Friday, October 17, 2014

The Benefits of Multimedia in Education

            The use of multimedia in education has become one of the effective tools in the teaching-learning process. From the traditional way of using chalkboards and chalk, the teaching method has evolved with the use of multimedia such as video, animation, graphics and more that makes learning more constructive and interactive.


          The ability of multimedia to bring images, text, sounds, animations and videos makes it more interesting for learners as most of them are more visual. Students also became creative enough in their own ways through the use of multimedia in making projects. It increases learning effectiveness. It also frees teachers from many routine of teaching such as making visual aids; the use of presentations is a much easier way to do it.

          The use of multimedia in education is sometimes time-consuming. In Philippine education setting it is also expensive. Not all schools in our country uses the multimedia and not all have experience how to use it in a classroom setting. It also requires special hardware and sometimes, it is not always compatible.

       The use of multimedia in instruction allows students to express their own ideas, act as designers in computer-based projects, and creates meaningful learning experiences.  

IT for Higher Thinking Skills and Creativity

         In a traditional way of teaching, the teacher organizes and presents the lesson to the class followed by a discussion, evaluation and assignment, but in this modern way of learning it is a tough challenge to think of a new way for effective teaching.

          A new challenge has arisen for today’s learners not only to be mentally excellent but also flexible, analytic and creative. Each learner should develop complex thinking skills. 


Complex Thinking Skills

Sub-Skills
Focusing
Defining the problem, goal/objective-setting, brainstorming
Information-gathering
Selection, recording of data of information
Remembering
Associating, relating new data with old
Analyzing
Identifying idea constructs, patterns
Generating
Deducing, inducting, elaborating
Organizing
Classifying, relating
Imagining
Visualizing, predicting
Designing
Planning, formulating
Integration
Summarizing, abstracting
Evaluating
Setting criteria, testing idea, verifying outcomes, revising

 
       The use of the four IT based project such as Resource-Based Project, IT Simple Creations, Web-based Projects and Guided Hypermedia Projects help develop creativity among learners and to achieve the aim of producing globally competitive individuals in various field of profession.

          In this constructivist paradigm, the students, not the teacher makes decisions on what to put on the project and how to organize information. In this teaching approach, the students are not dependent on the teacher’s instruction but rather develop their higher thinking skills and creativity to come up with the most perfect project. The students may also discover what potentials they possessed.

          In this modern day of learning, it is always student-centered. We won’t totally get out of what we used to in teaching but we must think of an innovative approach to learning. Thus, developing not only mentally capable individuals but also creative enough to change the face of the world.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

The Computer as A Tutor

        The computer plays a vital role in this modern age of learning. It is one of the most useful tools that support the constructivist paradigm of learning. It provides more effective and interactive teaching-learning process.
Learners nowadays are very much engaged to computers and are also very visual. As a future teacher, we need to take another approach for better learning, and using computer could be one of the solutions for more effective teaching that we aimed to achieve. Computer is a useful partner to make it happen.
          The CAI or Computer-Assisted Instruction provides better opportunities in student’s decision making and problem solving. The computer presents question/problem first and the students will answer it and a feedback will be given immediately. The teacher now steps out as an expert provider of knowledge but take the role of a facilitator. It somehow lessens the teacher’s numerous works. CAI also provides more interesting way of learning through repetitive exercises which the students could practice their skills and knowledge in different subject areas.
The computer can never replace the teacher. It will only serve as a tool for in the teaching and learning process. The teacher is still the one who gives instruction and who is capable in evaluating the student’s learning. He/she is still the most necessary vehicle in the delivery of the teaching-learning process.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Educational Technology in Asia Pacific Region

        The computer plays a vital role in this modern age of learning. It is one of the most useful tools that support the constructivist paradigm of learning. It provides more effective and interactive teaching-learning process.

Learners nowadays are very much engaged to computers and are also very visual. As a future teacher, we need to take another approach for better learning, and using computer could be one of the solutions for more effective teaching that we aimed to achieve. Computer is a useful partner to make it happen.

          The CAI or Computer-Assisted Instruction provides better opportunities in student’s decision making and problem solving. The computer presents question/problem first and the students will answer it and a feedback will be given immediately. The teacher now steps out as an expert provider of knowledge but take the role of a facilitator. It somehow lessens the teacher’s numerous works. CAI also provides more interesting way of learning through repetitive exercises which the students could practice their skills and knowledge in different subject areas.

The computer can never replace the teacher. It will only serve as a tool for in the teaching and learning process. The teacher is still the one who gives instruction and who is capable in evaluating the student’s learning. He/she is still the most necessary vehicle in the delivery of the teaching-learning process.


Integrating Technology in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong
Teacher Anthony Tan conducting an English lesson with a class of Primary 6 pupils at Woodlands Primary School. Singapore's education system has won another accolade - this time in a cognitive skills and educational attainment index comparing 39 countries and one region, Hong Kong.
Australia and New Zealand are scoping study on the use of 3D immersive virtual worlds for higher education which will definitely be great for the growth of people as they will be clearer about various topics and also for the growth of country.



The government plans to purchase at least 10. 6 million tablet PCs within its Fatih Project, which received the highest investment with $1.4 billion.

Primary schools are exposed towards technologies.