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. 

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

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!

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!

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!