Lesson 18: Tablets for Textbooks in Schools

       With advent of Tablets, reading, and learning as a whole have become less cumbersome. If books makes someone’s back ache, tablets are now here to take that burden away. Today, books however are still the number one medium of instruction in schools. Books are more durable than tablets but many educators now prefer the use of tablet in the teaching and learning process. Aside from the fact that it is less bulky, it offers a wide and faster way in accessing information because it cannot only contain books but also access the net. A book has its advantages, a tablet also has its pros – either of this two may prevail today but we cannot deny the fact that we are towards the digital realm where digital things are inevitable. With the present condition of the Philippines, it is still difficult for the government to provide all students tablets. For now, school administration, teachers, and parents must agree upon the notion of using tablets in school since tablets for now are very expensive, if there is a want to use tablets in the school.

      The future with tablets use as replacement for books is good since it has many advantages like many books can be put inside the tablet and there is faster access to information since tablets can connect to the net. Based on experience, a tablet can really be a good aid in learning. A tablet being small, can be put inside my bag and carry it anywhere, which means to say then that I can study anywhere. However, it is not as durable as a book. My tablet no longer functions, I don’t know for what reason perhaps because it fell down – books are still books even when they fall down. I didn’t use my tablet in studying, it makes my eyes teary and afterwards my head to ache. Although, less bulky, tablets can cause harm. I have heard so many stories of students being victims of snatchers. Tablets compared to books are expensive, so, for now, I still go for books. I would like to make it clear however that I am not against the tablets for textbook in schools.

      The two – book and tablet – have their advantages and disadvantages, however, in this present situation, since our government cannot afford to give everyone this yet (although tablets are less expensive than PCs), we have to use the books that we have (no wonder, books still remain to be the number one instructional material in the Philippines). Books are no less different than those book that has become an EBook in tablets. If one can afford to buy a tablet now, then that’s good but schools should not make it necessary to have this in school if the majority cannot afford it. The use of tablets instead of books is still a choice, not mandatory, hence a teacher can still teach using a book, and it has not yet become useless.

Lesson 16: The Internet and Education

        The Internet, shortly termed “net” has become an important part of education as a whole (from administrative to actual teaching and learning process). The Internet is a network system of many systems. It is not a network, rather, a collection of networks across the globe from which computers access. It does not have an owner, no central office and it does not tell users information of what is available in the system – the user searches it. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is a set of standardized rules for exchange of data. To access to the Internet, a computer must have a server which has software that uses Internet protocol. Internet is used not only in education but almost in all industries and fields. Vast amount of information can be accessed in the Internet, both old and up-to-date information. Browsing is the way of going through the net through a program called browser. The number of Internet users are growing every day. Every now then, people and companies requiring its services gets many by the minute.

    Along with Internet development is the rise of educational software materials. Both teachers and learners are now provided with vast choices of software to use. It is up to them how to make use of those effectively.

   If it were not because of the Internet, I would have not reached where I am right now. I must say, a big percentage of college students graduated college because of the internet. Since the Internet provides everything, I make use of it in the utmost way possible. Searching in the net provides immediate information about something but I don’t trust everything that results when I hit the search bar.

   The internet has revolutionized me from being spoon-fed learner to being an independent learner. I have learned through time that I can learn on my own, at my own pace, at my own time, by my own preference and interest. With the Internet, I get to communicate with distant friends and get to travel (not really travel, like transfer from place to another; travel in a sense) to different places by being able to see other places by researching it.

Lesson 15: Understanding Hypermedia

     Multimedia refers to the audiovisual packaged including one or more instructional media (text, graphics, audio animation and video clip). Hypermedia is a multimedia, only that it is packaged as an educational software where students could access information and perform activities. IT applications are usually hypermedia and may be in a form of tutorial software packages, knowledge webpages, or simulation games. 

     The presentation of information in a hypermedia is not chronological hence a student can have a full autonomy over his/her learning by deciding on which path to take first. An outstanding hypermedia has the following characteristics: learner control – the learner decides on his/her learning, which to take first or what to take; learner wide range of navigation routes – the learner can choose to speed up or slowdown in learning, skip those concepts already learned, or repeat other activities or lessons – all depending on the student; variety of media – a hypermedia uses more than one media but this does not mean it uses all, it only uses those that are necessary.

    Hypermedia is not necessarily chronological, although it can be chronological too, but it is up to the user which to tackle first. Encarta I say, (aside from the fact that it is a software) is a hypermedia (based on the definition of hypermedia). With Encarta, I get to decide what to read or learn first, not based on the arrangement of the lesson but on my preference. I decide which to explore first. I think the Internet too is hypermedia in nature since I decide on what I should learn not based on what it suggest but based on my interest. I get to access to text files or multimedia files as sooner as I can because they are just a click away, no need to go through a long chronological arrangement of information.

Lesson 14: The Software as an Educational Resource

   When people think of a computer, they think of that rectangular or square device that projects images or shows videos, or they think of a machine from which anything can be searched. A computer however is not a computer just because of its appearance but it is because of the programs and soft wares that run it. A computer would just be a useless thing if no program or software run it. There are two kinds of soft wares: system software – this is the operating system of the computer built in all computer machines, and applications software- a system that commands a particular task or solves a particular problem. An application software by the way can be: custom software – performs a specific task for a specific company or client, and commercial software – for personal computers performing specific task.

       Microsoft windows/Windows is the operating environment between the user and the computer operating system; this enables the computer to work. This provides user convenience - a file or a program is just a click away to run, a new look – fancy appearance of the computer (borders, streamlined text),information center – windows puts all communication activities and configures the computer for Internet, and plug and play  - configures computer for sound and video. An instructional software can be visited via Internet or purchased via dealers or software shops.

      Soft wares are not just big help in running the computer, also in learning. Some soft wares like Virtual DNA Fingerprinting (which I have used) enabled me to learn how to do DNA isolation and somehow learn and appreciate the work of a crime scene operatives. I also learn a lot from Encarta; its game and encyclopedic features teaches me a lot, sometimes I use this as a reference in my researches. Ginger also (a “concerned with grammar” software) helps check my grammar whenever I write compositions; in the process I learn about more about grammar and its dos and don’ts.  Games also make me strategic and sometimes make me think deeper – in the process I develop higher-level of thinking.

      It is up to the teacher the decision on what material to use in employing computer-based learning by considering its availability, tangibility, appropriateness and function and may even consider the reviews of the software. It is important for a teacher to be cautious in picking software to use since others contain virus or may be just be a scam. It is important for a teacher to consult first his/her objectives or lesson before picking up a certain software to use. He/she must see to it that the software he/she will use is user friendly. Of course in the process the teacher should be there to guide the students.

      As a future teacher, if I employ the use of certain soft wares in my lessons, I will make sure that I know how to use the software/s for me teach it well, also to answer queries if my students. I must make use of soft wares that are within my reach. I will consider the appropriateness or suitability of the software in my instruction. I will not use any just for the sake of being “digital” or “in,” in teaching, but will only use a software if the real thing or avenue is not available or if I want my students to practice before engaging in the real activity or drill in the classroom for them to  be more prepared.

Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

   

    Truly, the 1:1 ratio of computer and students is still an ideal to be achieved because even progressive countries are still in the running in achieving that. But this should not be taken so negatively since it has benefits. This situation offers the way for cooperative or collaborative learning to come in. Since students have to share computers, they also in one way or another get to learn together with other students and share their ideas.  

   Collaborative or cooperative learning is learning in groups to achieve a common goal. However, in order for a group work to be called cooperative, it must have the following: common goal – the group must have a unanimous target so that they can work together towards the achievement of that goal; interdependence – members of the group must depend on each other (but not totally be dependent like leave the task to others) in a manner that the job is shared and everyone has its job; interaction – everyone in the group must interact and participate in the work; individual accountability – each one must take responsibility and do his/her job in the group; and social skills – members of the group must not only be interactive but must also know how to establish and maintain good relationship with other members of the group. From the prerequisites above, it can be said then that not every group work is a cooperative one. A group of people may do the same thing in the same place but may have different targets.

  Cooperative learning also has its benefits. This type of learning is active and students in the process are motivated to learn. Since it encourages group work there is big chance that students will learn more since they can learn from their group mates and in the end there is an increase in the academic performance of the students. Above all, the teacher becomes more effective since he/she is also manifesting the other functions of a teacher being a facilitator of learning (since in this approach students learn together from their group mates and the teacher is no longer the sole source of information). Students develop socially and personally.

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

      The idea of a student-centered learning has already been realized by early educators. Since then, educators have already realized the need for an active and an instruction centered at students to cope with the fast changing world. Traditional learning is teacher centered, that means to say, the teacher is the sole source of information, the center of the teaching and learning process and students are just passive learners. With SCL, students are more involved in the process of their learning, hence, they are no longer passive but has become active learners. A student-centered learning makes students more critical and creative thinkers.

       Since our world is changing, information technology also has been incorporated in the SCL approach in teaching. In the process, students are not active in learning but teachers job has been made easier because computers aid them in their instruction and somehow do their job (but not to the point of totally replacing them).

   Student-centered learning plus information technology makes the teaching and learning more productive. There is total shifting from the traditional learning to the new one. Information technology offers so many ways from which the teacher can make his/her lesson more updated in content and updated in methods. Learners can access to any information through the Internet.

  

    I could really say that SCL is more evident to me in College than in high school and elementary. During my high school and elementary years, my teachers’ approach is usually centered on them, not us, learners. Their approach shifts to “SCL” when they give group activities or they let us report. In college, teaching styles are different. With SCL I get to construct my own meanings and concepts of lesson. I get to learn in an active way because I am involve in the process of my own learning. I am not totally dependent on what my teacher says but I search on my won or I do the job to figure own. I have become inquisitive and more eager to learn.

    SCL is not only centered on me, it also makes me consult the net for my learning. Hence, information technology gets involve in my learning.

Lesson 11: The Computer as the Teacher’s Tool

 Constructivism as an approach allows students to construct their own concepts and meaning about anything. Constructing can be done socially, so the term social constructivism emerged.

  Constructivism as an approach is employed when a teacher makes use of computer as a tool in teaching.

    It is now easier for teachers to provide avenues in which higher-level of thinking can be achieve by students since computers now can have problem-solving and simulation programs installed in it. Specifically, a computer can be used by the teacher:

 ·         as an informative tool – A computer can provide vast amounts of information in any form (text, graphics, sound or video). With the Internet, a computer can provide global information on anything. Computer alone is helpful but with the Internet, it becomes even better. A teacher can use this to teach his/her students develop researching and evaluative skills (choose among sources which is/are reliable).

·         as a communication tool – With Internet, communication has become better. A teacher can have a virtual class thus defying space and still pursue the teaching and learning process. 

·          as a constructive tool – With the programs installed in the computer, students can construct their own works. They can organize their ideas into multimedia presentations or through texts. A teacher can use the computer to allow his/her students to develop their own concepts or express themselves through computer creativity activities. 

     ·  as a co-constructive tool – Students cannot only do an original work in the computer but they also can share their works with others. The teacher can make use of this computer function to develop cooperation among his/her students.

     I have become a constructivist since I got hold of a PC. I get to express my ideas and create anything through it. I get to develop certain skills (like basic editing, text, video, photo, and audio). I get to communicate with other people through the Internet. I was able to share my works to others. Indeed, a computer is just a tool of the teacher because what we are learning from the soft wares are just additional to what we are learning in reality. DNA fingerprinting software for example, we are already taught on how to do DNA isolation manually and the software just served as an additional drill to master more the technique.