Lesson 14 THE SOFTWARE AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE

Content

Software is a program that a computer uses to perform tasks. Two Kinds of Software 1)Systems Software 2) The Applications Software

The applications software maybe: a) A Custom Software b) A Commercial Software

MICROSOFT WINDOWS

Microsoft Computer Software Company. Windows any of several microcomputer operating systems or environments featuring a graphic user interface. Windows Versions: Future of Windows Windows 1.0, the first Windows 3.0, released version, released in 1985 in 1990 The Start Screen of Windows 8 RTM . Windows 95, released The latest stable Windows in August 1995 release, Windows 7. Windows is in itself a self-contained operating system which provides: User Convenience, A New Look, Information Center, Plug and Play.

INSTRUCTIONAL SOFTWARE can be visited in Internet or can be bought from software shops.

Guidelines in Evaluating Computer- Based Educational Materials

·       Be extremely cautious in using CBIs and ‘free’ Internet materials

·        Don’t be caught up by attractive graphics, sound, animation, pictures, video clips and music forgetting their instructional worth.

Experience

            Indeed, software is a great help as an aid to be used as an educational resource. I could still remember when my little sister was still in pre-school and my mom is fond of buying software products wherein alphabet songs and nursery rhymes are found. And even today there is free software that can be downloaded that would also cater the knowledge and skills to be developed.

Reflection

            Teachers must evaluate these resources using sound pedagogical principles. Among design and content elements to evaluate are:  text legibility, effective use of color schemes, attractive layout and design and easy navigation from section-to-section. It’s always a must to make sure that the software used as an educational resource to be interconnected with the topic. I could attest that software is effective to be used in the teaching-learning process since it is handy and very accessible.

Application

            There are lots of software to choose from. The teacher should imply and consider the software that would attain the learning objectives has relevant and effective way of presenting the topic, latest and has clarity in the explanations and illustrations of concepts and principles.

Lesson 13 Cooperative Learning with the Computer

Content

                Cooperative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in common learning task. There are 5 elements of cooperative learning:    A common goal,   interdependence, interaction, individual accountability and social skills. Therefore, not every group work is cooperative learning since students working on their worksheets physically sat around a table may be working together without these features of cooperative learning. Researchers have made studies on the learning interaction between the student and the computer. Given the opportunity to work individually or in group, the students generally wish to work in computer-based than non-computer-based activities. Psychologists think the computer fosters this positive social behaviour due to the fact that it has a display monitor-just like a television set-that is looked upon as something communal.

 Components of cooperative learning

·         

•     Assigning students to mixed-ability teams
• .     2. Establishing positive interdependence
• ·        Teaching cooperative social skills
• ·        Insuring individual accountability, and
• ·        Helping groups process information

Experience

                As a student, I would agree to the statement said in the upper part that not all working together activities can be called cooperative learning because sometimes in a group activity only few of the group members would cooperate while some will remain passive. As it is said it cannot be called a cooperative learning when one of the 5 elements is not found.  And with relation to cooperative learning with the computer, the common problem is that not all members of the group have a computer for an easy access.

Reflection

                        The participation of everyone in the group must be strictly observed for the teacher to know how he/she gives grade to each and to be fair for those who actively and willingly contribute to the topic. One from the group may be obligated to list all the names of contributors to each topic they take. Skills in listening, negotiating, compromising, punctuality, tolerance are probably the most important things in a group work. It can surely help to let the students enjoy while learning.

Application

                  There are persons who are too shy to express what they want and share what they know. The teacher may help by letting them contribute one by one so that they can overcome their shyness. Cooperative learning should be applied often but the teacher should also have the time to discuss so that students may also learn from the teacher and not just only from the group.

Lesson 12 Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

Content

            This is just a clear and brief lesson which emphasizes how information technology supports student-centered learning. It lets students become active not passive in the sense that they get interested especially when multimedia is presented. Student can interact with other learners since most of the activities involve the learners to work by group and that they can share their creative ideas. Know how to demonstrate independence and self-awareness in the learning process. Lastly, it would allow students to performing computer word processing for text or graph presentation, in preparing PowerPoint presentation and in searching information on the internet.

Experience

            Nowadays, I could say that most of the students rely on the technology especially the information technology that is very useful and somewhat required in the learning process sine teachers encourage their students to use such technology. Just like in doing our projects, we always use Microsoft Word for text and graphic presentation to be well presented. We also use PowerPoint presentations during our reporting which allows us to insert media and graphics to properly discuss the topic presented.

Reflection

            It will always be the teacher that decides to have a student-centered approach way of teaching since it must be considered in the objectives. As the title entails as information technology in support of student-centered learning, giving emphasis to support which means just for assistance or to give help not depending on it. Information technology as a support to student’s learning is a nice way to make the students’ learning experiences fun and knowledgeable.

Application

            There are lots of activities that could be considered with the use of information technology that would follow the student-centered approach of learning. For example the software used in biology subjects such as DNA Virtual Fingerprinting and Genetic Engineering, allowing them to experience how it is to be a scientist. There are more programs that would cater all subjects and will surely catch the interests of the learners. Teachers acts as a facilitator who gives individualized instruction to serve individual needs.

Lesson 11 The computer as a tutor

 

Content

The computer is one of the wonders of human ingenuity. With the invention of the microcomputer (now also commonly referred to as PCs or personal computers), the PC has become the tool for programmed instruction.

          Computer-assisted Instruction (CAI)

·       The computer can be a tutor, in effect, relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as classroom teacher. The computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play the major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller.

·       Computer learning should not stop with the drill and practice activities of students

·       CAI works best in reinforcing learning through repetitive exercises such that students can practice basic skills or knowledge in various subject areas.

·         In these programs, the computer presents a question/problem first and the student is asked to answer the question/problem. Immediate feedback is given to the student’s answer

The computer plays its roles as it:

o    Acts as a sort of tutor (the role traditionally played by the teachers)

o   Provides a learning environment

o   Delivers learning instruction

o   Reinforces learning through drill and practice

o   Provides feedback

Experience

                We had this in our Genetics and Cell Biology class wherein we were tasked to complete a mission or test regarding the combination of genes and such. For me, this is an example of a computer-assisted instruction since the instruction is by the use of a computer and it also provides feedback after the game. Another example of these are those quizzes we used to take which then gives us the score immediately.  

Reflection

The computer is a tutor in this new age of learning. It does not replace the teacher, although it assumes certain roles previously assigned to teachers who now has to take the new role of facilitator and guide. In the years ahead, the computers in schools are used as a common tool for the enhancement of student’s thinking, communication and collaboration skills. Computer will become an integral component of the future classroom and not a mere machine that can deliver routine drills and exercises which means that all schools should have it.

Application

                Computers must not be used for entertainment but most importantly it could act as a tutor. There are programs such as CAI that would enable to teach the learners with their teachers acting as a facilitator. CAI entails the topics to be discussed, the students to learn in a more interesting and creative manner. By the use of this CAI, the students will be encouraged to do well in their studies and it would also result positively since students are actively involved in the process.