Seasons Greetings

Hi All,
Happy to know that we are nearing the end of this module. Seasons greetings.

Activity 10: Flipped Classroom

In flipped classroom teachers assign pre-class homework consisting of brief, recorded lectures and presentations, digital readings with collaborative annotation capabilities, and discussion board participation. This frees up classroom time to promote active learning through collaborative, project-based learning using simple display and sharing tools. The flipped classrooms open the doors for teachers to communicate and guide their student's learning instead of being the end-all-be-all of the content. When students are given the opportunity to self-drive their basic learning, they can create stronger connections to the information.

All teachers should be cautious when deciding to use the flipped classroom. Lectures can be disengaging, but at the same time, the lecturer can use props and different ways of speaking in short periods of time to engage the audience. 

Activity 9: Cellphones in the Classroom

Cellphones, like other devices have their pros and cons

Pros

•          Cell Phones Can Help Students Be More Organize
•          Alleviates Strain on the school's network.
•          It Speeds Up Information Retrieval
•          Allows Us to Teach students Digital Responsibility and Citizenship
•      It sets a Model for Effective Change and Innovation

Cons

•    They lead to disruptions in class
•  Possible cheating on tests
•  Texting may affect spelling and writing in the classroom setting because of language used
•  Gang rivalry and  after school fights

I think that issues such as theft of phones and students not having compatible phones will have to be ironed out before  before using cellphones in the classroom. The following could also be followed:

·  Upon entry and departure of class  ensure cell phones are turned off and stored in your backpack.

·  On days when not using cell phones for learning ensure they are set to silent.

·  Only use phones for learning purposes related to classwork.

· If you notice someone in the class using their cell phone inappropriately, remind them to use proper cell phone etiquette.

·  Strong crisis communication plan must be in place for dealing with issues such as cellphone theft.

Activity 8:Managing online communication and collaboration

The use of social networks in the classroom is quite prevalent in today’s society. Such powerful technologies have their dangers and society is still struggling to react adequately to the issues raised. pupils are way ahead of us with social networking, instant messaging, text and mobile use, although many young people lack an appreciation of online dangers and of the consequences of their actions.

E-Safety encompasses not only Internet technologies but also electronic communications such as mobile phones and wireless technology. It highlights the need to educate children and young people about the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology. It provides safeguards and raises awareness to enable users to control their online experiences.

The Internet is an open communications channel. The World Wide Web, e-mail, blogs and social networking all transmit information using the Internet’s communication infrastructure internationally at low cost. Anyone can send messages, discuss ideas and publish material with little restriction. These features of the Internet make it an invaluable resource used by millions of people every day.

Much of the material on the Internet is published for an adult audience and some is unsuitable for pupils. In addition, there is information on weapons, crime and racism access to which would be more restricted elsewhere. Pupils must also learn that publishing personal information could compromise their security and that of others.

Activity 7: Learning with Tablets

Learning with tablets can enable teachers to implement individualized learning curriculum more easily, freeing the teacher to produce a more effective learner experience for the class as a whole. Tablet computers open an immense range of possibilities for learning. In addition to the benefits of being green technology and digital textbooks being faster and cheaper to produce, they can eliminate the need for other single-purpose machines. With the right technical support, tablets are fairly easy to learn how to use and can be a valuable tool in lesson preparation and presentation.

Why use Tablets?

Ø  The tablets are easy to personalize, carry around and flexible to use.

Ø   The increasing megapixel count and better optics would enable teacher to utilize camera in lessons.

Ø  Tablets offer a good battery backup that last between six to ten hours on continuous usage

Ø   Tablets have limited storage capacity    

Ø  Typing long documents can prove to be difficult  so plan activities accordingly

Ø  Caters to the needs of diverse learners.

Ø  They offer enhanced ebooks featuring images, video and audio which are impossible to include in print or in a standard ebook.

Activity 6: One to One learning

One-to-one learning helps students of all ages to improve their academic performance and build their confidence as well as develop life-long learning skills.  Diagnostic evaluations, prescriptive one on one tutoring and small group activities help one to one learning to thrive. Students are able to enhance, remediate and advance their skills with One to One support due to the prescriptive nature.  

Activity5:Interactive Whiteboard

An interactive whiteboard is an instructional tool that allows computer images to be displayed onto a board using a digital projector. The instructor can then manipulate the elements on the board by using his finger as a mouse, directly on the screen. Items can be dragged, clicked and copied and the lecturer can hand write notes, which can be transformed into text and saved. Interactive whiteboards are powerful classroom tools and they have the potential to improve students’ academic performance and create various learning opportunities once they are properly integrated into teaching and learning. I think IWB's are excellent and can help to improve interactivity and collaboration once they are properly used. I have had training in using interactive whiteboards and found them to be very effective, especially when teaching difficult concepts. They can be useless tools and have the potential to impede learning if teachers do not plan carefully and manage classroom activities effectively.

Activity 4: One Computer Classroom

Understanding of one computer classrooms and how one can adopt strategies and procedures to facilitate good classroom management in such a situation is very crucial for teachers if they are to successfully implement a one-computer classroom. Concerns regarding equity, time management and computer hardware are a feature of one computer classroom. Some ideas for using a one computer classroom include:

      Use the Computer as Teacher Tool

      Use the Computer as Multi-Media Chalk Board or Flip Chart 

     Have Students use the Computer as a Tool for Individual Input as Part of a Larger Group or Class Project

      Use the Computer as Learning Center or Station 

      Use the Computer as Cooperative Learning Tool

      Have Students Use the Computer to do Individual Work for Practice or Assessment

Activity 3: Learning Labs

Learning labs are classroom areas that provide time to practice, and a safe place devoted to learning through action. In a learning lab, students explore real-life issues and develop solutions for these issues. 

You can adopt procedures to facilitate good classroom management in learning labs by:

• ·        Giving instructions BEFORE students come to the lab.
• ·         Teaching students to sit in their same seat, turn on the computer, and begin working as soon as they enter the room.
• ·         Ensuring important websites and passwords are displayed.
• ·        When giving directions in the lab, move quickly.
• ·        Always having something for students to do when they finish early
• ·        Having an alternate activity planned in case something goes wrong with your lesson
• ·        Giving meaningful, engaging assignments, preferably ones that allow students to work at their own pace.

Activity 2- Learning in ICT enabled Classroom

ICT -enabled classrooms can have advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages include active student engagement, learning of 21st century skills, flexibility and increase participation from all students.

The disadvantages of computers in the classroom include the fact that many teachers are ill-equipped to use it as a teaching tool, the Internet can pose harmful material to students, and computers can prove to be a waste of time when software is not effective. Weigh the pros and cons of having a computer in the classroom with advice from a former classroom instructor in this free video on education.

Activity 1-Principles of Classroom Management

Classroom management is a primary concern for teachers. Though classroom management success comes over time, it's important for new and experienced teachers alike to hone good classroom management skills so that they and their students can get the most out of their time together. Good classroom management boils down to a contract of mutual respect between students and the teacher -- but understanding how to draft the contract with students can be challenging at times.

Good practical measures to effectively manage classrooms in which ICT is integrated:

      ICT use policy must be clearly communicated to all students

      Students must be actively engaged at all times

      Tasks should not be set too easy or too difficult for students to complete

      Teacher should communicate all expectations clearly to students before they perform given tasks.

Plan effectively based on ICT resources that are available.

Welcome- Module 8- Managing, Teaching and Learning with ICT

Welcome to one and all in this new module. As usual, I hope we would all have a great time.

Regards,
Temika

End of Module 9

Hi All,

We have come to the official end of this interesting module. I think that despite the fact that we could have collaborated some more, the module went fairly well. I hope that as we embark on the other two modules, things would be a bit different. Special thanks to Gerald for his excellent work in simplifying some of the activities.

Activity 11: Final Reflections

Having gone through this module,the journey started out quite smoothly but it intensified when other persons became involved. Vision sharing activities helped me to realise that some individuals are not willing to experiment with new ideas. It was after conducting the survey that I understood why some persons were reluctant to use ICTs in teaching and learning. I am now even more desirous of concretizing my school's partnership with one of the country's major telecommunication company so that we can work together over a period of time to get teachers and students more familiar with ICT and fully integrate it into teaching and learning. I am also confident that my colleagues are now willing to share in implementing the ICT vision of the school. Our major focus would be on professional development and training using existing ICT resources. As knowledge and skills in using ICT in teaching and learning increase, other ICT tools will be sourced. I will support my own continued learning by scouting for any appropriate professional development activities that are available locally,regionally and online and participating in them. I will also share my skills and knowledge with other schools so that I will always be strengthening  my knowledge and skills base.

Activity 10: Partnership Letter

Urlings Primary School

Urlings Village

St. Mary’s

Antigua.

E-mail: Urlingsprimaryschool@gmail.com

12th May 2013.

The Manager

Lime Antigua

Clarehall

St.John’s

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you on behalf of the school as the ICT cordinator. In an effort to make technology an integral part of the school’s curriculum, we are embarking on a project to incorporate ICT into teaching and learning so that our students and teachers can acquire 21^st century skills.

Your contribution to the project would go a long way in improving the teaching and learning environment of the school. We would be very grateful, if you would agree to partner with us in working towards realizing our vision for all learners and educators to acquire the highest quality training, skills and knowledge in using ICTs across all areas of the school’s curriculum so they can be productive and lifelong learners.

I would like to thank you for considering our request to team up with us for integrating ICT. If you have any queries regarding this project, please feel free to contact us at the address given above or at email urlingsprimaryschool@gmail.com.

Yours sincerely,
 

 ________________
Joycelyn Henry
Principal

______________

Temika Christian

Activity 9- Creating a Shared Vision

It is imperative that all stakeholders are included in creating a school's vision in order to obtain mutual support and to ensure proper implementation.

Activity 8- Learning Area Vision

  Vision
 

The vision is for all learners and educators to acquire the highest quality training, skills and knowledge in using ICTs across all areas of the school’s curriculum so they can be productive and lifelong learners. This vision is attained when

-  ICT is used in novel and creative ways to improve students’ achievements thereby encouraging variety in the way the curriculum is delivered and assessed.

- Stronger links are forged with parents and other key stakeholders so that a learning community is created and there is awareness of teaching and learning activities in the classroom.

-  All staff and students are confident, competent and independent ICT users.

-  To provide and environment where there is equity in accessing ICT tools and resources.

Mathematics

ICT will enable students to engage in-depth investigations that are designed to enhance mathematical content by posing open-ended questions that require collecting data, looking for patterns and forming and verifying conjectures and using web-based tools to learn or reinforce concepts and solve problems.

*  Use of automated classroom response systems that will enable teaches to get  and disseminate specific feedback on students’ performances.

*  Use computers and calculators to solve authentic problems.

* Utilization of a variety of web resources for games and simulations. They will visit math sites such as www.mathplayground.com/index.html which is an action-packed site for k-6 students providing engaging games that encourage students to challenge themselves.

*  Students will be allowed to use the CD’s that accompany their textbooks to engage in interactive activities on different topics in the curriculum.

*  Use virtual manipulatives to explore key mathematical concepts.

Social Studies

Develop and model social and cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools as well as computer applications.

-  Use instant messaging to provide feedback to students who are having difficulties completing given tasks or to discuss topics with teachers.

-Set up brainstorming tools such as drop box so that students can organise information by activating prior knowledge on a particular topic to be studied.

-  Collect data using observations and surveys and represent them using a variety of presentation tools that are available on the computer.

-  Students will engage in project based-learning and collaborate and communicate with experts in the community.

- A variety of assessment tools will be used to assess students’ process and product.

Science

ICT will be used to engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using a variety of technological tools and resources.

*  Students will use wikis to collaborate during group projects.

*  Use the internet to conduct researches.

*  Use You Tube videos to introduce lessons or provide students with vicarious experiences on different topics.

*  Use spreadsheet software to graph results from experiments and share them with others.

*  Students will create multimedia presentations for science Fair Projects.

Language Arts

The use of ICT’s will promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify conceptual understanding and thinking, planning and creative processes as well as sharing of information.

-  To encourage reading during vacation, by setting up classroom blog and posting short stories for students to read then comment upon and discuss with their classmates who chose the same story.

-  Teachers will allow students to test the difficulty level of readings using tools in Microsoft words such as Flesch-Kincaid  Readability Scale which calculates the complexity of a piece of writing.

-  Use social media to encourage students to communicate with teachers and peers.

-  Students will be able to spell check and grammar check their compositions for errors before publishing them.

-Create stories using story board and retell them to an audience.

Conclusion

Effective implementation of ICT in learning areas across the curriculum is complex and requires strategic management and coordination within school policies. A shared vision must be developed by all stakeholders since it provides direction at all stages of ICT planning, implementation and evaluation. It also has a compelling heave that inspires and empowers people to help in the realization of the vision and develop a sense of shared responsibility for student learning. Therefore, all visions must be constantly communicated to stakeholders so that there can be mutual support and encouragement among staff as they strive towards realizing the vision.