Communicative tool

I have learnt that communication is essential for starting and building a successful teaching and learning. Communicative tools helps in enabling easy communication between teachers and students and also among students themselves beyond the physical barrier either by outside the classroom. Some of the examples can be e-mail, electronic bulletin boards, online chat and video conferencing. Utilization of these tools are increasing day by day in the world and coming to our college it has been the most useful tool these days to catch up with the lessons, friends and the tutors.   There are a wide variety of communication tools that are used for external and internal communication and they are classified under two major types. They are synchronous and asynchronous tools.

Synchronous tools are the tools which can also be called real time communication tool. i have realized that the zoom and the video conferences we had all fall under this type. Here the users must be simultaneously connected just like a telephone call where the caller and the recipient should be present on each end. Using this tool we can solve urgent problems or issues. This tool is also used for instructional activities that require higher degree of interaction. Examples can include; chat, video conferencing and video call. The real time communication is also enabled by this tool. For instance; there was a video conference conducted in one of the lessons during ICT module. There I could see my friend and the tutor live. Sir taught us some ways to operate the features of the video conference application. We could learn it on live and it seemed quite challenging of digital immigrant like me.

Video conference with the tutor (synchronous tool)

Some of the challenges of using this synchronized tool are that multiple threads of discussion make us difficult to follow. Sometimes multiple discussions take place and there is a high chance of losing focus and missing out points. This was experienced when I had the video conference with the tutor and my friends in the ICT class. When a person in the group speaks, there was some other whop spoke in between. This gave me a hard time while listening to the tutors instructions. One of the worst challenges is the internet connection. The slow network connection distracts and fails to keep the interest and concentration on track.

The other type of tool is asynchronous. This tool does not need the communicators to be online at the same time. Examples of asynchronous tool include e-mail, vle discussion forum, we chat and blog. Let’s talk about VLE forum in specific. It is a very useful tool and is easy to use as it is primarily text based system. It also provides us with enough time to read the question, analyze it and research the topics to post the most valid and reasonable answers. This type of tool is has more advantages when the activities need more time to think.  

e-mail (asynchronous tool)

The difficulties with this tool are the loss of interest to learn as the answers to the questions are not instant. The response to the questions may have chances to be left unanswered which make the learner feel unimportant and have no excitement to read the other posts as well. Checking the discussion board / VLE / blogs is an additional task. Learners need to check for new posts frequently and it just feels like an extra work discouraging learners to take active participation in the learning process.

VLE discussion thread

ICT as Co- constructive tool

ICT as a co-constructive tool highlights on teamwork, and collaboration working. Using the co-constructive tool children can interact with one another learns from the colleagues to develop their knowledge. The use of collaborative technology in an educational context increases students' engagement with course content enriches the learning process and enhances active participation through content creation. The co- constructive tool engages both teacher and the students to come up with an efficient product.

Through the co-constructive tool it serves benefits like to exploration and sharing of views in term of learning. Children can develop strong and efficient relationship with the teacher and the society for effective learning. Students can co-edit and help each other with the best ideas. It also have advantages on higher order thinking level as students need to reason out when they write something, provide explanations and negotiate among themselves to finalize the information shared.

During the session, we were introduced to what is a co-constructive tool and what are its benefits. From various examples we used Google docs as a collaborative tool and it was quite an interesting tool to be used. Google Docs is a free, web-based word processing, presentations and spreadsheets program. Unlike desktop software, Google Docs lets people create web-based documents, presentations and spreadsheets that anyone in the group can update from his/her own computer, even at the same time.

Preparing lesson plan in the groups of three using Google Docs

It had benefits like providing each other valuable feedback and discussions. When I used Google Docs I was able to read and comment almost as soon as my friends shared their work with me. With the comment section, I found myself giving more supplements and feedback and also contribute to the discussion than I usually do on regular basis. This provides everyone with more individualized instruction and gives us valuable formative comments that will help improve the quality of the work. Google Docs helps us to improve group assignments, allowing us to interact and collaborate online, thus enhancing our learning experience.

 

Comment section to provide feedback and create discussion thread.

use of Camtasia

Camtasia is a tool for creating narrated lectures and PowerPoint presentations. It allows to record the screen presentation and at the same time record audio explaining the presentations. It is also a tool to make learning fun. This is because it is a complete turnover from the traditional teaching. Children can see colorful pictures and songs which will enhance comprehension and information can be retained for a longer period of time.

Video tutorial using Camtasia

We were asked to make a video tutorial using Camtasia. Such tutorial videos are getting popular and gaining attention from the people as children can view their teacher’s presentation via screencast containing specific content. What I have realized is that finding a video that fits a specific lesson can be time consuming. Creating one own video that aligns with the lesson objectives can be rewarding experience as well as we can reuse them for future classes. 

Creating one was fun but it was also difficult at the same time. As this is the first time that I am operating this tool, I had hard time figuring out the functions of different features. Camtasia falls under constructive tool and it really helped me explore new features. I came across new ideas which helped me get updated on such technologies. Even if it was quite difficult to me to create a video, it was actually fun and there was a full involvement.

In the 21^st teaching technology, it is very important that children get more exposure to such kind of videos. Transition from traditional teaching will be more fun when such video tutorials are involved. As it has been gaining popularity among people it will be more effective if teachers are encouraged to make it for their classroom teaching.

ICT as constructive tool

ICT as constructive tool can be used in constructing the original and creative knowledge through experience and manipulating information. It can also help to visualize one’s idea. The constructive tool emphasis cognitive learning theory where individual construct meaning based on prior knowledge and experience which enable individuals to build mental schemes that provide meaning.Microsoft Word or PowerPoint in the form of memos, reports, letters, presentations and record routine information is some examples of constructive tool which are widely used. Using of constructive tools help both the learners and the teacher to convey and comprehend concept.

ICT as constructive tool has benefits for the learners and the teachers. Teachers can use the software to promote writing in the curriculum. Teachers can also use this tool to present their lessons in an attractive and comprehensible way. It also helps children to construct their own meaning in which they ate actively involved. It also helps in critical thinking and promotes independent learners. In line with that learner can retain it for longer duration because constructive tool make the learners to do hands on experience and breaks the monotonous ways of teaching.

In one of the session we were asked to create simulation advertising our village. Through this activity I have learnt through different tools that can be used in PowerPoint slides. This was my first time experience and it was confusing at first. I rarely had idea on that and nearly gave up on it. But with self-exploration and watching YouTube videos about the tools in PowerPoint it motivated me to create one of my own simulations. There was exploration and making up of new meanings when I was working on it. It really was very helpful.

From such kind of activities I realized that I have decreased the dependence on my teachers and I was working on my own. Even in the absence of the tutor I did my own work and it really encouraged me to be an active learner. It has made me explore, adopt and practice which in turn helped me gain interest in constructing my own learning. While exploring I got to read wide range of information on my village which even I haven’t known before. This indicates the shift of teacher to learner centered pedagogy, fun way of teaching and learning through technology.

What is a blog?

What is a blog?

A blog is a discussion or an informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal dairy style posts. The posts are arranged in a reverse chronological order so that the recent post appears first at the top of the web page. It is a platform where the writer shares their views on an individual subject. For example in the ICT module, the final year students are maintaining a blog on ICT as different tools in teaching and learning. And here the blog falls under communicative tool.

Over the passing decades, blogging has evolved from having more personal blog to more professional blog. I tend to search for interesting articles and have seen that blogging helps bloggers to build and maintain their online identity. Blogging helps us to explore on online marketing, email marketing and search engine marketing. After starting to blog it provided me with advantages on improving the writing skills as well as makes us proficient in the language we are blogging in. When we blog it has unlimited opportunities such as publicity, authoring a write-up, starting new business and receiving job offers.  In our country as well bloggers have started to bloom like, Passang Tshering blog, Tshering Tobgay blog and Wangcha Sangay blog.

As per my perspective, blogs have benefits in education system where with the help of the blog children are motivated to become good and constant readers and writers. It also promotes the discussion among children through comment sections. Children when allowed to blog get enough opportunity to take more control in their learning taking place of massive exploration making learning fun. Blogging also encourages the use of internet and web among children and teachers. This advantage helps both the teacher and the learner to experience and explore different information, contributing in enhancement of cognition.

Well, we were asked to create a blog and start blogging. This was my first time ever exploring about blogs and seriously, I had a tough time n really knowing the how it actually works. The tutor provided us with the tutorial videos but still then I struggled. But blogging has motivated me to start writing again.  It is quite interesting to read the blogs of other bloggers as well and recently it has also encouraged me to do more reading.

The blog I am maintaining

ICT as Informative Tool

I realized that ICT is an essential and a widespread means to perform meaningful tasks in modifying and modernizing present educational system and the mode of learning. Other than education, it is also valuable part of several aspects of the daily life. The five tools to assist effective teaching learning processes using ICT are:

1.       informative tool

2.      communicative tool

3.      constructive tool

4.      co-constructive

5.      situating tool

For now, let me discuss on ICT as informative tool. It is an application that provides large amounts of information in various formats such as text, graphics, sound or video. Among different sources of information like radio, television, newspaper; the most preferred source is the internet. Children and as well as adults rely on internet as a virtual textbook, virtual tutor, virtual study groups and reference library to gain different types information. and I as a learner depend maximum of my learning on internet. Without  internet I am sure enough that i will become handicapped.

Talking about internet as the most popular informative tool, it struck me with a very good example of its use in the teaching learning process. Recently the online studies are on its vigorous stage and we use internet to read the notes provided by the tutors; uploaded in the VLE. Not only the VLE, we use internet services to watch the videos, read the research papers for some topics and also listen to an audio which explains several topics on  respective subjects. These days television is used as well, virtual learning for children is taking place. Children get information on subject topics which proofs that television is also a part of informative tool.

Use of VLE via internet

There are benefits of these tools in learning and teaching cycle. As I need to follow accurate directions to step into valid information, I need to restructure my language gradually developing an information search skill which is to be accurate and precise. I as a learner also needed to  analyze and synthesize the information I get on the sources. While choosing the information,I had to choose the most relevant and authentic information among tones of information being provided. This will made me analyze the information critically to reach to the most authentic information.

After retrieving the information I wrote in my own words to increase comprehension and use for future reference as well. This has really helped me in enhancing the writing skill. all the information on the internet are persuading and I needed to be vigilant enough to collect the valid information thereby increasing the evaluating skill. Learning possibilities expands via different informative sources which will cater to individual learning differences. For example; I am a kind of learner who could learn through audio, so listening to audios that are recorded by the tutor were more effective in my learning. The utilization of ICT as informative tool is increasingly felt in recent times and is beneficial through appropriate exploration.

Audios of tutor which could be listened through internet to gain information