Last Lecture_Today I Learn, Today I Question!

It cannot be disputed that I have learned a whole load of Web 2.0 technologies, models, ideas and how to share what I have discovered while exploring the Web 2.0 tools. All these were made necessary and available through the generosity and design of our lecturer, Huey Zher and the unselfishness of other classmates. It has been a truly wonderful learning experience and really complement the PXGT6111 course that I took to get an idea of what I want to do for my project paper. (YES! I managed to figure out and what tool to use and sent in the proposal to the office today!) It's like figuring out and putting the pieces of a puzzle together.

Let me sum up.

First the serious part:

Through the semester I have learned various important models, frameworks and approaches in teaching and learning i.e ADDIE, Engagement Model, Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction, Personalised Learning Environment, Blended Learning, TPACK, Bloom’s Digital Taxanomy, Technology Integration Matrix. All these will help me clear up the confusion I’m facing with my project paper. Oh yeah, the Smart School Vision too. Haha. I’ve never realised until now just how forward looking the Malaysian Government is, or at least was, back in 1999 when they first conceived the idea of the Smart School in Malaysia. Now I’m not so sure, seeing the regression in the PPSMI policy. Let’s hope however, because of the reversal of the PPSMI policy the government would spur its efforts in using technology in education.

Now the fun part:

Huey Zher introduced many Web 2.0 tools for us to explore. To be frank, this semester being a hectic one left me no time to experiment with many so after checking out that they are easy to use and the sort of requirements they needed (whether need to dl) I sub-contracted them to my 9-year-old to try out ;D
When I needed to do the Show and Tell (good way to make us try out the web 2.0s, Huey Zher!) I asked for recommendations from my kid. She recommended Kerpoof but when I tried to use it, I found that it was not so suitable for the level of students and task that I had in mind. So, I abandoned ship and moved to Myths and Legends. This served my purpose.

Lastly:

I also decided to share ‘Edmodo’ with everyone like I promised last week ,before the BLACK OUT! It’s actually very user friendly =)
That’s all for now! Better go to bed now to get some sleep before I go explore ice-skating tomorrow with my librarians!

Lecture 12_Today I Learn, Today I question!

          Well, I was the presenter for the 10 December 2011 class so, no more sitting back and listening. I was pondering for the past 3 or 4 weeks on what to present for 'Teaching with Technology: The Future'. Everything seems to have been well covered more or less by the others. Read through the Horizon Report but still thought that anything that I have to say would have been said. Then, luckily last week, at the end of class, Huey Zher gave me some pointers, "compare the Horizon Report to the Malaysian Smart School Concept"

          I had read through the Smart School Roadmap for PXGT6111, trying to see how I could incorporate it into the Lit Review. As I sat down to compare the two, however, a pattern seemed to materialise. Both have almost the same vision as to educational tools for the future. What is left to see is how Malaysia is going to implement the Smart School Concept in schools.

          One of the issues we discussed was how many teachers were reluctant to embrace technology. When I was taking my bath in the evening, I thought (yes, I think best when I'm bathing. maybe it's the soothing sound of water) about how we can get teachers to be enthusiastic about going for training to use new technologies. One way is to offer teachers who have gone through an "Application of Internet in Instruction" course and an "Information Technology in Teaching and Learning" course an extra jump in the pay scale when they pass the courses with at least a B+. This will lead to more eager learners and more teachers who will see technology as friends rather than inconveniences. I know that this can be done if political will wants it. Currently Principles of Accounts teachers get one or two scales higher than people who graduated the same time as them.

         It was great to hear about what the government has actually tried to do even though it's still not enough. Before they give out the laptops/netbooks to students they should make sure that at least 50% of the teachers are well trained in technological instructional design so that the laptops are not given in vain. The government should also disseminate information about the Smart School Concept to the public through campaigns, TV ads and road shows so that everyone understands what is expected of them and so that parents won't treat laptops as windfalls but as part of the school books. No one ever sells school books right?

Anyway, this is a very interesting report in the New York Times regarding the use of technology in classrooms:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/technology/technology-in-schools-faces-questions-on-value.html?_r=4&pagewanted=1&sq=education%20and%20technology&st=cse&scp=1

and another site:

http://beyondmontessori.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/the-debate-over-technology-in-the-classroom/

Lecture 11_Today I Learn, Today I Question!

Chan presented on Blended Learning today. The most important points I gathered from the concept are:
1. student engagement
2. interactivity
There was a term that puzzled me, however, so I had to ask for the meaning, hoping that I could get a quick explanation and not have to puzzle it out by myself. The term is “decreasing the learners’ transactional space”. I found this website/webpage on it :
http://www.deakin.edu.au/itl/dso/strategies-teaching/tips/d2l-transact-space.php?print_friendly=true
After reading the explanation on the webpage I think that what it means is we must make ourselves accessible to the students to create a social presence i.e a sense of connectivity so that the students will feel comfortable connecting and collaborating with “real” people. If the students feel disconnected then they will be reluctant to communicate on the chosen platform. Is this correct? Please feel free to redefine. Thanks!