Reflective Blog -

lesson plan with integrated ICT's

Cause and Effect 

Previously, this lesson was taught without catering to every learning styles. Mostly visual learners would benefit from this lesson. Definitions were written on the board and examples shown and read.

ICT’s were integrated by way of audio tools and YouTube video clips. Slates were used as well for matching cause to effect in an activity to drag slanted lines to the correct answers.

The presentation became alive with visuals, audio and live actions of cause and effect examples.

ICT’s made the lesson come to life and made the thinking easier for the students. In that way it did support their thinking skills.

The timing of the lesson was too long, trying to incorporate all learning styles. Though the lesson was enjoyable, it wasn’t good for time on task. 

Reflecting on Infusing ICT's

Out of the seven teaching roles, I most relate to the 'Learning Mediator' role.
In the lower primary, it is important to be able to break down topics in a simple form
for students to understand. Language has to be strategic, demonstrations have to be interesting,
teacher has to have energy and show that she cares for the content being given.

The definition of this role made it clear that everything should be done to reach students of this new digital age to make learning easy to understand and capture their attention.

Teaching techniques used in the class vary from lesson to lesson.
I do a whole lot of demonstrating in the lower primary classroom.
Most of the time it is written on the board.
I can utilize more of the Activ tools and Promethean Planet to create
digital demonstrations that students will love and can also participate in.

Also, particularly for social subjects, lots of discussion is done.
For a recent science lesson on habitats, we were able to search the internet
and pull up scenes of different places and the animals that live there as we spoke and
students gave their input and responses.

E-Diary - Infusing ICT's with Traditional Techniques

Assignment 2B:

Traditional Techniques Infused with ICT’s

There are many teaching techniques used in the classroom today. The question is how do we take these traditional techniques and serve them to our new digital students. The answer is, through fusing them with ICT’s.

Here are five teaching techniques that can be fused with an ICT to make it capture our new audience:

1. Oral Reports: Oral reports traditionally call for students to stand in front of the class room and explain the content of an assignment they have completed. What if students were able to use Microsoft PowerPoint to add visuals to their presentations? For lower primary in particular, the teacher can set up slide show that students can alter by adding pictures or words.

2. Demonstrations: Demonstrating is a mandatory part of teaching.  Promethean Planet is a great way of creating examples, and demonstrations that capture the students’ attention. Loads of presentations available for download and can be changed to suit the needs of your lesson.

                

3. Cooperative Learning: Usually cooperative learning is a fun activity at the lower primary level. Hands on activities are usually involved with creating a poster or chart or anything relevant to the content. ICT’s can be infused with cooperative learning. Timed problems to be answered in groups can help cultivate working together to find an answer.

4. Field Observation: With ICT’s, field observations become so much more! Students can utilize cameras to capture their observations and put together a slide show.

5. Recitations: Reciting can become a boring ritualistic activity. However, using ICT’s with reciting it takes it to an exciting level. Students love hearing themselves in a recording. Ipads or cameras can be used to capture choral or individual reciting and played back in the class for critique and praise. 

REFLECTIONS: Rationale for Computers In School

How important is it to incorporate computers in schools?
I say, it is now mandatory.

Apart from reasons that I've noted in my own rationale, here is a key reason.
It is simply the management of a monster that is given to children without a leash.

Children already know how to navigate a computer and use it in ways that they find entertaining. But, we must remember that the internet can be a dangerous place.
WE must teach our children how to navigate safely. We must give them tools to use computers in a productive manner. WE must show them safe and entertaining things that can be done with computers. WE must charter their waters so as to mold intelligent, productive, smart decision making citizens and not deviants.


My Rationale

Rationale for Use of Computers in Schools…

Here is my rationale for the use of computers in schools. There is a long term goal that must be met and computer training, knowledge, and etiquette can be taught from the earliest stages of education to foster responsible, competent citizens.

Rationale 1: Give students access to computer technology for the purpose of gaining knowledge that would equip them to function in a technologically immersed world.

Rationale 2: Mold citizens that can network through communicative technologies on a worldwide basis making them international ambassadors.

Rationale 3: Foster logical thinkers that can make rational cause and effect decisions.

Rationale 4: To make classrooms meet the standards of our advanced technological world.

E-Diary Post

How ICT'S can support the roles of the educator...

Here's a list of how ICT's enhance the role of the educator.

• you can use online school management systems as a record of students grades and to help manage and organize
• use webpages to keep on track of school and class events
• make use of technology at schools to keep yourself familiar with ICT's and how they function in the classroom/ lessons
• create different types of assessments
• help the educator to  stay current by subscribing to websites about technology and their use in the classroom

Sweet Treats to GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE!

cHECK OUT this yummy HOW TO!


Click:
Oreo Turkeys

~What are ICT's?~

ICT presently stands for Information and Communication Technologies...

To me ICT means so many many things.

Integrating and Creating Timely (lessons) - ICT's allow teachers to be current in their information, to display what is happening now in our world

Introduction to Cause and Tasks - ICT's give students exposure to researching why things are they way they are and complete assignments(tasks) that ask them what they've found and their views on topics.

Interactions and Collaborations through Technology - ICT's connect students to others on a world wide level. It allows us to network and expose ourselves, as well as the students to different cultures.

VFT JOURNAL....

IPP VIRTUAL TOUR JOURNAL:

TITLE: My Observations

Firstly, I love the use of clip arts and other pics and the way the slideshow is so bright and engaging in the way it looks.

The first assignment was something very familiar, as my colleagues and I often email each other with worksheets, videos, and articles about education. Also navigating youtube and facebook was a familiar as well.

I wanted to make sure the blog was something that would be a bit of fun. So I chose to do a crafts blog that will include crafts for kids.

I had a withstanding Skype account, so it was just a matter of adding the addresses/persons given.

The most challenging part for me, I know surprisingly to most, was the twitter account!

I really did not see the use of twitter, and felt there are other social networks out there with more to offer.

My opinion still stands about twitter, but I’m open to my mind changing.

In all the virtual tour offered much insight on social networks. I especially enjoyed learning about WebQuest and I’m very interested in incorporating it in some way. 

Blog Post: Accounting and Time Keeping in Schools

School Accounting
www.capterra.com
School accounting is very important. Here's a website that offers many options to many types of programs that can be used to keep track.
Maybe its time schools step into the technological age of keeping track of funds. Its a convenient way to view history and make comparisons on what was the best ways to raise funds and those that were not so lucrative.



Time Keeper
http://www.kronos.com/Time-Attendance/Time-Keeping-Software.aspx

I love how the employees are able to contact admin through this program that networks an account for each employee. They can send messages and requests for time off.

A time keeper, however does not allow for that person to person touch. Compassion for emergencies with emmployees, lee way for those who  are always on time and attend work everyday but happen to have that one day where they come into a problem and are running late or have to take a personal day.

LETS MAKE CLAY!

Kids love molding and creating things with clay!
Here's a very inexpensive and fun way to do it.
Making clay is good for sequence lessons.