ICT as Situating Tool

The last lesson on 'ICT as situating tool' could help me in understanding the concepts and ideas of the tool in many ways. I could really understand about how to make use of the tool and applications of ICT tools to help students get situated in the situations which would help learner in understanding the happening in the environment. The tool could help me with ideas to situate learners in an environment to give the experience as what happens in real life context. 

The information that I learned from this situating tool could help me in reflecting about the working and task we perform through use of Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Moreover, I could somehow make the conclusion that situating tool is more like of working and learning through virtual environment; through means of virtual reality system, the use of computer and 3-D displays to help students experience some reality. 

Through the lesson of the tool, and from what I experienced, I feel that the use of ICT tool in such way can help students and self with improved visualization skills. It would be also helpful for the teacher and students to comprehend the ideas through use of situating tools. Moreover, this tool can advantage the teachers in communicating and delivering the lesson as it would easy the teacher for explaining the concepts. 

For example, the use of simulation from free science simulations (PhET) could help us with real experience as we could visually explore and learn the working like what happens in real. I could really enjoy exploring the working of science ideas through use of simulations. When learners of our age could enjoy learning through such use, the students in schools would really have fun and would also get motivated towards learning.  When we as 'learners' are placed in virtual environment with use of such tool, we get to experience and sense the reality which would ultimately benefit in our learning. Similarly, the use of Google Map can also be one of the interesting ways to help children learn about the places, land features, countries and globe as a whole. This is because through use of Google Map, the learners can see the world in real through 3-D displays which can help in comprehending the ideas, concepts and facts of the world. Moreover, I could learn and get experience on using Google Maps and its features to help students learn effectively.

Simulations to help students with science concepts (PhET; free science simulations)

Google Map can be used to teach about Globe

ICT as Co-constructive Tool

I could now understand about the co-constructive tool of the ICT which includes the applications supporting knowledge and its construction through collaboration (Users shared understanding). I could also learn about how the tool support learners in making their learning realistic through distributed work among the users where they collaboratively consolidate the shared ideas. The ideas of this tool stimulated me to make reflection on how such collaborative learning approach helps in knowledge construction when emphasized on collaboration and partnership working. I could also analyze on the learning opportunities and the experiences we can provide to the learners through use of collaborative learning tool. I could understand about the coordination and cooperation which are going to happen through interaction process if learners are provided with opportunities to make use of such applications. 

Use of applications for collaborative learning for construction and reconstruction of the knowledge has become popular among the teachers with their students in sharing additional ideas from all the users. I had little knowledge about some applications of the tool. However, the lesson on co-constructive tool could help me in reaching most of the applications such as Google docs, electronic whiteboard, Blogs and wikis and the discussion forums. Similarly it was worth learning when I could get the examples of co-constructive tool and how it supports impulsive information sharing. I also had to reflect on how I make use of the internet. The ideas of the lesson could give me a push in making wise use of internet after understanding about how internet can be widely used for collaborative activities for meetings, discussions, working in document and other tasks. 

Among all those applications of the tool, I could really get the best experience of using Google docs. I could literally experience this application and learn about how we can use its features to support learning through collaboration. I could also sense on how the use of Google docs can support and benefit individuals in learning. The task on lesson planning among the group of friends through use of Google docs was so exciting. The use of Google docs and its features advantaged me with wise and effective use of internet and could also experience the real learning in internet. I was really amazed when I experienced effective sharing through its use which ultimately helped in shaping one another’s ideas to a quality product. The editing of work or document was one interesting moment I could experience. Edition happens effectively when one edits along with the co-editors which benefited in improving the writing of ideas. The Google docs also helped us with space to communicate the problems and we could come up with solutions to the problems identified. Like social media applications, Google docs could help the users through chatting space. The best thing that could interest me about the application is how one can know and keep track of all other participants involved in the task. There is great advantage for the teacher as he/she can see and read one’s working. Through what I experienced in using Google docs, now I can impart the knowledge and ideas on usage of this application to my friends, students and other interested individuals to enhance collaborative learning.

Moreover, the users’ interaction through use of those applications can increase their creativity and support their learning. In general, there are many advantages of using co-constructive tool applications as this tool supports communication between teacher and the learners in sharing and exploring of the ideas. Besides learning, the applications also benefits in building relationship between the users in the process of learning through effective communication. This tool also helps in enhancing collaborative learning environment to support learning. The interactive learning is stimulated among the users through their active involvement where all cognitive processes happen; explanation, problem-finding and problem solving. These are some reasons I can give to others to recommend this ICT tool and its applications.  

Use of Google docs for Collaborative Lesson Planning 

ICT as Constructive Tool

Through the lesson on Construction tool, I could learn about the applications we can address and categorize to applications of construction tool. The ideas of the lesson also helped me understanding about how the tool helps learners to make use of the information in meaningful way. Similarly, I could also understand how the applications of the tool can help one in visualizing their understanding to construct or build knowledge. Moreover, I could draw an idea that the general purpose of the constructive tool is to manipulate information and construct knowledge of understandings based on the prior knowledge of the learners.

The ideas of this tool could help me in to make reflection on what we learned about the constructivism approach in teaching and learning. The lesson on this tool could help me understand about the connection of ICT and its applications to constructivism approach of teaching and learning. As emphasized by the constructivist approach; students’ construct their own understanding considering them as makers of meaningful knowledge, the students are also found generating new ways of understanding in teaching and learning through use of technology. The construction of learners’ knowledge is said to be determined by the experiences and influenced by new events in response to their existing knowledge. Since the construction of knowledge is emphasized through learners’ active participation, the technology is viewed as opportunities for active participation in teaching and learning. These ideas of connection could ultimately help me in retaining what I learned and remember based on my earlier experience in this topic of constructivism approach. 

By now, I can identify various applications that benefit knowledge construction. The constructive tool such as electronic bulletin boards, MS Publishers, multimedia authoring tools, social networking sites like Blogs, Facebook and twitter, and the simulations are some examples that I learned which are also seen to benefit learners’ knowledge construction. For example, the learners can organize and awake their knowledge through the ideas presented using the format of Desktop publishing program. Similarly, the students can easily visualize ideas and the relationships presented through the Concept map. The applications such as Word, Spread sheet and PowerPoint are also seen to help learners in building new knowledge on their prior learning.

The use of constructive tools is great shift towards learners centered pedagogy. Therefore, the constructive tools benefit learners in vast scale. The tool fosters students’ learning since the active participation is encouraged through use of its applications. The technology also triggers learning through exploration, adoption and practice with use of wide range of resources. Not only it benefits learning but also fosters critical thinking to motivate learning. For example, Microsoft Word manages to help students learn correct use of sentences since the word processors include spell checking and the grammars. Such application can really help learners in learning language. These are some of the benefits of ICT’s applications as constructive tool.

                                                Blogs to benefit knowledge construction

Word Processor including grammar checking 

ICT as Communicative Tool

The lesson on communication tools helped me in building my ideas about how its applications enable and help learners for easy communication. I could also understand more on this system that it helps for easy communication between teachers and students or between students themselves despite the physical barriers either by space, and time beyond the classroom walls. The learning of the students can be effectively nurtured when students make use of ICT to communicate with other students, peers, parents and to the large community as a whole.

I had enough knowledge about this tool; communicative tools which included the use of e-mail, electronic bulletin boards, chat, teleconference (video conferencing), Facebook, electronic whiteboard and other social networking sites. However, something new that I could learn from the lesson is the two separate tools; synchronous and asynchronous of communicative tool. Synchronous communicative tools such as chat or video conference enable real-time communication, whereas asynchronous communicative tools such as e-mail, we-chat, blog and the discussion forums enable exchange of messages to people not live (not online at instant). I feel that synchronous communicative is more effective in situation which needs immediate response to help in solving urgent problems of the learners. Asynchronous tools are more effective in situations and activities that require time and where the delay of responses can be considered for discussion. However, there can be quality discussion in using either of the tools. Understanding the effectiveness of these two tools of communicative tool, I could learn enough which can help me in integrating those applications in my lesson planning in school settings based on the situations in which the tool would favor the best.

There are always benefits in using the tools. However, there are some limitations of those communicative tools. The educators and learners are challenged with use of synchronous communicative tool. The poor or weak internet connection network distracts and affects the discussion. The example on the same situation (Covid Pandemic); the online classes due to shutdown of colleges and school, some students cannot make their presence in the discussion or the students’ responses are delayed due to weak internet network. This ultimately affects teaching and learning. The discussion in synchronous tools loses focus because of the multiple discussions since many participants are into the discussion at a time. The discussion is even affected if the users lack knowledge for operating devices and the applications. For example, different tutors try using different applications and students’ presence is either delayed or missed during the very first try.

Similarly, I could also learn some of the disadvantages of using those applications. The discussion using the asynchronous applications reduces the discussion frequency since it is time delayed discussion. The participants can lose interest due to delayed responses from the other person and checking for the replies and discussion is an additional task which people do not like. For example, students post queries on VLE discussion forums and the person check for replies after few hours or a day. If the person does not find replies even after a day, the learning of the student and discussion is discouraged. Similarly, the person who blogs loses interest if the posts are not read and commented which can reduce the blogger’s post frequency and interest for making posts.

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Discussion in VLE discussion forum

We-chat used for discussion (Teaching and learning)

ICT in Education; Teaching and Learning

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and its integration in teaching and learning creates avenue for transforming and enriching the better education.

The technology can help educators in facilitating their teaching which will enhance teaching quality for strengthened education. ICT can be used as five separate tools to assist effective teaching and learning.

ICT as:

1.      informative tool.

2.      communicative tool.

3.      constructive tool.

4.      co-constructive tool.

5.      situating tool.

ICT as Informative tool

The applications which provide vast storage of information/content to learners’ activity is what I learned at very first when introduced to ICT informative tools. I could also learn that the informative tool can be regarded as passive repositories of information for the learners. Myself as one of the users just needs to activate and apply the information in learning which creates active learning. ICT has always been a great help to person’s curious mind through the support of vast information in those applications. The ICT has now become the most approached applications for any information learners look for. I could also reflect on my actions where I depend and think for the information from the internet for every queries I get. This solely indicates how importantly ICT has become for retrieving of ideas. 

The information provided can be seen in large amount in various formats which includes information in text, graphic representation, and information in sounds and through video/movies. These various formats of the information are very useful for the teachers in the planning. I can vividly remember how I made used of the information and ideas for planning my teaching lesson from all those formats during my teaching teaching practicum in one of the schools. Those formats really benefited me as a teachers to integrate those formats into my planning to cater all individual learners considering all learning styles and individual uniqueness. Information in different formats supports effective learning. Learners have choice to grasp information from any format they learn easily and better. For example, sounds for those who learn better through auditory sense, and text, video and graphics for visual learners. All formats of information have increased chance for learning with better choice and opportunities. These are some experiences I can relate with the ideas that I could learn from this tool. 

The lesson on informative tool could help me to see good list of ICT based sources on which learners can depend for information. The information sources such as Television, Radio and Internet. Moreover, I could understand about Internet which has gained popularity; most common and preferred source for the information by the learners. Including myself people prefer internet to rest of the sources considering it as most significant ICT tool for learning which also includes Social Medias, Chat room, Forums and Blogs. For example, in the current situation of COVID-19, learning through e-learning environment has gained importance and has become choice for teaching and learning. Students of the nation are taught through television and TV has now become most significant source of information for teaching and learning. Similarly, despite the shutdown of schools and colleges, college students are still into learning through use of internet; VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). Students login and learn through the text, videos, audios and graphics uploaded in forums for the information. Social media applications, chat room and forum have also gained importance for the exchange of information.

The information tool has huge benefits in teaching and learning. The students are advantaged with enough ideas and information to integrate/add on what they already know. The students’ engagement into use of ICT applications have benefited in developing their information searching skills and also learned on how to look for and evaluate resources on internet. Besides learning, it has also catered in enhancing critical thinking of the learners stimulated by the information encountered. These are some of the advantage  I could see for using ICT to rely for information.

		Internet as informative tool (VLE)