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.