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.