Lesson 18: Tablets for Textbooks in Schools

Content

             In general, tablets as a primary learning tool can be replacing the textbooks. Tablets are conducive to higher thinking, constructive and participative teaching-and-learning. By that, parents gave full support to the IT advancement. Technology itself may be a key to problem resolution and Filipino ingenuity is called to respond to the challenge facing the digital generation of the millennium. Today, books are still the primary medium of instruction in most schools. Already, 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.

Experience

            For me, yes it can be replace the textbooks to tablets because during my high school years, carrying heavy books in the school is burdensome for me. Thanks to IT because it developed software which entail for us to be trained by the teachers in preparing interactive discussion. Tablets for school may be difficult but the books have more durability compared with electronic gadgets due to handling, energy charging, and heat and most lastly, technology is being viewed as our savior.

Reflection

Developing software using the Tablet will entail the participation of teachers who will have to be trained in preparing interactive, graphically-rich and effective learning modules. And for multimedia encyclopedia and electronics books students can access any desired information, search its vast content and even download or print relevant portion of the data. Electronic books provides the students useful learning of reading, spelling and word skills.

Application

            Using tablets in school will be easier and more convenient. But as future teacher, I think it is better not to fully replace textbooks with tablets but instead supplement or just add it in instruction. 

Lesson 17: Educational Technology 2 Practicum

Content

            Ed.Tech 2 aims to provide new teachers to use the new trend of technology in the teaching learning process of students. Educational technology 2 promises to bring the student teacher and the professional teacher trainee to the challenge of a new age-integrating technology in teaching-learning process. It is said to be the preparation for the future teachers to counteract with the challenges in teaching in this new generation. Beginning form Lesson 1 up to the end lesson we have learned that everything needs to be applied. Through practice everything would be perfect. And by knowing the basics you can then be able to understand on how to enter in a more complex program that can be more efficient in the educational system. The practicum phase consists of hands-on computer tutorial which the students teacher or professional teacher-trainee will need to make him or her capable.

Experience

            In Ed-Tech 1 and 2, I have experienced and learn how to properly use age-integrating technology in teaching-learning process. We had been taught about the software and programs that can be used as tools and supplement in the classroom instruction. Also, in Edtech I have learned a lot of things that equipped me to construct a lesson plan that involves students with their full potential and interests.

Reflection

            Being an educator is not an easy task since your student depends on your knowledge about a certain topic. Educators are the producers of knowledge while learners are the consumers of that knowledge to achieve a necessary learning outcome. Nowadays, we observed that most learners are eager and curious about learning something and because we are now in these modern times, we must have to link students to technological advancement. Educators are the authorized person to make an innovation to learners and that is to start the modern methods of teaching with the technology as an equipment to acquire knowledge. Thus, teachers should go with the modern and let go of the traditional method.

Application

            With all the things I have learned in this course, I will apply it in the future as a teacher. To integrate technology in the teaching-learning process will be the focal responsibility of being a teacher. With the use of educational technologies, teaching-learning process will be easier, more interactive and focused to students’ progress.

Lesson 16: The Internet and Education

Content

                Internet also called net. Net is the largest and far-flung network system of all system. Internet is not really a network a network but loosely organized collection of about 25,000 networks accessed by computers on the planet. No one’s own the internet; there are no central headquarters, no centrally offered services, and no comprehensive online index. However this is done through a standardized protocol called transmission control protocol/internet protocol. The most attractive way to move around the internet is called browsing or a program called Brower that uses mouse to point and click on screen icons to surf in the internet. Therefore, the use of internet has been all around the world and it has educational use as via email such as pen pals in US that indicates studies and question of a certain country. Internet gives connection to the world outside and advantages to access information. The internet has become its partner in the ever changing learning process.  Students can interact with students in foreign countries; they can share information, learn and grow with each other.  They can search any topic and subject they want to research.  The globe becomes smaller and its inhabitants become closer and relations between countries are improved and strengthened.is

Experience

            It is always been an everyday experience for me to use the Internet especially for educational purposes. When given projects and assignments, I often surf the net to gather information. Browsing the internet has been a fulfilling experience because you can do lots of things such as gathering information, seek tutorials, communicate with friends, family and relatives, etc. But, in gathering information from the internet also needs careful and thorough reading because there are sources that are not reliable. I guess browsing the internet is not new to the learners today especially for the students of the new generation. Also I have experienced taking quizzes online and passing projects online at Edmodo.com.

Reflection

             Internet is used every day, it makes us connected to the world outside, even in education we use internet to access in different form of information that provides us the knowledge that answer our questions. The invention of the computer and the subsequent software programmed for its use has totally changed the whole concept of progress and communication.  Every part of the world can now be reached and contact with other persons where ever they are can be done through the internet. Missing relatives can even be found thru the internet by using different search and social sites. Then, it can also be a great influence in Education.

Application

            If learners today are internet-oriented people, then using it as a tool and resource in classroom instruction will be a great help for me to become an effective teacher in the future. It will also be beneficial to both teacher and students to use the internet to make and pass assignments and projects in an online class like Edmodo.com.

Lesson 15: Understanding Hypermedia

Content

            Hypermedia is nothing but multimedia, but this time packaged as educational computer software where information is presented and student activities are in a virtual learning environment. Most Educational IT application is hypermedia and these include: tutorial software packages, knowledge webpage’s, simulation instructional games, learning project management and others. Hypermedia is nothing but multimedia, but this was use as educational computers software wherein information is presented to the student and their activities are associated by virtual learning. There are characteristics of hypermedia applications namely: learner control which learner itself will make his/her own decision on the flow of instruction, learner wide range of navigation routes wherein the learner has an option to repeat and change speed as he/she desired, variety of media that includes more than one media. However, capabilities of hypermedia do not replace life’s experiences and learning from nature of life.

            Hypermedia is decidedly a lot better than the traditional classroom learning especially in today’s age where computer is a major influence among the learners. It allows the learners to independently learn and determine his pace of learning. Unlike in the traditional learning where the student has to keep pace with his peers and has to see to it that he absorbs the lessons of the teacher, in hypermedia, the student has more leeway to learn at his own pace, thus making learning more personalized.

Experience

            In classrooms today, it is very evident that the use of hypermedia is rapidly growing. The classroom setting as what we can observe are already using of information-learning activities. It can also be observed that students are more attentive when hypermedia is integrated in the instruction.

Reflection

            Hypermedia is useful to the teachers because it gets the learners attention on listening. Similarly, it makes the learner recall the learning because it is virtual that provide learning feedback. The use of hypermedia in learning would really encourage the learners in learning and learner has control on such aspects, as sequence, pace, content, media, feedback, etc. that he/she may encounter in the hypermedia learning program.

Application

            Therefore, the use of hypermedia in the classroom is better in today’s generation. Also, as a future educator, my task is to be responsible for the learning of the students. I think teachers could help those slow and poor learners using the traditional teaching methods by not just relying on what is contain on the book, they should find other sources and used it in a creative way for the students to learn better like hypermedia.

Lesson 14: The Software as an Educational Resource

Content

            This topic talks about the use of modern information technology as a part of the learning process. The teacher must possess or has acquired the needed skills to evaluate the best hardware and software to install in the school.  What can easily be seen and appreciated is the computer itself, its design, memory capacity, video card, monitor/screen and other visible qualities.  However, what is more important is the software.  The choice of material or program to be installed as the main operating system which students can use as a source of information, and a tool for accomplishing assignments, group work or projects.  Terms such as windows, programs, graphics, download, internet and other pertinent technological words should be part of the teacher’s vocabulary and appreciation. What should be foremost however on the choice of software to use is that it should be current or updated and has a wide scope of educational resources for students to tap or use.

Experience

            In Educational Technology 2, Sir Alvin had grouped us and gave us tasks to look for different software that can be used in teaching and resources for the different subjects in the curriculum. I have realized then that even those games in our phones and computers that we use to play when we’re bored can be used in the instruction and which makes the teaching-learning process more interesting and enjoyable.

Reflection

Advancing technology has expanded students’ opportunities to interact with the world and learn vast amounts of knowledge. Students can Skype with people around the world. Technology will always be evolving and advancing. It will continue to make life easier for disabled students, make students more prepared for future jobs, and more intellectual about the world as a whole. Technology and the education system will always go hand in hand now that we live in technology influence world and society.  It will be up to our generation to make sure that these innovations in technology continue to evolve to fit the needs of people and to be used to make life better, especially for students.

Application

As a future educator, it is important that we minimize that modern software in instruction because evolving technology in schools could help disabled kids attend school with minimal aid, helps prepare students for using technology in the real world, and helps expand the students’ ability to obtain more knowledge about the world. Everything we use to operate inside the monitor is software and it is important to the user. However, both components are complement to one another.

Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

       

Content

         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; ensuring individual accountability; and helping group’s 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.

Experience

            I have experienced it for several times doing a task in group through the use of computers. On example is doing an internet paper by groups of (3) three. What we did is that, in order for us to come up with a complete and concise outcome, we divided the task and we research individually and then finally, we gathered all our researches and we formed our final output through encoding it. Another is making a movie in Ed.Tech 1, we had come up with a short movie for our class and made it cooperatively by editing our movie video as well as the movie poster in the computer.

Reflection

            Computer activities are not the end-all of learning since they have conformed to the lessons/curriculum. Integrating new task of the teacher who can find in the computer exercise is the new task of the teacher who can find in the traditional classroom practice of delivering information and supporting learning activities. Computers in school are used for communications and collaboration skills. That's why computer will become an integral component of the future classroom and not a meet machine that can deliver routine drills and exercises. 

Application

            As a future teacher with the students as their center of interest, it is better to use it in instruction because cooperative learning with interest enhances social development making the learner to be more creative expressing ideas of their own and relate to others. The learner becomes competitive and creates social constructivism wherein they share and learn more ideas.

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

Content

            This lesson differentiates a traditional classroom from a student-centered classroom. We shall also see how the teacher can expand his options to make himself more effective and relevant in the 21^st millennium information age. This lesson would also answer the questions on student-centered learning approach and examines the designs of student-learning activities to be applied in the classroom. Traditional learning was described by John Dewey and he defined it as a process in which the teacher pours information to student learners, much like pouring water from a jug into cups. This is based on the long accepted belief that the teacher must perform his role of teaching so that learning can occur. While a classroom that is a student-centered students that are performing computer word processing for text or graph presentations. Students also know how to prepare a PowerPoint Presentation. Also knows how to search for information on the Internet. Most of all, they tend to brainstorm an ideas, problems and project plans as needed, the teacher facilitating instruction, also gives individualized instruction to serve individual needs.

Experience

            There is really a difference between the traditional and student-centered classrooms today. I have realized the innovation in terms of instruction delivery. In the earlier times of my school days, the use of information technology was not yet evident and if there are, its rare. But today, delivering the lesson is done by students through reporting and the materials used are different from the traditional since reports are already beyond-book information that is from the internet and delivery is through PowerPoint presentation. I guess it is already conventional for students to deliver their reports nowadays through Powerpoint.

Reflection

            It is better to use student-centered approach in teaching for it will encourage students to be more active and participative in class. It is better that teachers see to it that students are fully involve in the activities for evident learning to take place. Output of students will also help the teachers to determine the learning of the learners and for tangible learning output.

Application

            As a future teacher, I will choose to use student-centered and outcomes-based approach in delivering my lessons because I know that with that, students are fully involve and learning well not just to sit on their chairs and listen. It would absolutely bore them. So, a classroom should be student-centered.

Lesson 11: The Computer as the Teacher’s Tool

Content

            In this lesson, we shall again look at the computer, but this time from another perspective in which the computer as a teacher’s handy tool. It can in fact support constructivist and social constructivist paradigms of constructivist learning. Constructivist was introduced by Piaget (1991) and Bruner (1990). They give stress to knowledge discovery of new meaning/concepts/principles in the learning process.

Constructivist was introduced by Piaget (1981) and Bruner (1990). They gave stress to knowledge discovery of new meaning/concepts/principles in the learning process. Various strategies have been suggested to foster knowledge discovery, among these, is making students engaged in gathering unorganized information from which they can induce ideas and principles. Students are also asked to apply discovered knowledge to new situations, a process for making their knowledge applicable to real life situations. While knowledge is constructed by the individual learner in constructivism, knowledge can also be socially constructed-Social constructivism-. This is an effort to show that the construction of knowledge is governed by social, historical and cultural contexts. In effect, this is to say that the learner who interprets knowledge has a predetermined point of view according to the social perspectives of the community or society he lives in.

Experience

            As we can see, most of our teachers today use computers in their discussion and as a tool to project the lesson visually. Also, as an education student, especially during demo-teachings and reports I had experienced it to use computers as a tool and I can see its effectiveness to the listeners since learners today are visual learners.

Reflection

            With this present day’s innovation, flexibility and sophistication, the computer can be an important tool for teacher’s to access information, foster creative social knowledge building and use these in their profession. Without the computer, today’s learners may still be assuming the tedious task of low-level information gathering, building and new knew knowledge packaging. Since students nowadays are computer-oriented, so we should integrate this in learning to see how the learners participate in the activities. Also, to catch up easily the interests of the learners, then I guess using computer as a tool will be effective as a teacher’s tool in teaching.

Application

            As a future teacher, I will use computer as a tool in teaching so that I could easily catch students interests and eventually to enhance their critical thinking skills with the use of innovative technologies and ideas. Teachers might need an advance equipment to help them facilitate and provide information for the student. It can also promote some strategies were teachers can use it to think the appropriate technique for the learners.

Chapter 10: The Computer as a Tutor

Content

            Computer has been a great invention of today’s generation. It provides us all possible information that we need for everyday need. It has also been an effective way to interactive communication and very helpful in terms of education. It helps the teacher enhance the learning process by making creative presentation and advance information. Computers can be used as tutor for learners in a sense that it helps teachers to aid the problems and needs of the students when it comes to the difficulties in learning. However, it definitely cannot replace the role of the teacher since teachers’ role is to facilitate and deliver the instruction and he /she also is the controller of the learning environment. But teacher could use the CAI to integrate the lessons by giving the students a drill and activity to practice their basic skill and knowledge. Simulation program could also help, teacher use it a strategy to apply the lesson in real life situation. Another is the instructional games, problem solving software, multimedia encyclopedia electronic books.

Experience

            During our IT class in high school, computer had become a tutor for us to develop our “typing skills”. We had used the program such as “Typing Master” in order for us to learn how to type faster using the keyboard. In addition, when we had our Photo Editing in EdTech-1, I had trouble on how to edit a movie poster because I have not tried it before. So I tried to search for a Photoshop Tutorial in YouTube and I just followed it that is why I somehow learned to edit photo using Photoshop. In situations like that, computer has become a tutor for me.

Reflection

            Computer helps the teacher to provide learning for the students. It could be a tutor when the teacher wants to impose discovery or constructivist approach. It also provides or develops higher thinking skills in which it helps the student to generate their discussion making. Students are not always at school, so in outside-school contexts, students could still access learning and seek for help with the use of computers. So, as a future teacher I realized that I should be fully equipped with the modern technologies so that I can integrate technology in instruction properly.

Application

            As a future educator, I should integrate technology specifically the computer during instruction and access it for broader information but of course I shall also see to it that my role as a teacher, a facilitator in learning will not be compromised in a sense that technology is only a tool and supplement in teaching and learning, not a substitute.

Lesson 9: Computers as Information and Communication Technology

Content

This topic talks about the computers as information and communication technology. The role of the computer in education was well-discussed. It was pointed out that the advent of the computer is recognized as the third revolution in education. Through computer technology, educators saw the amplification of learning along computer literacy. Soon computer-assisted instruction or (CAI) was introduced using the principle of the individualized learning. The innovation in today’s information age is so dynamic that within the first decade of the 21st century computer technology in education has matured to transform into an educative and communication technology (ICT) in education. Instructional media consist of audio-visual aids that served to enhance and enrich the teaching-learning process. Examples are the photo, blackboard, film and video. Educational communication media on the other hand, comprise the media of communication including print, film, radio and television.

Experience

            It is very evident that teachers nowadays are using technology, in instruction and in communication. Ever since technology had entered the school milieu, experiences in its integration to instruction are experienced by most students (including me). The use of technology in our times is innovating especially in terms of instructional and communication media in education.

Reflection

            Using ICT has become basic part of our society today. The computer, the Internet, and the social media had become a huge part in different aspects: economy, industry and education. In the field of education, ICT is evident in the sense that information are important elements in teaching. As future teachers, we share and give information to our students during instruction. To be able to share information, we need an effective communication through the use of ICT and communicate even outside the classroom.

Application

             Technology in education can effectively be applied with the knowledge of the teacher. Since it is proven that the use of personal computer is useful in the learning process, then it can be implied by teachers through the activities during instruction. Students can easily access information using the internet without spending much time to the library. Even if students are not in school, they can still continue learning and study using their personal computers. In this situation, teachers can better enhance students’ learning skills through independent learning.

Lesson 8: Higher Thinking Skills through IT-Based Projects

Content

            There are Four types of IT-based Projects can effectively be used in order to engage students in activities of a higher plane of thinking.

1. Resource-based Projects – in these projects. The teacher steps out of the traditional role of being a content expert and information provider and instead let the students do the work in gathering the information. Teacher facilitates and only steps in to supply data or information. Sources are varied, it focuses on learning inquiry/quest or discovery, gives emphasis to process and resource-based project is both quantitative and qualitative.

2. Simple Creation- this focused on the creativity of the students. Creativity involves three kinds of skills/abilities: analyzing, synthesizing and promoting. In order to develop creativity, there are five key tasks. First, define the task, second brainstorm, third judge the idea, fourth act and then last is adopting flexibility. Students can also be assigned to create their software materials such as Creative Writer (Microsoft) on writing, Kidwork Deluxe on drawing and painting, and Media Wave on multimedia.

3.Guided Hypermedia Projects- the production of self-made multimedia projects can be approached in two different ways: instructive tool such as in the production by students of a powerpoint presentation of a selected topic and communication tool such as when students do a multimedia presentation.

4. Web-based projects- students can be made to create and post web pages on a given topic.

Experience

            In Educational Technology 1, these types of projects are applied to us. The instructor let us do tasks which developed our individual skills. It developed our creativity also especially in the making of web-based power point, editing of video through Power Director, editing of images using Photoshop, etc.

Reflection

            The development of students’ creative and thinking skills depends a lot on how teacher utilize the use of technology to help students trigger their interests. The big challenge also is facing those teachers in far-flung areas to introduce learners to this innovation. In this case, teachers must be resourceful through the use of available resources, the community and outside the classroom to help students even more productive. With this approach, teachers will inculcate abilities of learners to be flexible in whatever field they will choose in the future.

Application

            Using technology in teaching does not mean teachers relax because they rely on the technology, instead teachers must wisely use technology for better learning of students. As future educators, it is a big challenge for us to be flexible and creative ourselves in using technology so as to show students the outcomes that they too should look us as models.

Lesson 7: Evaluation of Technology Learning

Content

            A new challenge has arisen for today’s learners and this is not simply to achieve learning objectives but to encourage the development of students, who can do more than receive, recall, recite and apply the knowledge they have acquired. Today, students are expected to be not only cognitive, but also flexible, analytical and creative. In this lesson, there are methods proposed for the use of computer-based technologies as an integral support to higher thinking skills and creativity. The standard student evaluation of learning must change. This is justified by the fact that not only has the new generation changed into digital learners, but the traditional world has metamorphosed into a digital world. Teachers must adopt a new mindset both for instruction and evaluation. Evaluation must be geared to assessment of essential knowledge and skills so that learners can function effectively, productively and creatively in a new world. It must use evaluative tools that measure the new basic skills of the 21^st century digital culture, namely: solution fluency, information fluency, collaboration fluency, media fluency, creativity fluency and digital citizenship. These six fluencies reflect process skills. On the other hand, the change in evaluation approach is referred to as mass amateurization, a term which implies a mass of student output.

Experience

            Back in high school, our teacher applied this new form of evaluation which uses computer-based technologies as an integral support to higher thinking skills and creativity. She would always give us electronic exams and make us do a computer-based project. I realized that those things really help me a lot in the field I studied today since it gives me the full awareness on how to apply technology in the evaluation for the digital learners. Also, in educational technology I have experienced technology-based evaluation such as electronic exams, and application through the use of IT-based projects like in Edmodo, Toondo and Rubistar.

Reflection

             As future teachers, we must employ an evaluation that is appropriate for the digital learners. With the integration of technology in evaluation, it should enhance and develop our students’ flexibility, analytical and creative thinking. In the teaching-learning process, teachers must facilitate and evaluate students with the use of technology learning. Computer-based technologies must be an integral support to higher learning process. We must use technology not only for leisure but for learning. Nowadays, it is very evident in the educational milieu that the use of technology is applied. Teachers compute grades using computer conveniently, power point presentations are used in the instruction and above all, the use of technology-based evaluation to assess students’ outcome of learning.

Application

            As a teacher equipped with the learning about technology-based evaluation, I should apply it to my future students. It will be applied through giving students computer-based assignment and projects, letting them use power point presentations in their reports, and even give them electronic exams to test their learning. The use of technology in evaluating students’ learning will not just test how far they have learned, but also enhances their analytical, flexibility and creativity because it is on their interest to use the technology so it is very easy to integrate it in the instruction.

Lesson 6: Developing Basic Digital Skills

Content

                This topic tackles about developing basic digital skills with the integration of technology in education. Educators must adjust their teaching to effectively bridge the gap of the new digital world of information and communication. They must be knowledgeable on what basic knowledge and values need to develop by digital learners. These basic literacies will not replace the 3 R’S but they will be complemented by six essential skills to equip students. The following are the basic digital skills:

·         Solution fluency – refer to capacity and creativity in problem solving.

·         Information fluency –involves 3 subset skills which is ability to access, retrieve and reflect information.

·         Collaboration fluency – refers to teamwork with virtual or real partners in online environment.

·         Media fluency – refers to channel of mass communication.

·         Creativity fluency - which is artistic proficiency, adds meaning by way of design, art and storytelling to package a message.

·         Digital ethics – is guided by principles of leadership, global responsibility, environmental awareness, global citizenship and personal accountability.

This topic also taps about the higher thinking skill and its significance upon entering the new world of information and communication technology. By developing higher thinking skills, students will be inculcated with the digital fluencies while overcoming limitations in the high-tech world. This implies that teacher move from the center stage and allows students to do hand-on and actually make the classroom a student-centered classroom.

Experience

            Not all teachers in the past years of my study had used the integration of technology in developing the skills of the students. Based on my own experience, integrating technology in developing the basic digital skills will really help students ponder the learning.

Reflection

            As we develop basic skills, it would allow us to properly apply different uses of computer and integrate this to the teaching process. Definitely, the six fluency skills (solution, information, collaboration, media, creativity and digital ethics) are vital to digital learners of today’s era. There is a need for them to acquire and equip these skills in order to adjust and face the overwhelming challenges brought by modern technology specifically in learning processes. On the contrary, teachers must adjust their teaching to effectively match the new digital world of information and communication technology (ICT). They should be flexible and creative in searching new ways to efficiently utilize and develop the basic digital skills which students truly need. Moreover, the new era opens the way for complex and higher cognitive skills. Therefore, Bloom's Taxonomy of Thinking Skills must be developed.

Application

            We, as digital learners, should not only acquire those digital skills but also we should aim to go beyond with those skills to be more effective and influence to others especially our future students. As future educators, we must know how to develop these skills to achieve the efficient and effective teaching-learning process. With my knowledge about these things, as a future teacher, I shall be responsible in inculcating these digital skills to the new millennium learners. 

Lesson 5: Preferences of the Technology Generation

Content

            This topic taps on the preferences of the new generation students in terms of their styles in life, work and leisure. It also talks about the things that older generation’s preferences that are now obsolete and may not be applicable to the generation today.

            In the field of education there is a noticeable gap in perceptions and critical differences between the older and younger generation. Between single and multi-track activity patterns, new generation prefers the multi-track activities because they were exposed to quick flicking video games, mobile phone texting, surfing the web and downloading text/music/videos adapting to task-switching speed. Between texts versus visuals, they choose visuals. They also prefer hyper media over linear because they follow personal random access to hyperlinked digital information. They prefer social learning and group activities than independent learning. They learn to do than learning to past the test therefore they are more on hands-on activities to learn. New generation also wants instant gratification and rewards and do not want delayed ones since they are exposed to scores from games, enjoyable conversations, emails and chatting through Facebook. Therefore, the new generation wants fun learning and rejecting rote memorization.

Experience

            These are like what I had experienced when I was in elementary to high school, we are given group activities to lessen the boredom of the students. However, in elementary, we lack technology facilities that I had really faced a big difference when I reached high school. I was not able to use a computer before that is why when we had our computer hands-on test in 1^st year, I was terrified and shock that I almost cried. I really feel the gap between the preferences of my classmates and me. I feel demotivated and helpless that I was so different from them. However, as time passed by, I really tried my best to cope up with them and fortunately, I made it.

Reflection

            As a future educator, I can reflect with this topic especially that I will soon to be exposed in the field. There is really a need to bridge the gap between new and old generation through targeting the learners’ need. Since new generation learners are fun of using the modern technology, teachers should also learn their world and take technology an opportunity for meaningful learning and not to separate them with instruction.

Application 

            Knowing the preferences of the students is really essential in order to bridge the gap and to ease the difficulties that might occur during the learning process. In application, educating also the new generation about the life before them will help bridge the gap between them. Helping and understanding each other’s’ differences and preferences is of great help in the society today especially in the educational milieu. So, modern teaching strategies which will touch the interests of the learners need to be used in the classroom instruction. The uses of multimedia and hyperlinked projects are just examples in order to reach the learners. 

Lesson 4: Bridging the Generation Gap

Before anything else, I would like to share this video :)

Content          

             This topic talks about the generation gap between the learners before and the learners of this technology generation, the gap between the teachers who educate and the internet age students. It also tackles about how to bridge this gap in order to make learning a harmonious experience for both the teacher and the learners.

            The gap between the older generation and the generation today is evident in how they dress, socialize, and see things in their own ways. These gaps cannot be resolve unless some changes are adopted in a proper way and time. In some cases, there are schools that do not have computer/technology facilities that they might be left behind. It is understandable for this situation for the transition to take time. However, to produce globally competitive citizens, there is a need to prepare for bridging the digital gap in the society. Therefore, we need to understand what this ICT will bring us. First, the new network of instantaneous communication is global, overcoming borders between countries and continents. Second, much of what elders believe may not be applicable anymore to the new generation, especially along matters of traditional value systems. And third, Alvin  Tofflers book, Future Shock shows how the information age has begun to create many cultural changes in the units of the community. So, to bridge the gap, technology supported skills and technology-equipped teachers are needed to be in schools today.

Experience

                When I was in high school, when Internet is widely spreading, most of our teachers are often attending seminars and conferences about new high technologies for them to cope-up with the new generation. They said it is not just for them but for the students to be motivated in attending to school. The school also hired information technology teachers and ordered more technology facilities. When a student reaches second year, they let us pick what major we wanted to study, like information technology, cosmetics, automotive, electrical, programming, agriculture, food processing, drafting, computer animations, etc. and those are all technology-oriented.

Reflection

            This must be reflected with teachers and those who plan to take Education. The new generation is different as we are and this might create a gap that might affect harmonious learning. The students might know a lot better than you, so take responsibility. These things must be reflected upon for there are schools in the far-flung areas that also lack facilities.

Application                 

               As future teachers, our learning and skills can be applied in those places. The environment today can be a learning resource of students itself. We have to take actions if we do not want children to be bored at school and opt to learn at home.

Lesson 3: Understanding Technology Learners

Content         

This topic deals with understanding the 21^st millennium learners and the concerns that these students bring to school. It seems like teachers today do not understand these concerns that they blame the internet.

The learners in this information technology age seem to be smarter. Their orientation and kind of environment revolve in sophisticated kinds of high-level technology. Their span of listening ability are getting shorter and only become alive again when video presentations are flashed and during computer classes. Those concerns are meant to be understood by teachers since the kind of environment they have are different than that of the older years. The 21^st millennium learners are digital learners. It is observed that the new learners have much time chatting with friend on phone, texting, and surfing the web than on reading books.  According to the scientists, there are positive benefits derived from the use of information technology or digital resources and these counterbalance possible negative effects of technology on children. Daily exposure to high technology-personal computers, video game gadgets, cell phones, Internet search sites-stimulates the brain by strengthening and creating neural circuits. Also, they say that a current technological revolution, faster and better than ever before. Since these learners are information technology age learners, their preparatory stage are already occupied with computer-aided instruction so as their kind of development stages are of different kind. So, these must be understood by teachers.

Experiences     

           I had lots of experiences having traditional teachers who made lectures all the time. There was this Araling Panlipunan teacher who merely talked while sitting in front like the whole period without noticing her student getting bored. If we think of it, since she was old like around 50, she might not have understood the environment of her students. In this case, learning might not take place. Teachers must really be oriented with technology.

Reflection

If the kinds of learners are like these, information-technology oriented, then, it is really essential for teachers to use technology in delivering the instruction to make learning meaningful and effective. If they prefer reading the net, then let us bring the book to them using the internet. It is therefore, important that teachers of this generation must have seminars and conferences about understanding the 21^st millennium learners and the kind of environment they are moving. As a future teacher, I realized that importance of attending seminars like that to cope up with the continuous technology evolving world.

Application

This lesson can be applied especially for the teachers of this generation in integrating technology to teaching. If these concerns of the students are understood, then proper and appropriate teaching strategies will be employed in the classroom. 

Now that we've understood the technology learners. are we ready to become a technology teacher? Watch this short video :)

The History of Technology and the ICT

Content:

This topic is all about the origin of technology and the Information Communication Technology. This section takes a look at how ICT and technology had advanced thoughout history. 

The picture below shows the development of computers:

 ICT is now highly used in the field of education. through ICT, images can easily be used in teaching and improving the retentive memory of students, teachers can easily teach the lesson and enhance syudents' comprehension and teachers are able to make the discussion creative so the students may enjoy the learning that could improve students attendance and concentration. ICT in education means "teaching and learning with ICT. Educational ICT tools can be divided into 3 categories: Input source, Output source and others.

Experience:

As I had experienced to be trained using new technologies especially with the use of computer, I could really say that ICT really make a big impact to the learners. The sense of socialization, confidence and competence will really be developed when one knows he/she had coped-up to what others can already do. Experience is the best teacher; teachers must let the students to experience ICT. Just like in the previous courses/subjects including high school, I had experienced to use and learn computer and internet, explore the different software online and learned to socialize in the world of ICT. The learning are of great help for me to become equipped and communicative.

Reflection:

As a reflection on this topic, we know that through the evolving high technology today, there is a big possibility that teachers may be of no importance to the young learners since they can already easily acquire knowledge on their own through the new technology. However, teachers must instill to the minds of the learners and show to them that those things are just supplement for learning. Teachers are the best instructional tool in the classroom since there is no such thing that can replace the role of teachers in facilitating learning.

Application:

Worldwide research has shown that ICT can lead to improved student learning and better teaching methods. As a future teacher, this lesson can be applied in the field through the implementation of new teaching strategies integrating those new technologies today. Since the main target of the teacher is the students’ interests in order for them to learn, and ICT is the trend for today’s generation, then it should be integrated with the instruction today. 

High technology may continue to grow, but it must be kept in mind that in learning, there is no such thing that can replace the role of a teacher. Watch this video :-)