LB #17: Educational Technology 2 Practicum

This is the phase wherein we apply what we have learned in the real world, in an actual environment. Hands-on. This phase brings the student teacher and the professional teacher trainee to the challenge of integrating technology in the teaching-learning process. The target of the trainee is to get the learner use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and the Internet as a tool of inquiry on their own successfully.

It is a challenge that we must overcome without doubts. Learners must be prepared to face the digital age. Thus, we must prepare ourselves, teachers, to pass on our knowledge on technology to the next generation. Be empowered! Move forward and upward!

LB #16: The Internet and Education

The Internet is by far the largest possible window to the world of information, news, communication and others. Everyday, the population of Netizens (Net users) continue to grow and new ways are continuously being developed to tour the Internet. Even elementary school graders in progressive countries are corresponding via e-mail.

Educational software materials have also developed both in sophistication and appeal. Students can now take virtual tours of historical spots included in their current lessons, interact with other people and even government officials in online interviews, and meet and greet their favorite celebrities.

Imagine how the Internet will evolve in the near future. Experts predict that it may become the centerpiece of all online communications on the planet and in some future time in the solar system! Imagine that.

LB #15: Understanding Hypermedia

Hypermedia is basically multimedia packaged as an educational computer software. Information is presented and student activities are integrated in a virtual learning environment. Examples are tutorial software and simulation instructional games.

Examples of tutorial software may include typing tutorials and other how-to's. A common simulation type of hypermedia is the one used by pilots, the flight simulator.

Given its advantage being less expensive than the real thing, hypermedia still doesn't replace the experience and learning from the actual environment of life and nature.

LB #14: The Software as an Educational Source

When you say computer, you imagine its hardware, the tangible parts. But this computer would hardly be useful without software.

The software is the system that tells what the computer should do. There are two kinds of software, the systems software which is the operating system bundled inside all computers, and the applications software which contains the system that commands the particular task or solves a particular problem.

The application software may be a custom software made for specific tasks or a commercial software packaged for personal computers.

Instructional software may be found in software shops or even in the internet. In using instructional software, the teacher should decide on the best computer-based instructional (CBI) materials for the school resource collection. The internet may provide too much information which could be completely useless. The teacher should then evaluate these CBI materials using sound pedagogical principles. The materials should provide accurate, coherent and logical information.

LB #13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

Cooperative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in a common learning task. Group learning if you may call it. The group should have a common goal, interdependence, interaction, individual accountability, and social skills. Group learning is advantageous since it encourages active learning, while motivating students, increases academic performance, promotes literacy and language skills and improves teacher effectiveness.

With the advent of the many uses of computers comes the fear that the computer may foster student learning in isolation that hinders the development of the student's social skills. But the computer may actually be used in group learning. In order to ensure collaborative learning, the teacher should assign students to mixed-ability teams, establish positive interdependence, teach cooperative social skills, insure individual accountability and help groups process information. The group will then realize that their group will not succeed unless everyone contributes to the groups success.

LB #12: Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

The traditional learning is a process wherein a teacher spoon-feeds the students all the information needed for the student to learn the lesson. This is the direct instruction. But times are changing. Direct instruction may apply to economies that depend on factory workers who do repetitive work without thinking on the job.

But industrialized economies may need workers who depend on information that can be accessed through information and communication technologies (ICTs). Schools in developed and developing countries have then adopted the support of ICTs. Students now become active learners, wherein they could interact with other learners. They become independent.

LB #11: The Computer as the Teacher’s Tool

The computer, as a tool, can be used by the teacher as the following:

1.      Information tool – the computer can provide vast amounts of information. The Internet itself provides an enormous database from which the user can access global information resources.

2.      Communication tool – given the fact that the internet can serve as a channel for global communication, the computer can very well be the key tool for video teleconferencing sessions.

3.      Constructive tool – the computer can be used for manipulating information, visualizing one’s understanding and building new knowledge.

4.      Co-constructive tool – learners may use constructive tools to work cooperatively and share knowledge.

5.      Situating tool – computers can now be used to create virtual reality or three-dimensional images to give the user a feeling that they are situated in a virtual environment.