Final Thoughts

Our course is a combination of Information and Communication Technology.

I see that I have benefited a lot from the topics that I learned, where it is at the present time, the teachers must change their strategies in teaching that we previously  use traditional methods of teaching which is teacher centered and we use simple tools while now with the spread of technology quickly, we should use the technology very useful and effective with students. In addition, we must put the students in the center of teaching-learning process and cultivate their desire to learn, research and exploration. Furthermore, concept maps are helpful as a tool to gauge students understanding because they make the knowledge construction process visible by use new approaches such as inquiry –based learning and educational programs to be fun, interesting and useful such as the WebQuest and Games.

In the end I think that all topics in the course TCDEIT 514 are very useful in teaching-learning process here in Bahrain and we must as teachers in the BTC use these strategies and tools that are we read about in our schools and we must publish it between other teachers outside the BTC to up the educational level of our students here in Bahrain. I also want to thank you Dr. Myint Swe Khine very much for giving us these useful topics which are somewhat new to me.

ICT as Tutor

Technology has been everywhere; especially; after the revolution of Information and communication in last decade. Therefore, ICT or Information and communication Technology plays an important role in our life in all majors. One of them is Education. ICT has changed the way of learning and teaching. Therefore, it’s been obvious that the change in life has affected the teaching styles. Teacher shouldn’t use the old methods in their classes because today students used to use computer as a main tool in their learning. Computers are used in the education of gifted children in three ways: in computer assisted instruction (including tutorials, games, and simulations), in developing thinking skills, and as tools for facilitating independent learning.

Tutorials to instruct students

 ( http://www.teach-ict.com/videohome.htm )
 

 Drill and Practice help consolidate learning

 (  http://manassas.k12.va.us/round/Technology/intermed1.htm )

 Simulation help understand complex situations
 ( http://www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimulatorx/flash/default.htm )

Games make learning fun

 ( http://www.primarygames.com/ )

ICT as Mindtool

I would like to begin my reflection, by displaying below the concept map that I created using concept mapping software Inspiration 9 IE that assisted me in writing this reflection to demonstrate the concept of using ICT as MindTools:

In rote learning, students learn through repetition. For example, if they learn a new formula, they apply it to solve problems, recitation of multiplication tables…etc. In this type of learning, students tend to memorize more than understand, as a result, they are unable to depict connection in a unit of study or across the curriculum, cannot construct a meaning out of what they learn and forget what they learned once they leave school.

In meaningful learning, students learn by linking prior knowledge to new concepts to understand them. In contrast to rote learning, students are able to depict connection in a unit of study or across curriculum, can construct meaning out of what they learn and therefore they are not only able to remember what they learned once they leave school but also relate it to their lives.

Since students nowadays live in a digital society, there should be a connection between How students live and How students learn and this connection can be established by using ICT in their thinking and learning process. There is concept mapping software available for all school levels and easy to use. These software can help students create creative (incorporating pictures, videos, sound and text in the maps), organized (formatting tools) and editable (can be easily edited without recreating the concept map from scratch) concept maps.

WebQuest

Web Quest is one of the more recent activities that are used in educational work, which employs approved activities on the Internet in the classroom and it is a type of an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet .

It is educational model of tight organization of information makes it easier for the learner to explore and conclusion using the computer knowledge and sources of knowledge available on the Internet, and facilitate the assessment of learner performance and measure the evolution of higher cognitive skills according to Bloom's Taxonomy of the mental processes such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

In the recent period has been starting the project of King Hamad for Future School that has been distributed huge quantities of computers for public schools in Bahrain so it can be activated strategy of Web Quest much easier than in the past where previously public schools have only one computer lab but now most schools have three computer labs so the teacher can implement Web Quest more than before. So I will try to help my students develop important research skills by carefully structuring class webQuests .

Inquiry-based learning

We learn best when we are at the center of our own learning. Inquiry-based learning is a learning process through questions generated from the interests, curiosities, and perspectives/experiences of the learner. When investigations grow from our own questions, curiosities, and experiences, learning is an organic and motivating process that is intrinsically enjoyable.(1)

  

and I found that the traditional approach to learning different in many aspects to inquiry- based learning which are in this table

Inquiry-based learning	Traditional approach to learning
Teacher Role: As coach and facilitator	Teacher Role: As dispenser of knowledge
* Transmits information	* Communicates with groups
* Communicates with individuals	* Helps students process information
* Directs student actions	* Directs student actions
* Explains conceptual relationships	* Facilitates student thinking
* Teacher's knowledge is static	* Models the learning process
* Directed use of textbook, etc.	* Flexible use of materials
Student Role: As passive receiver	Student Role: As self-directed learner
* Records teacher's information	* Processes information
* Memorizes information	* Interprets, explains, hypothesizes
* Follows teacher directions	* Designs own activities
* Defers to teacher as authority	* Shares authority for answers
* Transmits information	* Communicates with groups

This approach was not previously used here in the Bahrain schools because during the years of my studies I didn't know this approach and it was not used by our teachers but recently, it has been used in Bahrain schools and I have decided to use it with my students because it is very useful for them.

http://www.inquirylearn.com/Inquirydef.htm

Student-centred learning

student centred learning mean that , "gives students greater autonandcontrol over choice of subject matter, learning methods and pace of study"(Gibbs, 1992) (p. 23). An important implication of this definition is the need for students to assume a high level of responsibility in the learning situation and be actively choosing their goals and managing their learning. They can no longer rely on the lecturer to tell them what, how, where and when to think. They must  start to do this.

Student-centered learning is effective because Students are excited when they discover something for themselves. This excitement generally translates into better engagement, longer retention of knowledge and greater motivation to learn. Also, students gain confidence in themselves as they take on new responsibilities and become competent problem-solvers and students have higher achievement when they have confidence in themselves and when they attribute success to their own abilities and not to luck or help.

I think it's a good way of learning students but not for all stages, it are suited more to adults not children because children need to learn more new things by the teacher and they do not have the ability to learn self-unlike adults are characterized by the ability to research, exploration and decided self without the help from the teacher. Also, this way of learning several obstacles, including the difficult discipline of the class, there is chaos among the students and the teacher loses control of them and the hardest part for a teacher is often letting go. Creating an atmosphere where purposeful and meaningful learning can take place depends on finding a comfortable balance between maintaining authority and relinquishing control, encouraging active and consistent participation.

In my experience this method helped me a lot to manage the disciplinary problems in my class on the first day of school since I left to my students the responsibility of selecting the appropriate punishment for disciplinary problems so they all debated and decided in the end, without interference from me, I'm just directing them and there was a wonderful reaction from the students. Also I used this method with my students through the projects I gave my students the freedom to choose and determine the subject matter, how they work and choose the members of the group. Then they research and work the application alone and there was interaction between students and they are more active than during the traditional lesson which is teacher centred learning. And during my reading I learn a new knowledge which I can use this method in assessment that I have not used it with my students before, but after what I've read I will try to give my students some autonomy and decision –making in assessment.

In the end I want to say that this way of learning is somewhat new for us teachers here in Bahrain, but it is very useful, so it is our responsibility to activate this method of learning in our schools, especially our students of BTC and we must try to published this method among teachers to be used and to get in the end, students effective and have the passion and desire to learn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR4ocKovy28&feature=related

Computer as tutor, tutee and tools

            I believe that computers are able to change education for the better. Computers give both children and teachers more independence. Collaborative learning, rather than competitive learning, can be stressed. Furthermore, the technology is placed in the hands of the pupils, where it is used as a learning tool rather than as a teaching tool.

There are three basic ways of using computers in schools which can be used as a tutee in programming side like in IT courses that students learn how to build a program or a website therefore; it needs understanding of the programming language that will be used to build such a program, for example, C++ and Java.

In the other hand, computer works as a tutor and tutoring systems present subject material, to which the learner responds. This type of material is programmed by specialists and includes drill and practice exercises and tutorials

Finally, computer works as tool that include software like word processing programs, spreadsheets, data bases, presentation software and games.

About Me

My name is Seham Salem, I was born in September,1981 in Riffa. I have 4 sisters and 3 brothers. I am married and I have 3 daughters their names are Aljazi,Aljoori and Jood. I have completed my secondary school from west Riffa secondary school in 1999. I also finished my bachelor degree in Computer Science in University of Bahrain, in 2003. I am interested in swimming ,reading and listening to music.

My best years were in the university because I have learned many things and my personality becomes better than before.I've been a teacher since 2007 and this year I'm doing my PGDE in Bahrain Teacher College(BTC) in the University of Bahrain.

Computers appeared in my life when I was 17 years old. Then I had got my first computer.I was playing it whenever I could. At first, I was just playing computers games but later I noticed that I could do a lot more things with the computers, for example programming.

I hope that in the future, I will learn more about computers.