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a student in Educational Technology 2 at the University of Bohol

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Lesson 15: Understanding Hypermedia

       The word "hypermedia" has a great impact on me. I can associate it with hyperactivity, hypertension, hyperacidity, hyperglycemia, etc. But then what really is hypermedia? According to Dr. Paz I. Lucido who is the author of the book Educational Technology 2, hypermedia is nothing but multimedia, but then this time, it is already packaged as an educational computer software where information is presented and student activities are integrated in a virtual learning environment. Thus it is like an upgraded multimedia. 
         Most educational IT applications are hypermedia and these include: tutorial software packages, knowledge webpages, simulation instructional games and learning project management, etc. Through these, the learners' thinking skills are being developed, as well as their being autonomous and indepedent.
    There are two important features that characterixe the hypermedia software. These are: learner control and learner wide range of navigation routes. The learners therefore are given great power. And, with great power comes great responsibility (Spiderman.hehe) I could also picture out that the discovery learning is being anchored on this hypermedia. This seems to be a good idea. Well, it is indeed a good idea especially if we collaborate about this.

Lesson 14: The Software as an Educational Resource

       Usually when we think about computers, what we focus is the computer machine or computer hardware. But then, the computer hardware can hardly be useful without the software because the software tells what the computer machine should do.         There are two kinds of software: the systems software and the applications software. The systems software is the operating sytem that is found or bundled inside all computer machines. On the other hand, the applications software contains the system that commands the particular task or solves a particular problem. In turn, the applicatios software may be: a custom software that is made for specific tasks often by large corporations or a commercial software packaged for personal computers that helps with a variety of tasks such as writing papers, calculating numbers, drawing graphs, playing games and so much more.          Microsoft Windows is an operating environment between the user and the computer operating system. Also called a shell, it is a layer that creates the way the computer should do. Windows uses a colorful graphics user interface (GUI) that can be seen on the computer screen or monitor whenever the computer is turned on. Windows in itself a self-contained operating system which provides user-convenience, a new look, information center and, plug and play.       Instructional software can be visited on the Internet or can bought from software shops or dealers. The teacher through his or her school should decide on the best computer-based istructional materials for the school resource collection.       The software can truly serve as an educational resource given that we have choosen a good-quality software and we know exactly how to use. To some, who are not yet familiar in using a particular software: Don't worry, it can be learned. Be positive about it.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

             What is meant by cooperative or collaborative learning?According to Dr. Paz I. Lucido,it is learning by small group of students who work together in a common learning task. According to her,true cooperative learning consists of 5 elements. These are: common goal, interdependence, interaction, individual accountability and social skills. 
             Thus, we cannot generalize that every group work is cooperative learning. It is said that cooperative learning is advantageous since it encourages active learning,while motivating students, increases academic performance, promotes literacy and language skills and improves teacher effectives. The more involved the students are, the greater learning they will get and this will further affect his or her performance positively.   
          The researchers agree that the computer is a fairly natural learning vehicle for cooperative or promotive learning. Some educators say that the use of computers do not automatically resultnin cooperative learning. That is why they resolve to do the following: assigning students to mixed-ability teams, establishing positive interdependence, teaching cooperative social skill, insuring individual accountability and helping groups process information. Instead of competition, collaboration should dominate.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Lesson 12: Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

       There is a paradigm shift from subject-centered learning to student-centered learning. I think that particular shift is just right since the students are really the center of the educative process. They are the ones who will learn. 
   Due to this paradigm shift, there are now suggested information technologies which are in support of the student-centered learning. 
    In the traditional classroom,what is being employed is more directed to the subject instead of the student or learners. The students are considered as passive recipients of information instead of being active participants in the learning process. 
    With the continuing societal and technological changes, the traditional methods may not be anymore effective. We have to adapt to changes and advance ourselves as well. In industrialized societies, we find knowledge-based economies in which workers depend on information that can be accessed through information and communication technologies. 
    Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration and instruction, schools in these developed economies have adopted the support of ICTs. Their students have now become active learners, who can interact with other learners, demonstrating idependence and self-awareness in the learning process.The teachers do not just instruct but they facilitate the learning process. Let's us all take the joyride to the trip to student-centered learning.

Lesson 11: The Computer as the Teacher's Tool

         Looking at another perspective, the computer can serve as the teacher's handy tool. In fact, it can support the constructivist and social constructivist paradigms of constructivist learning. The concept "constructivism" was introduced by Piaget in 1981 and by Bruner in 1990. What they gave stress  was knowledge discovery of new concepts during the learning process. 
         One strategy to foster knowledge discovery is letting the students be engaged in gathering unorganized information from which they can formulate ideas and principles. And, application of discovered knowledge to new situations situations will be done. Thus, making their knowledge applicable to real-life situations. 
   In constructivism, knowledge is constructed by the individual learner. In addition, knowledge can also be socially constructed. Hence, social constructivism came into existence. Knowledge that is constructed is governed by social, historical and cultural contexts. 
    According to Vygotsky, learning is indeed affected by social influences and I totally agree with him because it reflects the reality. He suggested that the process of learning should be interactive. In addition, Dewey stated that human learning is really human languaging that occurs when students socially share, build and agree upon meanings and knowledge. Of course it is. As we learn we communicate whether we are the receiver or the sender of information. Learning is indeed highly connected to communication. 
    Based on the two learning theories, the teacher can employ the computer as a/an: information tool, communication tool, constructive tool, co-constructive tool and situating tool, etc. It can be any tool which would help us lessen our burden. The key is the way we use it.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Lesson 10: The Computer as a Tutor

        The computer is one of the greatest inventions of man. Complex and intelligent as it is that it can carry out complicated mathematical and logical operations.
       The computer can serve as a tutor as well. It can serve as a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his or her personal role as classroom tutor. However, the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher will still continue to play the major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller.  
      Despite the availability of the computer and CAI software, the teacher must: insure that students have the needed knowledge and skills for any computer activity, decide the appropriate learning objectives, plan the sequential and structured activities to achieve objectives and evaluate the students' achievement by ways of tests the specific expected outcomes. 
          On the other hand, the students in CAI as well as the computer play their roles too. The computer is a tutor in this new age of learning. Computer activities have to conform to te lessons/curriculum. Integrating computer exercises is the new task of the teacher who can find in the computer and computer software an alternative medium to the traditional classroom practice of delivering information and supporting learning activities. Computer will become an integral componet of the future classroom.

Lesson 9: Computers as Information and Communication Technology

      The advent of the computer is recognized as the third revolution in education. The 1st was the invention of the printing press, 2nd is the introduction of libraries. 
    Through computer technology, learning is seen to be amplified along computer literacy.The student can now interact with computer messages. 
    The personal computer can serve as ICT. Instructional media consist of audio-visual aids that served to enhance and enrich the teaching-learning process. The programs (capabilities) normally installed in an ordinary modern PC are the following: Microsoft office, powerpoint, excel, internet explorer, yahoo or google, adobe reader, msn, windows media player, cyberlink power, gamehouse.
    Information and communication are very much interrelated because what you communicate is information. And you can communicate the information in a faster way through technology.