Google Classroom

Through ICT, the work can be done more effectively. As a teacher we can develop materials for students to understand the lesson clearly. For instance, our tutor taught us how to create Google classroom and advantages of using it. Sir also taught us how to upload the materials and provide link for students to learn about the particular topic. Moreover, I also learned how to conduct quiz and create discussion forum for students to ask their doubt. Lastly our tutor told us to create Google classroom for one of the grade and create our Google classroom to teach the particular topic to the students.

     After that I came to know that the use of Google classroom is very effective for both the teachers and students. It is a free online service created by Google for schools aimed at simplifying the development, delivery and grading assignments. The primary purpose of Google classroom is to streamline the process of sharing files between teachers and students.

     Then I created the Google classroom for class IV, Social Studies. I choose the topic Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. After that I gave the learning materials for students to read and provide the link for the particular topic to make the students more clear about the topic. In addition, I uploaded the video that talks about the importance of learning about our third King and also talks about the materials that I uploaded.

                    

Promotional Video

                                            

     Moreover, I came to know that as a teacher we can conduct quiz through Google classroom to check how much the learners has learned as well as give assignment questions for students to do. Therefore, in future we as a teacher it is very important for us to use Google classroom to teach students and also let students to learn using ICT. The use of ICT enhances student’s creativity, develop their cognition, explore and motivate them towards positive learning.
  
    

lesson planned using google classroom

            

                                                 
                                       

Situating tools

Now I am going to reflect on situating tools. After going to the notes that our tutor uploaded in VLE I understood that situating tools is a system that lay the students in the environment where it involves a context and the occurrence of a situation. With the virtual reality (RS) extension systems, we can create 3-D images with the help of computer and give us feeling that are situated in virtual environment. Some of the examples of situating tools are Simulations (flight, farming, surgery, environment, driving, HistoryCity, SimCity, play station, Virtual Reality (VR) and CD-ROM.

From the above examples, I found that creation of simulation is more appropriate in teaching and learning which helps in making decision and boost problem solving skills. We can also locate lots of simulations and games which can enhance learning.

The importance of situating tools situates user in the environment, comprehend & manipulate variables, communicate with other user’s login, foster creativity & visualization skills that can guide the students learning and at the same time students also get the supportive services from the ICTs. Therefore, in future I will use those tools to make teaching and learning more interesting and effective.

Feedback on video tutorial

I am going to share on how I experienced while giving feedback on video tutorial on facebook. After we are done with making video tutorial our tutor created a group on facebook called “IV PCC EduTech 2020”  and ask us to upload our tutorial on facebook. At the same time we were asked to comment on each of the video uploaded by our friends.

                                         
                                                              Figure 1: Facebook group

While giving feedback I came to know that facebook can be use as a tool for education because it helps me to work collaboratively with my friends if we use in an appropriate manner. In addition, I also enjoyed watching their tutorial and gain new knowledge from their tutorial. From the feedback given by my friends I realized that facebook is a great platform to learn from each other and expand our knowledge and it was a great experience. 

My experience on using Blog

A blog is a platform where writer share their views. It also motivates an individual to become better writer and reader. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

                                                           Figure 1: Blog

When we were asked to create a blog I had a tough time and thinking that creating a blog would be a difficult one as I even don’t have any idea about how to create blog. After that I watched related video to get more information on how to create blog and found that it wasn’t a difficult task. After creating a blog I got an opportunity to share my understanding on different types of tools and its benefits.  It also promotes the discussion among students through comment sections. In addition, it helps me to explore more information and makes me an active reader and writer. Blogging encourages the use of internet and web among students and teachers. Furthermore, I also enjoyed reading a blog of my friends and gave them comment. At the same time I also got opportunity to read and write more. Finally, I would say that it was quite interesting in using blog as it gives us more benefits of using blog that I have already mentioned above.

Camtasia as a Constructive tool

  Video tutorial on mathematics ( class III, Estimating Difference)

We were asked to make video tutorial lesson using Camtasia. It was very new for me and I don’t have any idea about how to use Camtasia. I even got panic. Then I explored what is meant by Camtasia and how to use Camtasia to construct video tutorial lesson. I explored through video tutorial provided by our tutor in VLE and also get help from my mates. I even watched relevant video in You Tube to get more ideas on using Camtasia. After that I came to know that Camtasia is a most effective and productive software that we can use in our teaching and learning. Moreover, it is also capable of creating interactive professional video that can be used for a wide range of educational purposes. Similarly, it also records our voice, import video or images from our computer and edits it using the features of Camtasia. Finally, I am confident to construct the video tutorial on “Estimating Difference” from class three mathematics.

It was a great learning experience of constructing a video lesson using Camtasia. First I prepared PowerPoint presentation on ‘Estimating Difference’ for grade three from Mathematics. Then I used Camtasia to construct a video lesson using different features. While using those features I got many skills on how to add animation, background design, sounds and music. I also know how to edit, crop and make the lesson more interesting.

We are even asked to post our video tutorial on facebook where we have to comment on each other’s tutorial. Through the comments given by my friends I knew that the use of Camtasia in education system create effective teaching for teachers and enhance students learning. Moreover, it will also boost student’s interest in learning and create conducive learning environment. In this way the constructive tool helps in providing information to students through the use of ICT.

ICT as co-constructive tool

Under constructive tool, we learned about the meaning of constructive tool, importance and how to integrate the constructive tool followed by some examples. From that I clearly understand that co-constructive tool is applications that support the construction of knowledge through a shared understanding, collaboratively sharing or combining ideas. It emphasizes on collaboration and partnership working. It includes process such as cooperation and coordination. Some of the examples of co-constructive tool are: Google docs (docs.google.com), Blogs, Electronic white board and discussion forum on portals (pce.edu.bt).

Figure 2: Blog

Figure 1: Google docs

         

   

From various examples from co-constructive tool, we were taught about creating Google docs. Google Docs is a free Web-based application in which documents and spreadsheets can be created, edited and stored online. Multiple users can edit a document at the same time, while seeing each others' changes instantaneously. It also has a source that allows users to produce text documents  presentation, spreadsheets, and more.

Based on this tool, our tutor told us to plan an integrated lesson plan in a group of three members using Google docs. We are asked to choose any topic from the grade IV-VI.  After that I create Google docs and invite friend to discuss on how we are going to make the lesson plan. I also invite our tutor to comment on our discussion. While using Google docs I was able to read and comment as soon as my friends share their work with me.  I also found myself giving more feedback and contribute to the discussion. Moreover, it also helps us to work cooperatively and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge. The link given below will take you through the lesson plan that we have created together.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13rkDZ5f0gYtEujSBnb7oGlV3PlONZblJhMmkDaJTs9o/edit

Through my experience of using Google docs, I can say that it is very useful for all the students and teachers especially to college students as most of the time we have to do group work. I found Google docs are more convenient and effective. It provide us opportunity to do collaborative work, get feedback in real time, share our documents on the web and brainstorm as a team We can do our work at anytime from anywhere. We need not have to gather in order to complete our task. Moreover, teachers can also see who all did the work sincerely and give comments and feedback's accordingly. Therefore, using ICT as a co-constructive tool for teaching and learning can be one way we can use to ensure that students learn with fun and ease. 

                           

                               Thank you

Reflection on ICT as Constructive Tool

ICT as constructive tool can be used in constructing their knowledge through experience and manipulating information. Constructivism promotes social and communication skills by creating a classroom environment that emphasizes collaboration and exchange of ideas. Application of both theoretical input and practical knowledge is the integral part of constructivism. It believes that all knowledge is constructed on the basis of pre-existing knowledge. Examples of constructive tool are electronic bulletin board, simulation, MS publisher, social networking sites (blog, facebook, and twitter).

A social net work is defined as a chain of individuals and their personal connection and social networking is the practice of social connects by making connections through individual, often through social media such as facebook, blog and twitter.  Depending on social media platform, members may be able to connect any other member. Social networking services are interactive. Learner can post a topic, discuss critical ideas and help retain knowledge in a central place. Through social network, exchanging information with colleagues can create their own meaning by manipulating the information that they get.

Constructive tool can be integrated in various ways in teaching and learning. Following are some of the methods to integrate constructive tool.   

• Teacher can create something new way to deliver the lesson using constructive tool like PowerPoint, simulation, word or work sheet.
•  Teacher can use it for assessing children’s learning by giving feedback and comment.
•  The application such as word spread sheet and PowerPoint are also seen to help learners in building new knowledge on their prior knowledge.
• Letting students to use basic technology tool to create a brain storm or concept map for their work or any other subject matter.

 Based on this tool we are given an activity to create a PowerPoint simulation which was to advocate my village as a tourist agent to attract tourist. Creating a PowerPoint simulation was something that I heard for the first time and this task was bit difficult for me and I nearly gave up on it.  As I began to browse information on simulation and how it should be created, I found myself exploring the different features available in PowerPoint presentation particularly the animation features. It has made me explore and practice which in turn helped me gain interest in construction my own learning.

Simulation

Therefore, there are many benefits of constructivism in the classroom as it creates an active, engaging environment for children. Instead of being passive listeners, children through discussion and collaboration foster critical thinking and independent learners, it constitutes a shift from teacher to learner centered pedagogy and it helps learners to adopt, explore and practice.

reflection for communicative tool

After I learned about communicative tool, I came to know that Communication is essential for starting and building a successful teaching and learning. I understood that communicative tools are systems that allow easy communication between teachers and students and also among students themselves beyond the physical barrier either by outside the classroom. It includes email, electronic bulletin boards, online chat, video conferencing, social networking sites and any more. These tools help them to have an interactive and collaborate teaching and learning and also help them to communicate and exchange their information.

Figure 1: Video conferencing

I also learned about the two types of communicative tools; Synchronous and Asynchronous tools with examples. Synchronous and Asynchronous communication tools are used to facilitate collaboration between individual and groups of people, and are particularly useful for e-learning environments. Synchronous communication occurs in real time and can take place face-to-face, and as technology has evolved, can take place irrespective of distance. Examples: Chat, video call and video conferencing enabling the users a real time communication and allows for immediate feedback and meaningful interactions. Here the teachers communicate directly to a group of students which is normally used for instructional activities that require higher degree of interaction and helps solving urgent problems and issues to make the students understand what they are learning.

Some of the challenges of using Synchronous communication tools are that multiple threads of discussions make us difficult to follow and there are high chances of losing focus and missing out points and also the poor internet connections distracts and fails to keep the interest and connection on the tracks. It is because when we had a video conferencing with the tutor in ECCD class; during that time I had a hard time while listening to the tutors instructions and miss out important points due to net work problems.

The Asynchronous communication is not immediately received or responded to by those involved. It includes Email, blogs and VLE discussion forum. These are the primarily text-based systems and require more time and effort. While using those tools learners can take their own time to analyze and explore before responding to the questions.

Figure 2: Blog

Figure 3: VLE discussion

Figure 4: Email

Some of the disadvantages of using this tool are no live collaboration and real time activities; as a result there is lack of personal interaction and motivation which leads to the lack of instant         feedback. Learners may feel less engaged due to lag in response time to forum posts or questions.     Irregular or inconsistent contribution by individuals affects the richness of discussion and learning. No immediate feedback and difficult to keep track of collaboration. 

After learning about all those application I realized that ICT is one of the most effective teaching and learning. The teacher should be equipped with relevant pedagogical skills and ideas in using ICT in order to meet the learning experiences of the students. Moreover, students can be motivated and become active learners.

Reflection on informative tools

I am going to reflect on what I have learned about informative tools which we have already discussed. Informative tools refer to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications such as telephone network, radio broadcasting system, computer networks and internet. We have discussed that these applications provide large amount of information in various formats (text, graphics, sound and video).

I have realized that from all the informative tools, we are more into computer network and internet as it provides great opportunities for both teacher and students to make their teaching and learning more effective. Teacher can use different apps and software to enhance the traditional ways of teaching to keep the students more engaged.  For example when the teacher teaches about the ‘life of Buddha’, the teacher can use internet to make the lesson more attractive and interesting by showing the videos. It can help students not only to imagine what teacher is saying about the life of Buddha but also to see in reality.

It also helps students to solve the complex problem, enhance creativity and improve motivation and productivity. For example, while using VLE forum and Wechat, the internet offers a tremendous way of information between students themselves and with experts regarding the modules they are studying. We use internet to read the notes provided by tutors and listen to an audio which is explained by our tutor. We also use internet service to watch the videos which are related to our topics of study to clarify our doubt to enhance the information regarding those particular subjects.

Figure 1: Wechat discussion

Figure 2: VLE Forum

     



Under this tool we are asked to prepare PowerPoint presentation on Women playing Khuru ( dart game) in Bhutan. When I explore information about Women playing Khuru in Bhutan I got many information which help me to learn more and even complete my presentation on time. I had a great learning experience as it provided me the platform to prepare a good presentation. Moreover, I have learned that when we use ICT as informative tool we get to develop information search skills and analyze the information. Therefore, It is also the responsibility of the teachers to motivate students to construct their own knowledge and meaning so that students learn to integrate relevant ideas, learn to analyze the information, develop information search skills and learn to evaluate resources from the internet.
To watch my presentation, click on the link given below
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Cx3tT9Q3-bNh09oQl-iCvrtAGz4HkCnAIDvrgy2eBtk/edit?usp=sharing

There are many benefits of using the informative tools in teaching and learning. We have to choose the most relevant informative sources to get the correct information about the particular topics. Maximum students are learning better if teachers teaches using ICT. Moreover, it also allows the students to analyze synthesis and manipulate the information. Therefore, informative tool is one of the effective teaching and learning method which helps students to learn effectively with full engagement through out the lesson.