Essential Conditions For Effective Technology Integration

In my opinion, "It's Magic" by Annermarie Timmerman really encompasses the 6 essential conditions for technology integration because the teacher have access to the digital tools to create and integrate technology in the learning process. I agree to what the writer said about how technology allowed teachers to transform education rather than just automate old ways of learning. The students were guided by their "cherubs" and developmental mentor during the learning process. The infrastructure bandwidth that supported the learning process have enabled students to design a holographic replication of a historical personality in the socratic seminar. It enabled the students to live the life of the historical figure whereby the students wore virtual projection suits to manipulate their characters within the virtual conference and they were expected to respond and participate in the seminar not as themselves but as the characters they created. This student centered approach to learning, through technology integration creates creativity in the students. The students realised that at Hogwarts, Harry learned wizardry through experimentation and doing and they got into trouble not for misbehavior but for the curiosity to know. Like students in Hogwarts, students should be given the infrastructure and the technological support to construct knowledge. As the author said, with harry Potter, students envisioned schooling as a wonderful, fun activity that allowed all students to reach their potential.I hope all the 10 essential conditions for technology integration be in place in the education system to give the "magic " touch to learning in the 21st century.

The second article "After the Bell, Beyond" by Eric Langhorst challenges the education community to rethink about the learning process, where and when and how it should be. We always assume learning can only take place in the classroom, but in fact, it's beyond the bell. The author;s essential questions : as to where the learning takes place for your students, does it begin and end in your classroom or do you use technology to extend your students' learning beyond the classroom walls?

I believe that learning beyond the classroom using technology has not happened to me because I lack access to technologies and software and as an educator, I am not skilled in the use of technology for learning. These are 2 greatest setbacks I have in right now. I truly know that learning is beyond the classroom and technology integration is the best way right now because our world is increasingly using media- music,, video games, ipods at our convenience anywhere and anytime. The studycasts that have been used for student learning is a great way to involve students, educators and authors or community in the learning process. By discussing in an open forum and receiving immediate feedback from authors give the students an opportunity to interact with the book in front of them and being able to communicate their ideas to the relevant people involved give the students a sense of ownership in their own learning process. it's a form of self discovery and inquiry. Assessment and feedback given by experts in the field helped the students to learn and interact with the community. Thus, its not only the teachers that assess the students work in the classroom but it;s an ongoing process with the help of technology.The author said,"Reading the book became a 2 way street in which inquiry was possible for both reader and author. The author further emphasized that; technology didn't; kill the book, it gave it more life and enabled it to grow beyond individual experience. I totally agree with that and I believe this will encourage students to read more. Of course, as what the author said, technology will not magically save the U.S. education system but it will effective teach all students. It;'s about effective instruction and effective learning in and beyond the classroom.

"The brick-mortar school,along with the teachers, should be the core for learning. But we cheat our students if we continue to think of school as a class period that begins and ends with a bell."- Eric Langhorst

What I have learned so far?

Taking up this multimedia course is a challenege for me. As I am not so computer savvy, the fear of interacting with the digital tools have always put me at a distance with computer technology. Thus this course have actually made me more literate as a digital immigrant. I am beginning to feel at ease with the digital tools I learned in this lesson. Proud to say that, I can create a blog, a webquest and I am able to explore other tools too.

Being a digital immigrant, my students are always better than me in handling the digital tools. I would like to be able to create a webquest for my students, so that they are able to work online.I would like to be able to make full use of the technology tools for my classroom learning.

What has been challenging to me is the online sessions. With such limited knowledge of the technology, the tasks assigned were altogether challenging because evry click of the mouse creates something new for me. I hada few defaults here and there, but I managed to complete the assignments, even though I was late in posting it. I enjoyed the learning process even though I had to explore on my own without any face-to-face guidance. Even though there were instructions posted, I just didn't know where to look for it. So, I need to explore more in order to make things happen.

At the end of the day, I hope to be able to use what I have learned in my classroom teaching. There's so much I want to do for my students to make them maximize their skills in digital tools. Hopefully, I can feel more at ease in using the digital tools.

Response to Web 2.0 Tool Exploration

Gliffy is a good tool to explore where diagrams can be created based on various themes.The diagrams can be shared online.We can draw diagrams in our web browser without downloading additional software. We can also add collaborators or group members especially in creating group designs.We can also create many types of diagrams such as Flowcharts, floor plans, network diagrams, and UML diagrams.

Wikispaces allow me to create simple web pages that group members can edit together.
it is a more personalized learning tool on a specific topic aimed at a group of people or students.It takes the learner through a series of steps. Various links to the topic can also be posted and it also allows discussion on the topic posted.

Designing Schools Of The Future

A WebQuest for Grade 8

Designed by

Ooi Eng Lye

leonard58@gmail.com

 
 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

Introduction

The design of the schools of the future is important for 21^st century learners. The aim of this lesson is to allow the students the opportunity to contribute their views on the design of the schools of the future. The participants would be able to develop their thinking creatively in designing their own schools of the future.  Curriculum analysis should be used in the development of the school design.

 

The Task

The students will need to reflect on the following questions to help them design the schools of the future.

• What they would want to see in the new school of the future? What are the key priorities for the school?
  
• Who need to be involved in making those decisions?
  
• How to incorporate the curriculum in the development of the school design?
  
• How to design the school for the future of learning?
  

  
   

 

The Process

The steps are as followed:

1. Introduction and ground rules
   
2. In groups of three, check the following websites.
   

   The following websites will provide information on designing schools of the future:
   

   http://www.designshare.com/index.php/home
   

http://www.ncw.org.uk/creativespaces/design/initial_research/future.htm

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinancebuilding/schoolbuildings/

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?

1. Look into this website and brainstorm ideas in groups- http://www.bsf-culture.co.uk/design.php
   
2. Make a poster presentation of the school of the future and a multimedia presentation which includes a design checklist on "Designing the School of The Future"
   
3. Every group will make a presentation to the class
   

   
    

 

Evaluation:

There will be a common grade for group work and an individual grade for presentation.

Poster Rubric- Designs of School of the Future

Element	Points Awarded	Points Earned
Focus- The topic is clear	10
Main Ideas- appropriate to the topic and presented correctly	10
Supporting Details- Appropriate and accura oote details	10
Purpose- Clearly accomplished	10
Drawings & illustrations- an added value to the poster	10
Mechanics- no errors in grammar, capitalization, usage and punctuation	10
Layout & Design- color and use of space communicate the message	10
Creativity- Highly original & creative	20
Neat & Presentable	10
Total	100

 

Multimedia Presentation Rubric

Categories	20	15	10	5	Subtotal
Organization	Presentation is logical, in sequence which the audience can follow	Presentation is in logical sequence which audience can follow	Audience have difficulty following presentation because it is not in sequence.	Audience cannot understand presentation because there is no sequence of information.
Subject Knowledge	Students demonstrates full knowledge with full elaboration on all the questions.	Student is able to answer all questions but with little elaboration.	Student have little knowledge of subject and is able to answer only rudimentary questions.	Student does not have grasp of information and have problems answering questions.
Graphics	Student's graphics explain and reinforce text and presentation	Student's graphics relates to text and presentation.	Students occasionally uses graphics that rarely support text and presentation	Students uses little or no graphics.
Mechanics	No spelling or grammatical errors at all.	More than 2 spelling and grammatical errors	More than 3 spelling and grammatical errors.	Four or more grammatical or spelling errors.
Eye contact	Maintains eye contact with audience at all times.	Maintains eye contact most of the time	Occasionally maintain eye contact, but still refer to text.	Reads from text without eye contact.
Oral Presentation skills	Communicates ideas with enthusiasm, clear voice and clear delivery	Communicates ideas with clear voice and adequate delivery.	Some difficulty communicating ideas, due to voice projection and incomplete work	Great difficulty communicating ideas. Poor voice projection and incomplete work.

 

Getting students to think creatively on the design of the schools of the future will give them a sense of ownership in designing for the future of learning. This activity would let them think about the types of schools for the learners of the future.

Credits & References:

http://www.designshare.com/index.php/home

http://www.ncw.org.uk/creativespaces/design/initial_research/future.htm

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinancebuilding/schoolbuildings/

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?

http://www.bsf-culture.co.uk/design.php

 

Last updated on May 1^st, 2007. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

Response to Simkins

Chapter 3:
Making real world connections expounded by Simkins is the main goal of a learning process. Learners of the 21st century must not only pursue the knowledge and skills but also to strive for excellence with a purpose. With a purposeful objective in the learning process, Simkins proposed 10 real-world connection ideas that are categorized into project topics, interaction and connecting to the future. It is true what Simkins said that students have to find the connections that make sense to them and these connections depend on the curriculum, time frame, issues, the people and the environment.This chapter reveals to readers the varied ways for students to connect their learning to the real world, the present and the future.

Chapter 4:
The author takes the reader through the process of defining and planning a multimedia project. he also mentioned the type of multimedia project students can create, looking into issues of goals and objectives, time, resources available and last but not least the real-world connection. The author has given a comprehensive step- by-step outline, taking the learners through the rudiments of defining and planning a multimedia learning project. it is a simple to understand guide for teachers and students.

The Online Teacher Resource-http://www.teach-nology.com/

This website help teachers and students to explore certain thematic approaches. The theme that I have explored is about "computer teaching". The theme is further divided into various topics such as building websites, using the internet, making presentations, print publishing and integrating spreadsheets and Excel into your classroom. In each topic, there are numerous tutorials to cater to each aspect such as resource sites, rubrics, web graphics and web quests and so on. it has unlimited materials for classroom lessons and activities. Do explore this website at http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/comp/

video games in education - Google Search

video games in education - Google Search