ccti -module 1- activity 11- compare/contrast

This is a technique which I have used before. I find that it takes the students beyond the knowledge level.  It creates a more interesting and exciting lesson as the students engage higher order thinking skills and also develop interpersonal skills.

ctti-Module 1-Activity 10- discussion

The students were really enthused about this strategy.  I was so surprised when the Social Studies teacher said that she could not get them to participate.  I have encouraged her to use the discussion strategies to elict greater participation from the students.  I think she will get a more positive response using these strategies than just delivering information.

ccti-Module1-Activity 9-Questioning

I have been in classes where the teachers ask only recall questions and wondered why.  A teacher needs to be very conversant with their subject matter to feel comfortable asking questions at a higher level.  I think it is also a good idea for teachers to allow students to ask questions too.  In my son's religion class the students must generate the discussion questions.  They are not allowed to ask trecall questions.  It takes some time to read and understand the text but it develops their thinking skills. 

ccti-Module 1- Activity 8 - Piaget's influence

I think moving from the concrete to the abstract is important in teaching.  This is true regardless of level.  Too often teachers think that because students are older they can go straight to the abstract concept without remembering that individuals go through the stages of cognitive development at different times.

ccti-Module 4-Activity 3-Diversity

We learn about diversity.  We are told to use diversity when teaching.  I do however wish that people realize that diversity in learners does not end with primary or secondary school.  People are diverse regardless of age and our intelligencies and learning styles differ.  I really identify with any student who has to endure classes where only the verbal intelligence is considered.  It is a struggle to perform well when tests and evaluations do not engage your creativity.  Any evaluation should include components which will provide opportunities for all students to excel.

ccti-module 4- activity 2-What We Assess

One thing that stood out to me in this activity was the fact that we usually conduct product assessment rather than process assessment.  I have an big issue with this.  In this country we conduct SBA's as part of the exams to determine whether children enter secondary school or not.  These however are judged from an end product.  I believe that students should be assessed throughout their primary school life to determine their future rather it being based on an exam.

ccti-module 1-Activity 7- collaborative learning

Working in groups is helpful in large classes.  This is a strategy which is being used this year in my school.  The untrained teachers find peer teaching useful, especially since they were experiencing difficulty in coping with the class size.  The students also show automony in managing their learning; even the younger ones.  One thing which I am noticing though.  The students with siblings seem to work better in this setting than those who have none. 

ccti 1 - activity 5 - developmental psychology

In doing the readings for this section, it was brought home to me how important a teacher is in a child's life.  Just providing a positive role model, being there as support, can be the difference in helpiing a child overcome high risk factors.  The readings also affirm the importance of the child friendly school.  It is important that a child have a safe haven and if home cannot do the job then school must provide that safety net.    The readings also made me think.  I have students who will stay at school all night if allowed.  I am glad they are comfortable but what does that say about life at home?

ccti-1-activity 4- Behaviourism

Powerful Lessons: 
1. Every child can change.  It might not happen as fast as I want it or to the degree I desire it, but it is possible.
2. Consistency is important.
3. Children are rational beings.  They can discuss their problems and devise solutions.
4.  Children are more likely to follow rules when they have an input in creating them.

ccti 1-Activity 3 -Social cognitive theory

It is very important to be aware of your learners' backgrounds as much as possible in order to reach them effectively.  How can you teach someone if you cannot reach them?  How can you reach them if you don't know them?  Too often teachers rush through content and do not take time to connect with the student.  I had an experience recently with a teacher who kept complaining that she couldn't get her class to behave.  The other teacher assigned to the class did not have this problem.  After investigation I found that the first teacher was very disrespectful to the students while the second one took time to show that she cared about them.   It is sad that we have teachers who think that it's ok to treat children as lesser beings without realizing how much easier their jobs would be if they created an atmosphere of mutual respect and caring.  
It is also important to look within ourselves constantly.  Identify with our students.  It is a gut-wrenching, draining experience but that, in my opinion, is what teaching is all about.  It is a vocation, not a job.  If a person cannot cope with the demands of this vocation, that person should not be a teacher.

ccti1-activity 2- information processing approaches

Activity 2 – Information processing approaches:

 

 

 

(Optional) – Thoughts from self-activities

 

New knowledge and concepts will be placed within the learners previous experiences and perceptions.  It is important therefore to link new to old to ensure that new concepts are retained in long term memory rather than pass briefly through the short term.

ccti 1-activity 1: Learning, thinking and teaching with ICT

Learning, thinking and teaching with ICT

Module 1: Activity 1

 

 

 

After the activity:

 

The most powerful lessons that I learnt during this activity: Learners learn in different ways and accommodation should be made for this within the learning environment.  Teachers should be open to trying new strategies.  Mutual respect must exist between learner and teacher to maximize learning experiences.  The teacher should act a facilitator and be willing to switch roles in needed.   Everyone has the ability to learn.  The learner must want to learn in order to learn effectively.

 

 

(Optional) – Other comments

Too often we are content to restrict our teaching to the knowing level.  Some of us expand to doing but believe is often ignored.   It may be harder to achieve and take longer but this is the level we need to achieve to create a successful society.

 

 

(Optional) – Thoughts from self-activities

 

As a learner, I really don’t fit into the old paradigm.

ccti-1b-4-activity 8- why wait for ICT before examining our teaching practices?

Maybe I misinterpreted the question but isn't evaluation of our practices an ongoing process?  I think self-evaluation and reflection should be something that teachers do frequently.  There is no reason to wait for ICT.

ccti-1b-4-activity 9-school readiness

I tweaked the Mankato scale and gave it to my staff.  It helped some teachers to see that they actually knew more about ICT than they thought.  Integrating ICT will be an arduous task.

ccti-2a-5- Activity 11-Personal Learning Network

I recognize the benefits of having a personal learning network.  However, judging by my track record with posting on facebook and responding to e-mail,(even snail mail) how effective would it be?  I saw my birthday messages five months after my birthday.  I am a member of an educators' group set up on fb last year summer. I have never visited siince last summer.  My problem would not be setting up a pln, it would be maintaining contact.

ccti2a-4- activity 10- Can we be smart workers?

I think it essential to be a smart worker but it will not be easy to accomplish.  One teacher said to me that she was unsure how to integrate ICT into her lessons, but in a school where several teachers do this regularly, she had asked no one for help.  If we cannot communicate to enhance our professional development face to face, using ICT skills to become 'smart workers' is a thing of the distant future. 
The ability to change, adapt and embrace new ideas will in the near future distinguish teachers who move upward and those who remain stagnant.

ccti 1b-4 Activity 5 Myth of Computer Literacy

Can a person ever really be computer literate? Or is it an ongoing process?  I have been to computer classes which began with binary numbers, history of the computer etc..  Sitting in those classes wodering why anyone would think I cared about such things, I often occupied myself completive adminstrative tasks, making plans for school and playing games.  I feel sorry for students who cannot find better things to do while teachers are passing on irrelevant information.  I have often said I am not good with computers simply because I cannot remember any skills unless it is taught to me in some context.  I now see that this is normal, but imagine how many persons have been turned off because of the approach which was used.
Integrated approach:  Since the whole idea of using an integrated approach was introduced in this country, I would have thought it would be automatic to just integrate new subject areas but it still seems hard to grasp.
I prefer the discussions in the community.

ccti-2a-5 Activity 7 Spreadsheet as a learning resource

In time learning is a great concept.  I have been in classes where a lot of information is given for which I have no use. When settling down to do an assignment however the information is not there.  That is extremely frustrating.  It is much more efficient if information is provided when needed.  On the other hand,  some of use are just naturally curious and find it interesting to collect a wealth of information.  There are times when information that you might think is useless comes in very handy.

ccti 1b-4 - Activity 4-spontaneous learning/minimally invasive education

I acquired most of my ICT skills while completing online studies in education.  I did a formal course after at the intermediate level and progressed much faster than the students who did IT as a subject in school.  I have come to realize that when it comes to ICT if there is no integration into a meaningful context, I have a much harder time even understanding what is being discussed.  I can therefore see the value of Dr. Mitra's experiment.  Although formal education is important, it sometimes can limit how much learning is done.  When a system is bounded by curriculum and exams, learning is confined and the opportunity to discover new ideas can be lost.    In addition, integrating skill learning into a meaningful context made acquisition of the skill almost automatic.
This thought occured during the reading:  students do not really need teachers to learn ICT skills, so if ICT education is limited to skills training teachers are not really needed.  If teachers do not embrace ICT integration they are contributing to the idea of teachers becoming obsolete.