Monday, July 19, 2021

My 21 Days Journey from Phuentsholing to Thimphu

 My 21 Days Journey from Phuentsholing to Thimphu 

Since the start of the pandemic, from my point of view, the real front liners are the people living in the southern borders. Of course, one can not deny the sacrifice of frontline workers and volunteers including dessups, armed personals and many others who are the bullet of Bhutan's pandemic resistance. However, I personally feel that people of the south has sacrificed everything to contain the virus within the southern borders and not spread it to the rest of country. When I say this, by virtue of staying in the south, I think I may be congratulating myself but I hope that I will make my points clear as I write down. If I don't make any sense, please forgive me for my ignorance. 

The constant fear of getting infected by the virus just because you are located at the walking distance of one of the world's most deadliest outbreak area is equally competed by the difficulties of exiting the town. As expected the town detected a positive case from the community on 16th of April, 2021 and it has been locked down for the last 3 months. People has lost jobs and livelihoods and businesses were shattered but the virus has been not backing up besides the strict protocols the authorities issued and executed. Somehow, it may not be mysterious, but the virus kept on emerging and the lockdown kept on prolonging. When the health is suffering, the economy and education is equally suffering and Phuentsholing has no different story to tell. 

The Journey

I registered to leave the town for a brief vacation in the middle of lockdown i.e., on 2nd June. Like the legend of buffalo waiting for the return of yak, I waited for the call to be called to quarantine center to be sent from Phuntsholing. Each day, I waited for the call that never came. Even followed calls were never received sometimes. However, on 30th June, almost after a month of waiting, I was called to be tested to be sent to quarantine facility in Punakha. 

Excited I exited in a convey from Phuentsholing RRCO ground after waiting for nearly two hours to be briefed by the army man on duty on 1st July. It was a convoy where two buses led us from the front with seventeen private cars following them followed by two buses from behind. Surveillance were strict. Each check post would not sent us without checking every cars and verifying in their white printed sheet. After almost one and half hours, we finally exited Sorchen, the pandemic gate to the south. 

Summer roads are never a smooth ride. I have not had a long drive for the last 4 months or so. I was little worried but it was nothing compared to the worries of staying in the lockdown, alone, depressed. The journey is never really exciting though. The roads were slippery and foggy, just another summer roads. Seldom, the light showers of rain made the journey more difficult, or may be auspicious, in terms of religious beliefs, it is called the shower of flowers. 

As usual, I offered the prayers to every Buddhist monastery I come across on the way. My personal favorite place to offer prayers is the huge rock on the way, painted white, believed to be blessed stone of Saint Tertoen (treasure revealer) Drukdra Dorji. 

Dochula source: DrukAsia
It was a strict journey whereby you are not allowed to halt despite anything. Even ambulances were giving us a way. We halted for toilet and lunch though. I had a lunch alone in my car, and I realized that with this hair of mine which didn't see barber for the last four months, and having a packed lunch like this, I felt like I am the son of a step mother. After a tedious journey we crossed Chuzom, crossed Thimphu and reached Dochula. We met our escorts, the policemen from Punakha there. I offered my prayers there, but I am not sure what was my prayers but I am pretty sure that it was self-centered. 

As we exited Dochula, I was really hopeful to come back and offer my prayers to the 108 symbolic stupas after seven days of quarantine. It is a beautiful pass where one can have a panoramic view of Himalayas. 

Friday, July 17, 2020

Reflection on ICT as Situating Tool

Situating Tool

ICT as a situating tool is based on the theory that children learn when they find the concept taught to them purposefully. Using ICT as a situating tool help Children placed in a situation where they need to use the knowledge that they learned or need in life. For example, Children will understand as well as enjoy learning about the PH scale when they are made to use PhET simulation.

 

pH Scale Simulation


Just recently, my ICT tutor introduced us to a PhET simulation where we can experiment and explore the concepts. The simulation that we used helped me to understand the pH scale of different solution. This is because situating tools like PhET simulations provide us with real-life experiences which make it easier for us to understand the concepts clearly. 

 

So visual learners and kinesthetic learners like me will be benefitted from such tools because tools such as PhET simulations, and Google maps, make it easier for us to see things visually and we also get hands-on experiences from the tools.

Goggle Map


Satellite view (google map)

I knew that Google maps help in locating places but I also learned that we can teach about time calculation, landforms, mountains, continents, and about concepts like longitude and latitude which fascinated me because my idea of technologies and ICT seemed very less at that moment. Therefore, when I get into the teaching field, I want to explore such kinds of situating tools and make sure that my children learn by doing rather than learning by listening. for that, I am going to keep myself updated with all kinds of situating tools so that I can pass on the knowledge of using those tools to my students.


How can we use  in School?
Now, I realize that we can even use situating tool such as google map, PhET simulation as platform in teaching and learning across the curriculum to make teaching and learning fun. It is not necessary to attend real-time classroom for teaching and learning, even though it is deemed necessary. However, given the emergency situation like this pandemic, teaching and learning can be done through Google classrooms. 

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Google Classroom

Goggle classroom has now become an essential tool for teachers around the globe due to the pandemic outbreak in the world. I always thought that Google classroom will have similar features like that of Zoom and Google meet. Turns out, I was wrong because when my tutor introduced the Classroom to us, I was dumbfounded to learn that Google classroom has got very organized and user-friendly features.

Sample Announcement in Goggle Classroom

As I explored the features in Google classroom, I learned that taking online classes using Google classroom might prove to be beneficial to students because there is a Streaming section for the teachers to post the announcements, we can also upload videos in the streaming section. I personally feel that such kind of features in google classroom makes it more inclusive. We can write the instructions as well as upload a video for those students who prefer watching and learning.

Sample Assignment provided in Goggle Classroom

Moreover, I was fascinated with the options provided in google classroom where we can even invite co-tutors, parents, and students in the classroom. This way, parents will be informed about the children and their learning progress, and I as a teacher will also get to invite my colleagues as co-teachers which is actually not possible in real classroom settings.

Sample invitation

Monday, May 25, 2020

Reflection on Social Media

Social Media:Facebook


Increasingly, many educational researchers indicate the potential role of social Medias in solving instructional problems in an educational setting. A social networking service is an online platform which we use to build social networks or social relationships with other people who share similar personal or career interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections. Social networking services vary in format and the number of features. There are many Social Medias like Facebook, we chat, MySpace, Twitter, and LinkedIn are examples of social networking sites.

IV PCA Edu Tech 2020 group chat
Our tutor created a group in Facebook called IV PCA Edu Tech 2020. I was wondering what we are going to post and discuss in that group. Unexpectedly, we were asked to upload our camtasia video in the group created.
My Camtasia video uploaded in Facebook(IV PCA Edu Tech 2020)
After that, we were asked to do peer assessment and comment on each other’s work. I think I wasn’t thinking out of the box, till date I was thinking that social media can be used to upload ones photo, watch newsfeed and wish somebody on his/her birthday.
Commenting on each other's work 
 
Comments on my blog
From that day, I came to know that we can even use social media as platform to assess each other’s work which was another great experience provided by our tutor. In line with that, again using social media, we were asked to vote for the best video where sir created poll for us to vote.
 
Poll for Voting
How can we use Social media in School?
Now, I realize that we can even use social media as platform in teaching and learning. It is not necessary to attend real-time classroom for teaching and learning, even though it is deemed necessary. However, given the emergency situation like this pandemic, teaching and learning can be done through virtual classrooms and social media.  We can use social media to asses students work fairly like we did in ICT-419.


Thank you!

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Reflection on ICT as Co-constructive Tool

Computer as co-constructive tools
Co-constructive tool is any applications that support the construction of knowledge through a shared understanding or collaboratively consolidating the ideas. We can use co-constructive tools to work cooperatively and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge. One way of co-construction is the use of the Google docs where we may post notices or lead discussions to come up with new ideas to shared documents.

We can use constructive tools to work cooperatively and construct a shared understanding through means of communicative tools like Google classroom, Google docs, PPT etc. We can also co-edit the same document from their homes.

Following tools can be used as co-constructive tools:

  1. Presentation software (such as PowerPoint) enables instructors to embed high-resolution photographs, diagrams, videos and sound files to augment text and verbal lecture content.
  2. Google docs can be used in the class or outside the classroom for discussions. Students and teacher don't have to be together physically but they can actively engage in discussions in the Google docs.
  3. Blogs can serve as meaningful tool to establish what you write and showcase your creativity. Every student can get the blogger account and post, comment, share and read others post etc.

Reflection on Google docs
What is a Google doc?

A Google doc is one the co-constructive tool which we can used to introduce computer as co-constructive tool. We can use co-constructive tools to work cooperatively and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge. We may also co-edit the same document from different places with the editing option where we can interact and edit work together.
To explore and understand the working of Google doc, we were divided into groups and asked to plan a lesson by interacting in the chat about the lesson plan instead of physically coming together.  We discussed using our own computer and we decided the following plan.



The benefits of using ICT as co-constructive tools are we can co-edit, communicate database, text and graphics, it enhances collaboratively learning environment. Instead of wasting time on gathering we were able to carry out successful discussions anywhere and anytime using computer/ smartphones. 


We were able to identify and develop expertise using ICT as co-constructive tool in the classroom. It is important for developing creative partnerships within the classroom. In a classroom, cooperation and collaboration is very important. Through the use of Google docs, it taught me the importance of effective communication with others to solve problems which is one of the necessary skills as being a future teacher. 

Co-constructive tools can be one of the effective tools for students as well as teachers, as they can work together in the process of learning through collaboration with others without coming together physically. Co-construction of learning allows us to have a social interaction which makes our learning unique, more creative and fun. 
Thank you!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

ICT as Co-constructive tool


What are co-constructive tool?
Co-constructive tools, also known as collaborative tool are tools for supporting student’s construction of some tangible projects as a manifestation of their construction of knowledge. The idea is inspired by Vygotsky's social development theory.  Vygotsky focused on the connections between people and the sociocultural context in which they act and interact in shared experiences. It also support the construction of knowledge through a shared understanding and share ideas thought collaboratively. In co-constructive tool reconstruction of the knowledge sharing additional knowledge ideas from a different user happens.
It means working independently to construct some sort of personal knowledge. Examples like students posting their notices to a shared electronic whiteboard or document conferencing, blogs, Google docs and discussion forum. It supports the knowledge through a shared understanding. Moreover they share their ideas and thought collaboratively. Even it enhances reconstruction of the knowledge sharing and there is additional knowledge ideas from different users.

 Concept of Co-constructive tool
1.   A co-construction tool is an approach, where it is an emphasis on collaboration, and partnership working. It also includes the interactional process such as cooperation and coordination. 
2.   Co-construction is the concept that students can use to help them learn from others and expand their knowledge.
3.   Applications that support the construction of knowledge through a shared understanding, share ideas and thought collaborative and reconstruction of the knowledge sharing additional knowledge ideas from different user.

Examples of co-constructive tool




Google Docs. Source: Google









Blog. Source: My Blog
Discussion Forum.Source: PCE VLE

It help students develop
  • Higher level cognitive processes.
  • In-depth understanding of information.
  • Active- International learning.
  • Literacy and literacy-related problems.
  • Collaboration knowledge construction.
Importance of co-constructive tool
  • Higher-level cognitive process (explanation, finding the problem, problem-solving and so on)
  • In-depth understanding of an informative text.
  • Active and intentional learning
  • Literacy-based problems.
  • Identification of their own scientific misconceptions and means to overcome them. 
  • Identifying and developing expertise.
  • Collaborative knowledge constructions. 
  • Enhance the collaborative learning environment. 
  • Students can use constructive tools to work cooperatively and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge.
  • Exchange and share of ideas stimulate thinking.
How can we use  in School?
In the future, I can use those above mentioned ideas and help students’ to expand their knowledge. Now, I realize that we can even use Co-construction tool as platform in teaching and learning to construct collaborative knowledge.

Happy Reading!