We went to Mxl for our ICT lesson yesterday and we were allowed to play on the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3. I enjoyed playing Wii most.
Woke up today with achy arms, from the boxing Wii game yesterday. Hahaha..
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
E-learning and its evaluation
We had our ICT e-learning week last week and we were given a few assignments to be completed. It was an interesting activity, and I feel that it has helped me understand some issues that I may comment on for the individual assignment.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Planning for Effective Lessons
Chapter 6 of the ICT textbook identifies the different roles of a teacher: a presenter, a facilitator and a designer.
I feel that setting goals for a lessons is the most important step. As mentioned in the textbook, "without them, teaching may become disorganised and consequently learning becomes haphazard."
The eight main steps approach to instructional planning are:
1. Identifying instructional goals (the most important step)
2. Analysing learners/students (their general ability levels, learning styles, prerequisite knowledge and skills, ICT skills, and attitudes towards learning the subject)
3. Identifying the objectives (A-Audience, B-Behaviours of the learner, C-Conditions needed or used, D-Degree of acceptable performance)
4.Planning of instructional activities (introduction, development and conclusion + motivating the students)
5. Choosing of instructional media (non-projected and projected media) (based on the appropriateness, suitability, visual design and practicality)
6. Developing of assessment tools
7. Implementing of instruction
8. Revising of instruction ( feedback is important)
As a new teacher, I feel that carrying out the above is a rather difficult task as I am new to all the important things that have to be looked out for. However, I believe that as more practices are done and more information about the students are known, the above 8 steps will come naturally and will be modified accurately for the different target audience with ease.
There is a checklist at the end of the chapter which I feel is beneficial for planning an instruction. There are a lot of things to be learnt and I am sure as I fully enter the profession, I will be able to learn them with ease and to use them to effectively carry out my lessons :)
I feel that setting goals for a lessons is the most important step. As mentioned in the textbook, "without them, teaching may become disorganised and consequently learning becomes haphazard."
The eight main steps approach to instructional planning are:
1. Identifying instructional goals (the most important step)
2. Analysing learners/students (their general ability levels, learning styles, prerequisite knowledge and skills, ICT skills, and attitudes towards learning the subject)
3. Identifying the objectives (A-Audience, B-Behaviours of the learner, C-Conditions needed or used, D-Degree of acceptable performance)
4.Planning of instructional activities (introduction, development and conclusion + motivating the students)
5. Choosing of instructional media (non-projected and projected media) (based on the appropriateness, suitability, visual design and practicality)
6. Developing of assessment tools
7. Implementing of instruction
8. Revising of instruction ( feedback is important)
As a new teacher, I feel that carrying out the above is a rather difficult task as I am new to all the important things that have to be looked out for. However, I believe that as more practices are done and more information about the students are known, the above 8 steps will come naturally and will be modified accurately for the different target audience with ease.
There is a checklist at the end of the chapter which I feel is beneficial for planning an instruction. There are a lot of things to be learnt and I am sure as I fully enter the profession, I will be able to learn them with ease and to use them to effectively carry out my lessons :)
ICT Session 4
For today's lesson, we had two special guests who are teachers from a Secondary and a Primary school respectively. Daryl's talk was on how Nintendo Wii can be incorporated into lessons.
Students nowadays are really fortunate to be able to "play games" during their lessons. I think the whole idea is really cool and I am sure the students really enjoyed their Home Economics with Cooking MaMa (a game that I really like playing) and their Biology wif Trauma Centre. Incorporating games in teaching will enhance the learning experience and can fully attract the students' attention from start to end.
Hopefully I will be able to find some games that can be used during my Chinese Language of Literature lessons. I am convinced that by doing so, students will be more receptive during their lessons.
I also learnt that apart from looking into Wii games, I can also seek out games from the Web, Facebook, PC games, Xbox etc.
A very important take-home message from Daryl's presentation was that a lesson has to be meaningful and that students should be able to learn something out of it.
Something important I have learnt from the second speaker's presentation is that although I am going to be a Secondary school teacher, I have to know what the students have learnt(skills set) or gone through, and how the learning methods that they had in their primary schools, so that I can plan my lessons effectively. Pedagogical approaches can then be modified accordingly.
One important message from this speaker was at the end of the day, whether the time spent doing up the lessons with ICT is worth it.
I have enjoyed the two presentations and have come to know about how innovative teachers and lessons can be.
Students nowadays are really fortunate to be able to "play games" during their lessons. I think the whole idea is really cool and I am sure the students really enjoyed their Home Economics with Cooking MaMa (a game that I really like playing) and their Biology wif Trauma Centre. Incorporating games in teaching will enhance the learning experience and can fully attract the students' attention from start to end.
Hopefully I will be able to find some games that can be used during my Chinese Language of Literature lessons. I am convinced that by doing so, students will be more receptive during their lessons.
I also learnt that apart from looking into Wii games, I can also seek out games from the Web, Facebook, PC games, Xbox etc.
A very important take-home message from Daryl's presentation was that a lesson has to be meaningful and that students should be able to learn something out of it.
Something important I have learnt from the second speaker's presentation is that although I am going to be a Secondary school teacher, I have to know what the students have learnt(skills set) or gone through, and how the learning methods that they had in their primary schools, so that I can plan my lessons effectively. Pedagogical approaches can then be modified accordingly.
One important message from this speaker was at the end of the day, whether the time spent doing up the lessons with ICT is worth it.
I have enjoyed the two presentations and have come to know about how innovative teachers and lessons can be.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
ICT Session 3
Today's lesson was an introduction to the different pedagogical approaches that we can learn to adopt in our teaching.
Pedagogy of the Chinese language includes analysis of newspaper articles, rote learning, field trips, bringing the students to heritage centres, small group learning/lectures, learning stations and individual learning/group work etc.
Today, we were mainly introduced to 5 types of pedagogical approaches, namely, project- based learning, inquiry- based learning, game- based learning, resource- based learning and case- based learning.
We were divided into 5 groups with each of the groups discussing one of the above- mentioned pedagogical approach. I was in the group dealing with inquiry- based learning. It was an interesting exercise and I have learnt a lot more about this approach.
The process involved in this approach is basically: Ask-> Investigate-> Create-> Discuss-> Reflect, then returning to the Asking process. The whole process is a cycle.
I believe that this approach, when carried out effectively, will help to initiate an independant learning environment and will also build up the interests of the students on a particular topic.
Pedagogy of the Chinese language includes analysis of newspaper articles, rote learning, field trips, bringing the students to heritage centres, small group learning/lectures, learning stations and individual learning/group work etc.
Today, we were mainly introduced to 5 types of pedagogical approaches, namely, project- based learning, inquiry- based learning, game- based learning, resource- based learning and case- based learning.
We were divided into 5 groups with each of the groups discussing one of the above- mentioned pedagogical approach. I was in the group dealing with inquiry- based learning. It was an interesting exercise and I have learnt a lot more about this approach.
The process involved in this approach is basically: Ask-> Investigate-> Create-> Discuss-> Reflect, then returning to the Asking process. The whole process is a cycle.
I believe that this approach, when carried out effectively, will help to initiate an independant learning environment and will also build up the interests of the students on a particular topic.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
ICT Session 2
In today's lesson, we were shown a video on the Environmental and Spatial Technology initiative(EAST) in Arkansas. I totally enjoyed what was introduced to the students as they were given the freedom to carry out their own ideas and projects. I believe that by doing this, a very interesting and non- restrictive learning environment is created for the students.
Seeing the students taking pride in their projects simply is truly encouraging. The success of their projects is important, but so are the soft skills that the students have developed: their communication skills, skills of interaction, their heightened confidence, the importance of teamwork, independence and a passion for learning.
Would be nice if I can incorporate this style of learning in school next time. However, support must be given by the school and my fellow colleagues. This will be a revoluntionary change from the "spoon-feeding" style that most schools practise nowadays.
The indicators listed in Chapter 3 of the textbook really gives me an insight on how self-directed students learn and how,as a teacher, I can help to strengthen thier potential.With the introduction to the ICT tools available, I feel that I can better understand how and what I can do to help these students. I believe the use of system mapping, pbwiki and concept maps can help my students in their learning of Chinese Literature.
The video on the "collaborative learning Ice Moon Project" was also very interesting. I am sure all the students will have a great sense of satisfaction at the end of the exercise. If the school provides the support and if the students are very willing to participate, I would like to create a collaborative learning exercise which I believe the students have much to benefit from.
:)
Seeing the students taking pride in their projects simply is truly encouraging. The success of their projects is important, but so are the soft skills that the students have developed: their communication skills, skills of interaction, their heightened confidence, the importance of teamwork, independence and a passion for learning.
Would be nice if I can incorporate this style of learning in school next time. However, support must be given by the school and my fellow colleagues. This will be a revoluntionary change from the "spoon-feeding" style that most schools practise nowadays.
The indicators listed in Chapter 3 of the textbook really gives me an insight on how self-directed students learn and how,as a teacher, I can help to strengthen thier potential.With the introduction to the ICT tools available, I feel that I can better understand how and what I can do to help these students. I believe the use of system mapping, pbwiki and concept maps can help my students in their learning of Chinese Literature.
The video on the "collaborative learning Ice Moon Project" was also very interesting. I am sure all the students will have a great sense of satisfaction at the end of the exercise. If the school provides the support and if the students are very willing to participate, I would like to create a collaborative learning exercise which I believe the students have much to benefit from.
:)
Sunday, August 9, 2009
ICT Session 1
The ICT lesson on 5th August'09 was basically an introduction to the course and knowing more about the classmates.
It was the first time that I learnt about the ICT Masterplans of MOE. Never knew the current plan runs straight to the year 2014. This goes to show that when I become a teacher officially, I will be affected by this plan, while in the same time preparations will be ongoing for the next masterplan.
I have read through the 2 chapters required, and it was really informative. Details are given on what is expected of teachers and things that we can do to make our lessons more interesting and meaningful for the students.
I believe there are a lot of things that I can learn from this ICT course and I hope that I can apply in my future lessons to make learning more enjoyable for my students.
:)
It was the first time that I learnt about the ICT Masterplans of MOE. Never knew the current plan runs straight to the year 2014. This goes to show that when I become a teacher officially, I will be affected by this plan, while in the same time preparations will be ongoing for the next masterplan.
I have read through the 2 chapters required, and it was really informative. Details are given on what is expected of teachers and things that we can do to make our lessons more interesting and meaningful for the students.
I believe there are a lot of things that I can learn from this ICT course and I hope that I can apply in my future lessons to make learning more enjoyable for my students.
:)
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Setting up a new blog..
I think this ICT lesson is really interesting as each of us are required to set up our very own blogs. Which other lesson actually requires us to do that? Haha. How cool is that?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
