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 :-)

Lesson 1 : A Review of Educational Technology 1

Content:

This topic reviews the concepts and roles of the course Educational Technology 1. We have learned that ET-1 course really had prepared the way for the learners’ awareness, appreciation and armored them to properly integrate technology in the classroom situation.

Here's a short video showing what really is educational technology:)

Educational Technology 1 tackles the things about the roles of technology in the educational milieu. We have learned the two sides of educational technology, its boon and bane, which are true and evident to the young people of the generation today. The role of ET plays essential in schools since it serves as delivery vehicles for instructional lessons and partners in the teaching-learning process. The course also tackles about the systematic approach to teaching in which the student is the center of the instructional planning. The cone of experience which is a visual and pictorial device that represents bands of experience arranged according to the degree of abstraction. From the bottom of the cone upward is the direct purposeful experiences, contrived experiences, dramatized experiences demonstrations, study trips, exhibits, educational television, motion pictures, recordings/radio/still pictures, visual symbols and verbal symbols respectively. As a whole, Educational Technology 1 teaches us on how to apply technology in the classroom to impact skills in planning, designing, using and evaluating the technology-enriched teaching-learning process. 

Experience:

As a student who had took up the course, I had lots of experiences that taught me on how to be more literate in using computer-related works and things like that. I had experienced to make an impressive power point presentation by exploring the Microsoft Powerpoint application and make a presentation that is beyond my ability. The experience taught me not to settle for less and I realized that there is really more we can do on simple things. We just have to appreciate it. Part also of my experience is to make a movie poster which I thought a hard task to do. It boasted my confidence knowing that I can also do what others can. To work also on computer applications in the internet such as in the sites edmodo.com, toondo.com and rubistar.com, really gave me enjoyment and adds up more knowledge for me to become equipped when I will become a professional teacher someday. Rubistar would be a very big help for a teacher when making a rubric for a classroom activities and student tasks. Also, editing and making a movie really had improved my creativity when it comes to media/movie presentation. The film viewing activity really gave us so much pleasure in the sense that we knew that the output came from our efforts and many students have witnessed it. My experience in E-T 1 really was incomparable.                     

Reflection:

As I reflected upon this topic, I thought of things that might happen in the future. As a future educator, integrating technology in instruction delivery is important especially that the learners that I will be facing belong to a high technology generation. Teachers should really cope-up with what their learners know and prepare themselves to be knowledgeable enough to be effective in their field.                     

Application:

For me, educational technology contributed a lot to my skills as a future teacher. Educational technology can be applied in many ways. It could be for money-making as an individual since being a computer literate and having knowledge on internet applications is a great edge for an individual striving to live nowadays. Recently, there are lots of internet-based job openings are now offered online. Being knowledgeable about technology will be of great help especially to students since it could be a wide source of knowledge and information. And most importantly, in the classroom setting, the integration and use of technology will provide greater possibilities for learning especially to the technology-oriented learners of the 21^st century.

Lesson 2: An Overview: Educational Technology 2

Content:

This topic gives an overview of the course Educational Technology 2. The course concerns with “Integrating Technology into Teaching and Learning”. This would help students to learn more on how to use technology in classroom phenomena and make them become exemplary users of educational technology.                  
The course Educational Technology 2 aims to focus on introducing, reinforcing, supplementing and extending the knowledge and skills of the learners on how to properly integrate technology in education. This is intended for student teachers and professional teachers to have them updated on the evolving technology nowadays and eventually help them compromise it to their teaching profession. This includes improving their knowledge on the computer programmed learning materials. The course promotes and primarily directed on the integration of technology in the teaching-and-learning process. It aims to provide education in the use of technology in instruction, to impact learning experiences in instructional technology-supported instructional planning, to acquaint students in Information Technology, to learn to use and evaluate computer-based educational resources, to engage learners on practical technology integration issues, and to inculcate higher-level thinking and creativity among students while providing them knowledge of IT-related learning theories.   

Here's a video showing how to integrate technology in education:)

                  
Experience:

As a student, teachers nowadays are really oriented with this kind of generation as evident in their teaching strategies. I have noticed these things, especially in college. As Education students, we are taught on how to integrate technology to the teaching-learning process so as to make learning more meaningful. I also had experienced having a demo teaching with technology-integrated approach and materials used. It is very effective.            

Reflection:

As a future teacher, this course will be of great help since it will infuse technology in learning and as a soon to be a student-teacher, it will help me adapt to the rapid changes in technology. It will mainly equip me to becoming a globally competitive professional as well. Technology in a wide sense provides learning to anyone, at home or at school. In our communities today, technology, especially the social media is widely accessible. Those social media may help promote learning and great resources for learning. However, technology like internet may bring negative impacts to people especially children. This is why, as educators we are responsible in educating those children about these matters to have productive citizens. Equipping ourselves with the proper integration to learning will help us become more productive and effective teachers.                   

Application:

This topic is very applicable especially when engaging to the real world of teaching. I believe that technology integration to teaching will make learning meaningful and experiential. Being technology oriented and knowledgeable, our skills will be applied sooner in teaching strategies that will be used in the classroom activities.

Teachers must also study how the 21st century learners. This is a video about the 21st century education:)