LESSON 10 : The Computer as a Tutor

              There has been a fear that someday in the future teachers will be replaced with CAI because as an assessment it is much better if we will used the computer to assist as in our learning for it is consistent and objective. Yes, it is partly true and also partly wrong because we all know that there are roles that teachers have to do that CAI cannot. A computer cannot assess and insure if the students have the needed knowledge and skills for it does not have any will and intellect.

               Teacher can decide the appropriate learning objectives while computers do not, a teachers can plan any structured activities to achieve objectives suited to the needs of its students and a teacher can evaluate the student’s achievements by ways of tests of the expected outcomes. With CAI, we can only expect lower level learning skills and what is only programmed in the computer will be the only thing a student will learn unlike with a teacher, we can learn more from him/her as we can freely asks questions or can interact with different experiences in life.

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)

          The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as a classroom tutor. It should be made clear, however, that the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller. Even with the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must:

• ·          Insure that the students have the needed knowledge and skills for any             computer activity.
• ·         Decide the appropriate learning objectives·
• ·         Plan the sequential and structured activities to achieve objectives.
• ·         Evaluate the students’ achievement by ways of tests of the specific                   expected outcomes.

On the other hand, the student in CAI play their own roles as learners as they:

·         Receive information·

·         Understand instructions for the computer activity·

·         Retain/keep in mind information and rules for the computer activity.

·   Apply the knowledge and rules during the process of computer learning.

During the computer activity proper in CAI the computer, too, plays its roles as it:

•      Acts as a sort of tutor·
•           Provides a learning environment·
•           Delivers learning instruction·
•           Reinforces learning through drill and practice·
•           Provides feedback.

              Today, educators accept the fact that the computer has indeed succeeded in providing an individualized learning environment so difficult for a teacher handling whole class. This is so, since the computer is able to allow individual students to learn at their own pace, motivate learning through a challenging virtual learning environment, and assist students through information needed during the learning process.

REFLECTION

                        Teacher must engage to the computer that explaining the student the good purpose of the computer not for playing or as part of their daily activities which id play games. We all know that computer can play the role of tutor in nearly any classroom. Teachers have only so much time on their hands, and even the most student-oriented teachers can leave children behind. One way to close this gap is to use the computer as a tutor. Many lessons, instructions and problem-solving materials are available on the web. One concern with computers is that they can reduce learning demands on students.

                       With access to the web comes millions of pieces of information, many of which contain answers to common problems from school. Students can use computers to do less work or even to cheat. The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as classroom tutor. It should be made clear, however, that the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play the major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller.

APPLICATION

               As a future teacher, I can use CAI to make my students learn our lesson in a “more fun” way. But I should not forget that CAI is just my tool, my aid in teaching. As much as possible, I will only employ CAI if the real thing or the real avenue is not available. I can also make use of CAI if I am not around when I don’t want to compromise the learning of my students. Of course, I understand not everyone can have immediate access to CAI since not everyone is fortunate enough to have PCs or if the lab is available, not everyone may be accommodated. With that, I think I will consider doing by group. But if it happened that I get to work in a far flung school without electricity, then I think I will just have to introduce the important concepts or if I can look for an alternative for CAI then I think I should go for it. 

LESSON 9: Computers as Information and Communication Technology

                Computer has really played a very significant role in educational technology and the most indispensable tool for ICT revolution. Computer-assisted Instruction (CAI) was introduced as an approach which promotes individualize learning. Information technology is so dynamic that computers used as computing devices are now used in the educative process. It serves two major functions: communication media and audiovisual media.

 

Communication media – Computers serve as communication tool. Internet has paved the way for this to happen. Email, chat rooms, blog sites, news services, and movies /music/television room are just some of the avenue for communication.

Audiovisual media - Computers served as media for multimedia applications for better teaching inside the classroom, such multimedia are text, sound, graphics, chart, photos, and PowerPoint presentation. Educational websites where learners could log into and learned has also emerged. Not only that it helped improved teaching and learning process but also other institutional functioning such as accounting.

                What is the difference between instructional media and educational communication media? The audio-visual aids that served to enhance and enrich the teaching and learning process are referred as instructional media. Examples are blackboard, photo, film, and video. On the other hand educational communication media is comprised of media of communication, such as prints, films, radio, television or satellites. These two upon the advent of the microprocessor which also known as personal computer, merged. This is because with personal computers, any learner can use it as tool for both audio-visual creations and media communication.

                The following are some of the programs installed in a personal computer:

·         Microsoft Office – Program for composing text, graphics, etc.

·         PowerPoint – For presentation

·         Excel – Spreadsheet application

·         Internet explorer – Access to Internet

·         Yahoo or Google – Websites for researching, chatting, blogging etc.

·         Adobe Reader – Graphics/photo composing and editing

·         MSN – Mailing/chatting/messaging

·         Windows Media Player – CD/VCD player, video playing

·         Gamehouse – gaming

 

REFLECTION:

                It is important to note that computer is more than just a computing device; in education, it is so much more than just that. It is important for a teacher to be knowledgeable of the different applications of computer. With the knowledge of it, the teacher can extend the wings of teaching and learning process. There are more gates of learning that can be open. Avenues of skill development are made available through computers so it is important for teachers to employ CAI.

APPLICATION:

               

                In my teaching , I will employ CAI. I will exert an effort in learning more about computers so that better assist and facilitate in the learning of my students. Even if I am going to teach science (most likely), I believe that the Internet can provide what’s lacking in my teaching. I will try to deviate from the traditional mode of teaching and employ student-centered approaches with the help of computers; I can makes use of Inquiry-based approach to stimulate and initiate learning in my students.

LESSON 8 : Higher Thinking Skills Through IT-Based Project

This lesson focuses on the four types of IT-based projects that effectively to develop higher level of thinking. These projects makes use of constructivist approach in instruction. Furthermore, these projects contains the key elements of a constructivist approach namely: (a) the teacher creating the learning environment; (b) the teacher giving students the tools and facilities; and (c) the teacher facilitating the learning. It is the students who demonstrate higher level of thinking and creativity. These creativity projects can be achieved with the help of teachers equipped with the technical skills.  The following projects are tools in initiating them.

Resource-based Projects – Here, the teacher shifts from the sole source of information. Instead, the students generate their own meaning and facts. However, the teacher is still in the process. The teacher determines the topic and presents the problem, then, the students search for information about the problem and organize information to answer/solve the problem. In here, the students are encouraged to go beyond the book. Inquiry-based or discovery approach is given much emphasis in resource-based projects. It is the process that is given much emphasis than the product.

                Simple Creations – Students creativity is tested here. Creativity here connotes planning, making, assembling, designing or building. It is a combination of the following skills: (a) analyzing – ability to distinguish differences and similarities; (b) synthesizing – ability to make connections among ideas; and (c) promoting – ability to sell new ideas. In order to develop creativity, the following tasks may be done: (a) define the task – set up goals to complete the project; (b) brainstorm – students generate their own ideas; (c) judge the ideas – students decide which “idea” is good, what to include and what to exclude; (d) act – students do the work; and (e) adopt flexibility – students are allowed to shift or to change paths for the better.

Guided Hypermedia Projects – This refers to self-made projects. It could be approached as an instructive way such as making of PowerPoint presentation or as a communicative tool such as when students make multimedia presentations.

Web-based Projects – Here, students create and post their own webpages.

REFLECTION:

                In this information age, the 3 R’s are no longer sufficient to meet the demand of the world. There is indeed the need in the development and acquiring of the six skills. It is important to have all of them because absence of one affects all. The teacher must give IT-based projects and activities that develops higher level of thinking of the students. The teacher must bear in mind that in employing IT-based projects, the teacher must act as facilitator not the sole source of information. The teacher must develop creativity in students. 

APPLICATION:

                 As a future teacher, I must be the catalyst for the development of higher level of thinking. I must provide the conducive learning environment. I must be a facilitator of learning and not the sole source of information. My sources must be varied; I should make use of the Internet, print materials, and multimedia materials. I must employ inquiry-based approach to stimulate my students in learning and bring up their ideas. I must not only focus on the output, rather on the process in how my students would do it so my assessment must be both qualitative and quantitative.

LESSON 7: Evaluation of Technology Learning

         This lesson talks about change of standard student’s evaluation. Evaluative are the tools for essential in teaching – learning process. Evaluation must be geared to assessment of essential knowledge and skills so that learners can function effectively, productively and creatively in a new world. It must use evaluative tools that measure the new basic skills of the 21^st century digital culture; the solution fluency, information fluency, collaboration fluency, creative fluency media fluency and digital citizenship. This involvement of digital instructional materials and digital learners into digital world are also part of the lesson. The lesson also gives an emphasis about the effectiveness of assessment for the learners. The content is about the evaluative tools for 21st century. This lesson focuses on how future educators developed the effective and efficient way of teaching using appropriate and updated evaluation tools. The teachers must adopt a new mindset of instructing and evaluating the learners.

         The lesson also reviews the six basic digital skills that are connected to the achievement of the highly competent way of evaluating. Apart from discussing the evaluation process for the 21st century, the lesson also defines the mass amateurization. Mass amateurization is the change of evaluation approach, from the amateur creator of outputs to professional creator of outcomes and products. It gives an impression to the teachers and learners that high technologies are very essential for the learning and evaluating process. In this lesson, it emphasizes the role of digital instructions in the modern times especially in evaluating student outputs. As efforts are exerted to go digital in instruction, we need to also go digital in learning. Today, students are expected to be not only cognitive, but also flexible, analytical, and creative.

Reflection

            Based on the experiences that I have, I realize that sometimes, no matter how tried we do, we cannot achieve something because it is beyond our hands, it beyond our capability, and beyond our reach. Sometimes, we tend to do anything in achieving these things but forget those important ones. I realized that sometimes, the things we have done for good result to chaos. As a future teacher, we should be prepare enough not just to those technology that may arise but to the effects it could have to you and to your student in the future. You need to practice in balancing everything, because based on the observations and experiences; I realized that everything should be in balance so that the learning of the student is really there. You need to be a good scriptwriter in making a story that is very comprehensive and very substantial to them that is having a smooth connection from the topic that you are discussing up to the evaluation that you are using with the aid of technology. I realized that we should be aware enough of the impacts of these to our students in the future.

Application

             In line with the reflection and the experiences that we have undergone, we could apply this in implement in doing evaluation to your students in the future. You could use technology based evaluation if you think it is more appropriate. It means that it depends upon the topic that you have. It can be more applied in doing laboratory activity like virtual game we did in our cell biology. We could use PowerPoint in having quizzes or doing something actually using the PowerPoint as a guide, in that, we could say that we are having an evaluation using technology.

LESSON 6: Developing Basic Digital Skills

               In order for teachers to better adapt of the digital world, it must be made to know to them the basic skills to develop. Of course, primarily, it should be the 3 R’s: Reading, wRitng, and aRithmetic. There are six skills essential in equipping the students to become successful – fluency skills.

                

 

Solution Fluency – This refers to the capacity of students to devise creative solution to problems, apply and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution.     

Student accessing to information

                 

Information Fluency - This refers to the (a) ability to access information not only in the internet but on other resources too; (b) ability to retrieved information; and (c) ability to evaluate and reflect on the validity and accuracy of information and be able to rewrite the information in own words.

                

Collaboration Fluency – This refers to the teamwork be it virtual or actual, of the learners. There is partnership among learners in learning.

              

Media Fluency - This refers to the ability to evaluate information from chosen media and the ability to creatively make one that can also be published.

                 

 Creativity Fluency – This refers to the ability to creatively create stuffs.

                

 

Digital Ethics – As a digital citizen, the digital learner is guided by principles that would help him/her do right decisions. Before he/she clicks, he/she thinks.

                 

       
               Higher thinking skills are important to a digital learner. Such thinking helps him/her process information, create ideas, and solve real-world problems. To attain HTS, Blooms Taxonomy can be a guide, it has the following framework: (1) remembering – recall information; (2) understanding – explain ideas; (3) applying – use the information in several ways; (4) analyzing – distinguishing parts; (5) evaluating – justify stand; and (6) creating – making new product.

REFLECTION:
              

                      Good for me because even before I went to high school, I already have the prior knowledge on how to use the computer but my classmate who hadn’t had their prior experiences on how to use computers really had hard times in using it. I cannot say that my teacher’s approach in teaching the subject was wrong but with my knowledge now, I could say that it would have been better if there was a “more basic” approach in teaching. There should have been repetitive activities and drills to so that we could have learned better, my classmates would learned the easier way. There should have also been emphasis on at least developing our skills to develop media skill so that we could have been, I could have been a better evaluator of information.

                 It is important for the digital teacher to be able to develop the said above skills so that in turn, the students get to develop them too. It is important for the teacher to develop the higher thinking skills of his/her students because without this, the above said skills cannot be manifested.

 

APPLICATION:

          
                    As a future teacher, I must seriously aim for the development of the higher level of thinking of my students so that they will get to develop the six essentials skills to be better digital learners.  I will make use of activities that will make them solution makers, evaluator and retriever of information, collaborative, skeptic (in a good way) in choosing media, and be model netizens. I must see to it that all these skills are in them and they get to be in conformity with the trend of the world.