1B_4Activity 8a: Teaching Spaces

Advantages: Learning spaces are modified by teachers to cater for new learning technologies.*Access to on-line resources which use a powerful combination of video, multimedia, text and graphics, prepared by specialists in a centralised resource development facility and delivered to individuals or groups by technology.*Provision for the teacher to teach the whole class or part of the class*Ability to cater for individual learning styles*Flexible room layout and furnishing.*Individualised access to network resources *Anytime anywhere access to network resources away from school. Disadvantages of classroom spaces*Classroom spaces cater for the traditional curriculum so it requires lots of finances to adjust these spaces. *The student’s tables in the classroom (layout) restricts the movements and activities that students can be engaged in.*Securing ICT tools and equipment in the new space from theft and vandalism can be a challenge. Ideas already implemented and those that are most worthwhile attempting: I have attempted very few of the ideas stated in the Churchill report. This is because my school has been fully utilising ICT as a teaching and learning tool.

The most serious constraints faced in re-organising the classroom space for ICT -Lack of access to technology tools for individual students as well as whole group.- • The physical classroom layout is not ideal to ICT use. • New furniture will have to be acquired for both students and teachers. • Teachers will have to be fully trained in integrating ICT in teaching and learning so that they can manage the classroom effectively.

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1B_4Activity 8b:Why wait for ICT?

I think that we should not wait for ICT before we examine our teaching methods. Children learn differently or have multiple intelligences as Howard Gardener indicated and we should all aspire to adjust our techniques as well as our pedagogical skills in order to cater to their individual differences. Times are changing and therefore advancements in technology as well as the environments, in which children live, enable them to learn new information and consequently, teachers need to devise new strategies of teaching and motivating students intrinsically. The behavourists methods of teaching will not help students to construct meaningful knowledge for themselves. Teachers also need to become smart workers and collaborate with colleagues so that they can all learn from each other and acquire professional development.

1B_4 Activity 9: School Readiness

Having examined both the Mankato Scale and the Star Chart, I realized that the Mankato Scale could be somewhat utilized in our setting at this moment  but not the Star chart. The Mankato Scale has features that would enable us to see our progression where ICT development is concerned and also our shortcomings. The   Star chart has features that have not been introduced in our schools but i think that in the not too distant future when further steps have been taken to integrate ICT in teaching and learning, both tools, especially Star Chart, would be excellent for assessing our advancements in integrating ICT in our curriculum.

2A_5 Activity 11: Creating a Personal Learning Network

In creating my personal learning network, I created a community on the PIL site and named it ICT for Primary School Teachers. I then created a purpose for the site. I also uploaded a photo, made an announcement, invited persons to join, and posted a discussion topic. Finally, I shared my community on twitter by sending a tweet to my followers.I think that having a PLN is a great start towards integrating ICT in teaching and learning, in my school setting. A PLN would enable you to collaborate with colleagues globally by sharing ideas and best practices as well as solving problems that may arise.