Lesson10: The Computer as a Tutor

   The computer is one of the wonders of human ingenuity, even in its original design in the 1950s to carry out complicated mathematical and logical operations. With the invention of the microcomputer (now also commonly referred to PCs or personal computers), the PC has become the tool for programmed instruction.

          
   Educators saw much use of the PC. It has become affordable to small business, industries and homes. They saw its potential for individualization in learning, especially as individualized learning is a problem since teachers usually with a class of forty or more learners. They therefore devised strategies to use the computer to break the barriers to individualized instruction.

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)

          
   The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as a classroom tutor. It should be made clear, however, that the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller. 

Even with the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must:

•         Insure that the students have the needed knowledge and skills for any               computer activity.

•         Decide the appropriate learning objectives

•         Plan the sequential and structured activities to achieve objectives.

•         Evaluate the students’ achievement by ways of tests of the specific                 expected outcomes.

   Today, educators accept the fact that the computer has indeed succeeded in providing an individualized learning environment so difficult for a teacher handling whole class. This is so, since the computer is able to allow individual students to learn at their own pace, motivate learning through a challenging virtual learning environment, and assist students through information needed during the learning process.

REFLECTION

   There has been a fear that someday in the future teachers will be replaced with CAI because as an assessment it is much better if we will used the computer to assist as in our learning for it is consistent and objective. Yes, it is partly true and also partly wrong because we all know that there are roles that teachers have to do that CAI cannot. A computer cannot assess and insure if the students have the needed knowledge and skills for it does not have any will and intellect, a teacher can decide the appropriate learning objectives while computers do not, a teachers can plan any structured activities to achieve objectives suited to the needs of its students and a teacher can evaluate the student’s achievements by ways of tests of the expected outcomes. With CAI, we can only expect lower level learning skills and what is only programmed in the computer will be the only thing a student will learn unlike with a teacher, we can learn more from him/her as we can freely asks questions or can interact with different experiences in life.

   Maybe CAI can be used on some areas of a student’s learning but it can’t represent in behalf of the teacher in all aspects. Drill and practice software materials can be useful if we want excellence in the use of the computer. But to make it a teacher, it can’t never be. Teachers are still the best and suited way for a student to learn more, computers can only assist.

Lesson 9 : Computers as Information and Communication Technology

  Computer assisted instruction (CAI) was introduced using the principle of individualized learning through a positive climate that includes realism and appeal with drill exercise that uses color, music and animation. The novelty of CAI has not waned to this offered by computer-equipped private schools. But the evolving pace of 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 information and communication technology (ICT) in education.

The Personal Computer (PC) as ICT

    Until the nineties, it was still possible to distinguish between instructional media and the educational communication media.

    Instructional media consist of audio-visual aids that served to enhance and enrich the teaching-learning process. Examples are the blackboard, photo, film, and video

  On the other hand, educational communication media comprise the media communication to audiences including learners using the print, film radio, and television or satellite means of communication.  For example, distance learning were implemented using correspondence, radio, television or the computer satellite system

   Close to the turn of the 21st century however, such a distinction merge owing to the advert of the microprocessor, also known as the personal computer (PC). This is due to the fact that the PC user at home, office and school has before him a tool for both audio-visual creations and media communication.

 

  To illustrate, let’s examine the programs (capabilities) normally installed in an ordinary modern PC:

- Microsoft Office - program for composing text, graphics, photos into letters, articles, report, etc.

- Power point - for preparing lecture presentations.

- Excel - for spreadsheets and similar graphic sheets.

- Internet Explorer - access to the internet.

- Yahoo or Google - websites; e-mail, chat rooms, blog sites, news service (print/video) educational software etc.

- Adobe Reader - graphs/photo composition and editing.

- MSN - mail/chat messaging

- Windows media player - CD, VCD player, editing film/video

- Cyber Power - DVD player

- Gamehouse - video games

Reflection:

   Through computer technology, like reading, the modern student can now interact with computer messages; even respond to question or to computer commands. Again like writing, the learner can form messages using computer language or programs. This communication media and audiovisual media makes the learners creative and innovative learning.

Lesson 8; Higher Thinking Skills through IT-Based Project

Content

                There are four types of IT-based projects. These can be used in order to engage students in activities of a higher plane of thinking. Resource based projects. In the traditional learning model, the teacher is expert and information provider while in the resource-based learning model; the teacher only serves as a guide and facilitator. Textbook is key source of information then, but now, sources are varied. Traditional way focuses on facts; information is packaged and in neat parcels while resource-based focuses on learning inquiry/ quest or discovery. Traditional way has a product that is the be-all and end-all of learning while resource based gives emphasis on the process. In the assessment, the traditional way is quantitative. In the resource-based, assessment is not only quantitative, but also qualitative. Simple Creations, focused on the creativity of the students. Creativity has three kinds of skills/abilities: analyzing, synthesizing, and promoting. To develop creativity, there are five key tasks: 1. Define the task; 2. Brainstorm; 3. Judge the ideas; 4. Act; 5. Adopt flexibility. Guided Hypermedia Projects, The production of self-made multimedia projects can be approached in two different ways: 1. as an instructive tool; 2. as a communication tool. Web-based Projects, Posting of web pages in the Internet allows the students a wider audience. They can also be linked with other related sites in the Internet.

Experience

                Educational technology 1 is one good example of the application of higher thinking skills through IT-based project in which we are task to develop our individual skills based on IT projects. It is still fresh in my mind how to utilize technology in order to develop the learners’ potential to practice thinking skills and creativity.  Example is the application Cyber Link power Director which pertains to simple creation, Web based presentation for the guided hyper media, Web based project is like the Blogging. For the Resource based project, it is very common to everybody most especially we internet is now leading innovation for active source of information.

Reflection

                The development of higher thinking skills depends not only in the IT based projects. Teachers must be responsible enough to utilize any available resources inside and outside the classroom walls in the absence of technology. It is a challenge for those teachers would possibly hire in remote areas were the absence of technology is possible. The greatest challenge among teachers is the availability of the technology and if the following expected learning outcomes and creativity can be achieved. Hence, teachers must not agree that thinking skills can only be assisted by technology; the point is, since we are not sure that technology can be always available, make good use of the any available resources in and outside the classroom.

                Developing the higher order thinking skills and creativity of learners will help them to be prepared in their future chosen carrier and become competitive enough to be independent and self-reliance.

Application

                Technology is ubiquitous now a days and utilization I such called technology is highly advice. But it is being utilize in the sense that they can help for the effectiveness of the teaching plans. They are not just use for the sake of convenience in teaching but also to promote a conducive teaching learning process. Affirmative technological enhancement will be surely utilized in classroom setting promoting the purpose of teaching in the new era. 

Lesson 7; IT for Higher Thinking Skills and Creativity

Content    

                                 Thinking Skills Framework

Complex Thinking Skills	Sub-skills
Focusing	Defining the problem, goal/objective-setting, brainstorming
Information gathering	Selection, recording of data of information
Remembering	Associating, relating new data with old
Analyzing	Identifying idea constructs, patterns
Generating	Deducing, inducting, elaborating
Organizing	Classifying, relating
Imagining	Visualizing, predicting
Designing	Planning, formulating
Integration	Summarizing, abstracting
Evaluating	Setting criteria, testing idea, verifying outcomes, revising

The upgrade project method given these complex thinking skills, the modern day teacher can now be guided on his goal to help student achieve higher level thinking skills and creativity beyond the ordinary benchmark of the student’s passing, even excelling achievement tests. When the ordinary classrooms are lacking with instructional kits, use the project method to bring students to higher domains. In a project method, students work on projects with depth complexity, duration, and relevance to the real world. There is already a revised project method wherein the students would make decisions about what to put on the project, how to organize information and how to package the outcomes for presentation while the teacher guides and facilitates the learning process.

Experience

                This new design framework for developing thinking skills is new to me. It is certainly awesome to experience beyond what was design by Benjamin Bloom, also known as Bloom’s taxonomy which actually limits the potential of the students to develop more conceptual ideas. As students, although the following thinking skills are simulated in classroom (seldom), it is not that kind of very effective most especially if teachers are being passive.

Reflection

                21^th Century learners are merely more innovative more than we can imagine. We don’t have any idea how broad and enthusiast they are in terms of learning. Shall we say, learning is unlimited with a different learning style more than what we have known and discovered. Hence, intricate styles were design to surpass the thinking skills and creativity for higher order thinking skills, using an IT based projects in teaching. The following will surely be implemented to students accompanied by technology assessment throughout learning process. Since process is important than the product, teacher must also navigate his/her students on the applications of complex thinking skills and creativity during the activity to avoid revision and waste of time.

Application

                Prerequisite of being a facilitator in a classroom instruction is the implementation of the following complex thinking skills. Otherwise, I will be traditional teacher over and over again. If not, everything will end up nothing. I will develop the higher order thinking skills and creativity of my students using an IT based project in which learners can directly integrate resources using a computer as a medium in the assimilation of learning. Nevertheless, complexes are design to integrate and evaluate, rather than just knowing the concept. 

Lesson 6; IT Enters A New Learning Environment

Content

                Meaningful learning gives focus to new experience that is related to what the learner already knows. New experience departs from the learning of a sequence of words but gives attention to meaning. It assume that students already have some knowledge that is relevant to new learning, Students are willing to perform class work to find connection between what they already know and what they can learn. Discovery learning, students perform tasks to uncover what is to be learned. New ideas and new decisions are generated in the learning process, regardless of the need to move on and depart from organized setoff activities previously set. In discovery learning, it is important that the student become personally engaged and not subjected by the teacher to procedures he/she is not allowed to depart from. Generative learning has an active learner who attends to learning events and generates meaning from this experience and draw inferences thereby creating a personal model or explanation to the new experience in the context of existing knowledge. Constructivism, the learners builds a personal understanding through appropriate learning activities and a good learning environment. The most accepted principles of constructivism are: learning consists in what a person can actively assemble for himself and not what he can receive passively. The role of learning is to help the individual live/adapt to his personal world.

Experience

                In a broader sense, the above conceptual models of learning are very infrequent to a teacher. As I always observe, teachers are always in the turning point of malpractices. They doesn’t care what learning strategy they impose, what their concern is to be an expert in the classroom setting, either there students learned or not. Only some selective subjects where the following learning style can be really observe. Like Chemistry subject that is subject to experimentation.

Reflection

                Integrating technology into instruction is very helpful especially if it is address to application of learners to their different relevant experiences. Accordingly, effective teacher’s best interact with students in innovative learning activities, while integrating technology to the teaching-learning process. Learning’s seems to be feckless if this cannot be applied by students to their everyday life. Well, Constructivism approach guarantees the needs and means of the learner in order to accomplish their mission as students. Besides, the following learning models are best accepted in modern teaching strategy because it doesn’t only cover the three lower domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy (knowledge, comprehension and Application) but directly to the most accepted part which is the “Creating”.  I convinced anyway that Constructivism abandons universal truths for we all know that most truths are a product of man’s discoveries. Yes it is true to say that it started with a faulty belief (ex. The world is flat), but since it is human nature that man is inquisitive, he finds a way to discover the truth of what has been presented.

Application

                Learning is always occurring, but not all are relevant to the lives of the learner. And therefore, I am the teacher, responsible in providing those significant things to be learnt by my called probationer. With the use of Information Technology as a tool for giving the instruction, then the assurance of a successful classroom application will be made possible as ever with the cooperation of active students.