool. Given the fact that the Internet can serve as a channel for global communication, the computer can very well be the key tool for video teleconferencing sessions.

Constructive Tool. The computer can be used for manipulating information, visualizing one's understanding and building new knowledge. The Microsoft Word is an example wherein it allow users to organize and present their ideas in attractive formats.

Co-constructive Tool. Students can use co-constructive tools to work cooperatively and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge.

Situating Tool. By means of virtual reality extension systems, the computer can create 3-D images on display to give the user the feeling that are situated in a virtual environment. A flight simulation program is an example which places the user in a simulated flying environment