I answered 2-3 questions today.
1. Reflect what you learned in class & evaluate.
I had learnt how to combine technology and teaching today. We need to know what we want to deliver to our students before we prepare our class. I had answered 2-3 questions in class today and I found that lecturer really hear it and she tried to correct me to the right track. So, I hope from the mistakes, I will learn more. I also learned how to do action research report.
I also learnt what the negative impacts of internet are. Internet brings benefit to us. But, internet also can bring harms to us if you are not cautions. Therefore, we need to inform students about how to use the internet properly. Internet is a technology that students or teachers cannot avoid from using it. In this context, we need to guide our students properly on how to use the internet to their benefits and at the same time, minimize the negative impacts of internet. Learning the methods to appropriate use of internet tools are very important.
I had learnt many tools in internet which some of them are with costs, and some of them are free. We need to use the tools in internet in our teaching. Indeed, “online course” is getting popular in education sector. This online course integrates the internet tools and teaching into one, and the most important, it provides flexible time table for students (in particular, working student).
It is very important for teacher to play a good model for students. Teacher is a facilitator in student’s teaching and learning process. Students, as co-operators, need to collaborate with teacher to achieve their learning objective. We need students to engage into learning process.
It is very important that the tasks or assignments that we give to students are at a difficult level that suitable to students’ ability. Assignments which are too easy will make students bore. However, assignments which are too difficult will make students give up. Sometimes, students need to learn from mistakes. So, we shouldn’t afraid to let students make mistakes.
I also learnt the steps of implement an action research. It is very interesting to know the steps and indeed, it appears easy. But, I personally believe that its implement is not easy and only the practice will make the implementation perfect. I hope that I will have a chance to practice the action research.
2. How to combine the teaching methods with these tools in your teaching
I believe that students are heterogenous and thus, different students need different teaching methods and tools. There are two approach in teaching, i.e., teacher-centred and student-centred learning appoarch. We focus our discussions on student-centred learning methods, i.e., project-based, problem-based and case-based.
In project-based teaching methods, projects are provided to the students to solve. Bloger, wiki, Prezi, Bubl’us and other internet tools can be useful in design and implement the project. I believe that wiki can be used by students (and teacher) to discuss the project, and share the ideas on how to get the project done. For instance, in teaching mathematic, a project of calculating a distance between two building is given to a group of students, then, the students can discuss in wiki (while teacher can supervisor or facilitate their discussions).
I am teaching mathematic and problem based teaching method should be use frequently in my teaching. Mathematic teaching, by nature, involves posting questions to students to solve. Then, what I can use? Which tools are the most appropriate? A reflection has been made on these. At this stage, I believe, wiki can be an appropriate tool as well. However, this implementation needs a prior planning and also subjected to students’ readiness on using internet to solve mathematic problem.
3. 你已經開始在思考如何套用適當的教學方法及課程內容, 來使用這些科技工具上嗎?
(1-none, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7-very much)
Answer: 4.
I feel that the internet tools have their usefulness. However, its implementation in my teaching will subject to the availability facilities, readiness, and the most important – the need of the subject in using the internet tools. This means the usage of these internet tools should able to increase the efficiency of teaching of this subject, as necessary condition (but still not sufficient). For instance, some mathematic teaching requires only human interaction, not through internet. Mathematical skills are gained through practice.
A sufficient condition is these usages of internet tool should subject to readiness of students, teachers and schools. For example, if the students are not ready (without wifi connection in school), no matter how good this internet tool, it cannot be used.
