Lesson 18

Tablets for Textbooks in Schools

For Philippine schools, even for private ones catering to children of the well I to-do families,  the so called tablet -for a learning is still futuristic. Give however, the recognize impact of technology in education, the future may not be too far away.

Today, books are still the primary medium in instruction  most schools.it is doubtful if these will totally be replace by digital technology reading tool ,but there are now perceptions that virtual literacy May very well ease out textual print literacy.Already, he disadvantages of using books for learning are being debated upon.For school-graders, the load of books and wordbooks for every subject are backbreaking  due to their weight and size.In developing countries, one book for every student is still a goal, not a reality.Publishing and printing millions of books for millions of public school children are just too expensive for the public purse.The errors in public school textbooks has also been exposed,errors resulting from wrong information,technical mistakes, and editorial lapses.

Today, technology is being viewed ad a savior.Given the fact that students are enamored y computer games which take much of their time at home, educators have  begun to think that the computer screen can very well serve as a powerful educational medium.Already computer games have been adopted in developed countries as a learning technology along with other audio-visual aids to teaching and learning. Classroom instruction which rides the vehicle of gaming admittedly makes learning more effective and more fun.From studies,educational video gaming has been shown to inculcate competencies that relate to learning concentration, lasting memory recall and higher visual literacy.

Lesson 16

The Internet and Education

The internet, also simply called the Net, is the largest and far-flung network system of all systems.Surprisingly, the internet is not really a network but a loosely organized collection of about 25,000 networks accessed by computer on the planet.It is astonishing  to know that no one owns the internet. It has no central headquarters, no centrally offers services,and no comprehensive online index to tell users what information is available in the system.

How is everything coordinated through the internet? This is done through a standardized protocol ( or set of rules for exchanging data) called TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL/INTERNET PROTOCOL (TCP/IP). To gain access to the internet, the computer must be equipped with as is called as server which has a special software that uses the internet protocol.Originally develops and still subsidized by the  united States Government,the internet connects not only commercial , industrial,scientific establishment but all other sectors including education and its libraries,campuses and computer centers.

         The great atractions of the internet is one the sign up fees Are paid, there are no extra charges.Electronic mail,for example, is free regardless of the amount of use.In contrast,individuals using the internet on their own personal computers must pay ungoing monthly fees to whoever is their service provider.

GETTING AROUND THE NET

        The vast sea of information now in the internet, including news and trivia,is an over whelming challenge to whom who wish to navigate it .Everyday,the net user population and the available information,continue to grow , and new ways are continuously being developed to tour the internet.

The most attractive way to move around the internet is called browsing. Using a program called browser, the user can use a mouse to point and click on screen icons to surf the internet, particularly the World Wide Web (the Web) , an Internet, s subset of text,images, and sounds are linked together to allow users to access data or information needed.

The future of the internet seems limitless. Already its complexity has spawned and continue to spawn Net sites including new demand for services to business, industries , science, government, and even homes. Many effort predict that the internet is destined to become the centerpiece of all online communication in the planet and in some future time in the solar system using interplanetary satellite communication stations.

A view of educational uses of the Internet

Today, even elementary school paraders in progressive countries like the United states are corresponding via e-mail with pen pals in all 50 states. They ask probing questions like, “What is your state’s most serious problem?,” or How much does a pizza cost in your state? This educational activity prodded by their schools are paying dividends for increasing the pupil’s interest min Geography to a greater understanding of how people live in large cities and other places in the United States or the world.

Educations software materials have also developed both in sophistication and appeal. There is now a wider choice from rote arithmetic or grammar lessons to discovery and innovation projects. But the real possibility today is connecting with the world outside homes, classroom, and Internet cafes. Today schools are gearing up to take advantage of the Internet access, where they can plug into the library of Congress, make virtual visits to famous museums in the world, write to celebrities , and even send questions to heads of states.

Lesson 15

Understanding Hypermedia

Hypermedia is nothing but multimedia, but this tie packaged as an educational computer software where information is presented and student activities are integrated in a virtual I learning environment. Most educational IT applications are hypermedia and these include:

• tutorial software package;
• knowledge webpages;
• simulation instructional games; and
• learning project management, and others.

The presentation of information-learning activities in hypermedia is said to be sequenced in a non-linear manner, meaning that the learner my follow his path of activities thus providing an environment if leaner autonomy and thinking skills.The fact makes it therefore important to understand hypermedia in order to ensure their successful integration in the teaching-learning process.

 The flight simulator used to train pilots in an example of a highly developed hypermedia program. Observe that it simulates an environment that allows the students pilots to practice authentic (as needed to be dine in the real world) tasks while reducing the lot of the cognitive mode of learning.

Characteristic of hypermedia applications

There are two important features that are outstanding — among other features that characterize the hypermedia software:

1. Learner control. The means the learner makes his owown decisions on path, row or events of instruction. The learner has control on such aspects as sequence, pace content, media, feedback, etc. that he/she may encounter in the hypermedia Pershing program.
2. Learner wide range of navigation routes. For the most part, the learner controls the sequence and pace of us path depending on his/her ability and motivation. He/she has the option to repeat and change speed, if desired. Of course, at the start the learner may choose the learning activities he/she prefers. Meanwhile, the teacher has the prerogative to determined suitable learning objectives.

  The learner also be a wide range of navigation routes such as by working on concepts  he/she is already familiar with. He/she may even follow a liner or logical path, even if the previous activity is half-completed. He/she may explore other sections opting to return or complete the previous activity.

3. Variety of media. Hypermedia includes more than one media (text,graphics audio,animation and video clip) but does not necessarily use all types of media in one presentation.Since only virtual learning activity takes place,it is important from the standpoint of the teacher to optimize the learning process by identifying the characteristics of media application,as well as the advantages and limitations of such an application.

        Given all its capabilities,hypermedia still does not replace life’s experience and learning from nature and life.This is the saying that information and communication technology cannot replace the teacher altogether.Note that even technologist admit that a computer has an IQ of zero and depends on what man can input or make of it. GIGO or “garbage-in, garbage a out” is the very first principle that should be remembered about the computer.

     In the use of hypermedia the following instructional events well prove useful to the he teacher:

• Get the learners’ attention.
• Recall prior learning.
• Inform learners of lesson objectives.
• Introduce the software and it’s distinctive features.
• Guide learning, eliciting performance.
• Provide learning feedback.
• Assess performance .
• Enhance retention and learning transfer.

Lesson 14

Software as an Educational Resource

Whenever people think about computers, they are most likely thinking about the computer machine such as the television-like monitor screen, the keyboard to type on, and the computer housing called “the box” which contains the electronics parts and circuits (the central processing unit) that receives/ stores data and direct computer operations. The computer machine or hardware is naturally an attention-getter.

It’s more difficult to realize, however, that the computer hardware can hardly be useful without the program or system that tells what the computer machine should do. This is also called the software.

There are two kinds if software:

1. The system software. at his is the operating system that is found or bundle inside all computer machines
2. The applications software. This contains the system that commands the particular task or solves a particular problem.

Microsoft Windows

Also referred to as a program, Microsoft Windows or Windows for shot is an operating environment between the user and the computer operating system. All called a shell, it is slayer that creates the way the computer should work. Windows uses a colorful graphics interface (called GUI- pronounce “goose”) that can be seen on the computer screen and monitor whenever the computer is turn on.

The her can work in on-screen pictures (icons) and suggestions (menus) to arrive at the desired software. Windows 95 (now improve with Windows 2003,2007) is a software designed for Microsoft Windows.Actually, Windows is in itself a self-contained operating system which provides :

• User convenience – just click on the file name to retrieve data or click from program to program as easy as changing channels in your TV screen
• A new look- fancy boarders , smooth and streamlined text fonts
• Information center- Windows put all communications activities (e-mail, download etc. in a single screen icon); adapts/configures the computer for the internet .
• Plug and play- configure the computer with added components, such as for sound and video.

Instructional software

Instructional software can be visited on the Internet or can be bought from software shops or dealers. The teacher through his school should decide on the best computer-based instructional (CBI) materials for the school resource collection. But beware since CBIs need much improvement, while web-based educational resources are either extremely good or what is complete garbage. In evaluating computer-based educational materials, the following can serve as guidelines:

• Be extremely cautious in using CBIs and ‘free’ Internet materials.
• Don’t be caught up by attractive graphics, sound, animation, pictures, video clips and music forgetting their instructional wort
•  Teachers must evaluate these resources using sound pedagogical principles.
• Among design and content elements to evaluate are: the text legibility, effective use of color schemes, attractive layout and design, and easy navigation from section-to-section (such as from game to tutorial to drill-and-practice section).
•  Observe clarity in the explanations and illustrations of concepts and principles.
• Maintain  accuracy, coherence, logic of information
• Are they being current since data/statistics continually change.
•  Are they relevant and effective in attaining learning objectives.
• Observe absence of biased materials (e.g. gender bias or racial bias).
  Instructional software can be visited on the Internet or can be bought from software shops or dealers. The teacher through his school should decide on the best computer-based instructional (CBI) materials for the school resource collection.

Instructional software can be visited on the Internet or can be bought from software shops or dealers. The teacher through his school should decide on the best computer-based instructional (CBI) materials for the school resource collection.

Lesson 13

Cooperative Learning with the Computer

Cooperative or collaborative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in a common learning task. It is often also called group learning but be truly cooperative learning, five (5) elements are needed:

1. a common goal
2. interdependence
3. interaction
4. individual accountability
5. social skills

Therefore not every group work is cooperative learning since students working on their work sheets physically sat around a table may be working together without these features of cooperative learning.

From several studies made on cooperative learning, it is manifested that cooperative learning in its true sense is advantageous since it:

1. encourages active learning, while motivating students;
2. increase academic performance;
3. promotes literacy and language skills; and
4. improves teacher effectiveness.

In addition, there are studies which show that cooperative learning enhances personal and social development among students of all ages, while enhancing self-esteem and improving social relation between racially and culturally different students.

Lesson 12

Information in Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

The idea of student-centered learning is not a recent idea. In fact, as early as the 20^th century, educational educators such as John Dewey argued for highly active and individualized pedagogical methods which place the student at the center of the teaching-learning process.

The Traditional Classroom

It may be observed that classrooms are usually arranged with neat columns and rows of student chairs or desks, while the teacher stands in front of the classroom or sits behind his table. This situation is necessitated by the need to maintain classroom discipline, also allows the teacher to control classroom activities through lecture presentation and teacher-led discussions.

Noticeably, however, after spending so many minutes in lesson presentation and class management, students can get restless and fidgety. Often enough, the teacher has to also manage misbehavior in class as students start to talk among themselves or simply stare away in lack of attention.

The SCL Classroom

          John Dewey has described traditional learning as a process in which the teacher pours information to student learners, much like pouring water from a jug into cups. This is based on the long accepted belief that the teacher must perform his role of teaching so that learning can occur. This learning approach is generally known as direct instruction, and it has worked well for obtaining many kinds of learning outcomes. The problem with it is that the approach in learning, however, is the fact that the world’s societies have began to change. It may not be felt strongly to countries in which on countries who depends mostly their economy to factory workers. Traditional and direct instruction is very useful in these countries.

          In contrast, industrialized societies we find knowledge-based economies in which workers depend on information that can be accessed through information and communication technologies (ICTs). Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration, schools in these developed economies have also adopted the support of ICTs. Their students have now become active not passive learners, demonstrating independence and self-awareness in the learning process.

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