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

The Traditional Classroom

It may be observed that classrooms are usually arranged with neat columns and rows of student chairs or desks, while the teacher stands in front of the classroom or sits behind his table. This situation is necessitated by the need to maintain classroom discipline, also allows the teacher to control classroom activities through lecture presentation and teacher-led discussions.

Noticeably, however, after spending so many minutes in lesson presentation and class management, students can get restless and fidgety. Often enough, the teacher has to also manage misbehaviour in class as students start to talk among themselves or simply stare away in lack of attention.

The SCL Classroom

          John Dewey has described traditional learning as a process in which the teacher pours information to student learners, much like pouring water from a jug into cups. This is based on the long accepted belief that the teacher must perform his role of teaching so that learning can occur. This learning approach is generally known as direct instruction, and it has worked well for obtaining many kinds of learning outcomes. The problem with it is that the approach in learning, however, is the fact that the world’s societies have began to change. It may not be felt strongly to countries in which on countries who depends mostly their economy to factory workers. Traditional and direct instruction is very useful in these countries.

          In contrast, industrialized societies we find knowledge-based economies in which workers depend on information that can be accessed through information and communication technologies (ICTs). Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration, schools in these developed economies have also adopted the support of ICTs. Their students have now become active not passive learners, demonstrating independence and self-awareness in the learning process.

                                                                     

Lesson 11: The Computer as the Teacher’s Tool

Constructivism was introduced by Jean Piaget (1981) and Bruner (1990). They gave stress to knowledge discovery of new meaning/concepts/principles in the learning process. Various strategies have been suggested to foster knowledge discovery, among these, is making students engaged in gathering unorganized information from which they can induce ideas and principles. Students are also asked to apply discovered knowledge to new situations, a process for making their knowledge applicable to real life situations.

          While knowledge is constructed by the individual learner in constructivism, knowledge can also be socially constructed. Social Constructivism is the effort to show that the construction of knowledge is governed by social, historical and cultural contexts. In effect, this is to say that the learner who interprets knowledge has a predetermined point of view according to the social perspectives of the community or society he lives in.

          The psychologist Vygotsky stressed that learning is affected by social influences. He suggested the interactive process in learning. A more capable adult (teacher or parent) can aid or complement what the learner sees in a given tasks or project. In addition, John Dewey sees language as medium for social coordination and adaptation. For Dewey, human learning is really human language that occurs when students socially share, build and agree upon meanings and knowledge.

The Computer’s Capabilities

Informative Tool

           The computer can provide vast amounts of information in various forms, such as text, graphics, sound, and video. Even multimedia encyclopedias are today available on the internet.

Communication Tool

The computer has been used in communication as evident by social networking sites as to Facebook, twitter and friendster. We can even chat/talk friends and families anywhere in the globe through yahoo messenger or the one in Facebook or view them through the webcam. We can send messages and information through the internet in just seconds or minutes.

Constructive Tool

The computer itself can be used for manipulating information, visualizing one’s understanding, and building new knowledge. The Microsoft Word computer program itself is a desktop publishing software that allows users to organize and present their ideas in attractive formats.

Co-constructive Tool

          Students can use constructive tools to work cooperatively and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge. One way of co-construction is the use of the electronic whiteboard where students may post notices to a shared document/whiteboard. Students may also co-edit the same document from their homes.

Situating Tool

          By means of virtual reality (RS) extension systems, the computer can create 3-D images on display to give the user the feeling that are situated in a virtual environment. A flight simulation program is an example of a situating tool which places the user in simulated flying environment.

Lesson 10: The Computer as a Tutor

Computer - assisted instruction (CAI)

The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his/her personal role as classroom tutor. It should be made, however that the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play the major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller. Even with the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must insure that students have the needed knowledge and skills for any computer activity. The teacher also decide the appropriate learning objectives, plan the sequential and structured activities to achieve the objectives and evaluate the students' achievement by way of tests.

On the other hand, the students in CAI play their own roles as learners as they receive information, understand instructions for the computer activity, retain the information and rules for the computer activity, and apply the knowledge and rules during the process of computer learning.
During the computer activity proper in CAI the computer too plays its roles as it acts as a sort of a tutor, provides a learning environment, delivers learning instruction, reinforces learning through drill and practice, and provides feedback.
In integrating computer program in instruction, use tutorial software associated with cognitive learning.  You can also use simulation programs, instructional games, problem solving software, multimedia encyclopedia and electronic books.

Lesson 9: Computer as Information and Communication Technology

          Instructional media consist of audio-visual aids that served to enhance and enrich the teaching- learning process. Examples are the blackboard, photo, film and video. On the other hand, educational communication media comprise the media of communication to audiences including learners using the print, film, radio and television or satellite means of communication. For example, distance learning were implemented using correspondence, radio, television or the computer satellite system. 

Programs normally installed in an ordinary modern PC:

• Microsoft Office- program for composing text, graphics, photos into letters, articles, reports, etc.
• Power-point - for preparing lecture presentations
• Excel- for spreadsheets and similar graphic sheets
• Internet Explorer- access to the internet
• Yahoo or Google- websites; e-mail, chat rooms, blog sites, news services (print/video), educational software, etc.
• Adobe Reader- graphs/photo composition and editing
• MSN- mail/chat messaging
• Windows Media Player- CD, VCD player, editing film/video
• Cyberlink Power- DVD player
• GameHouse- video games

 

Lesson 8: Higher thinking skills through IT-based Project

  There are four types of IT-based projects which can effectively be used in order to engage students in activities of a higher plane of thinking.  

(1)The Resource-based Projects, the teacher steps out of the traditional role of being an content expert and information provider, and instead lets the student find their own facts and information.  

(2)Simple Creations,they can create their software materials to supplement the need for relevant and effective materials. 

 (3)Guided Hypermedia Projects is production of self-made multimedia projects can be approached in two different ways: As an instructive tool, such as in the production by students of a PowerPoint presentation of a selected topic. As a communication tool, such as when students do a multimedia presentation like graphs, photos, interviews and video clips.

 (4) Web-Based Projects, students can be made to create and post webpages on a given topic. Creativity projects as tools in the teaching-learning process can be achieved with the assistance of advisers adept in the technical use of Internet Resources.