Group Activity 4b- Do we need to teach ICT skills? Reflections

While reading about Dr. Mitra's work and Vygotsky's  spontaneous learning. It is clear that  there are parallels between both their work. Vygotsky theory states that spontaneous learning is acquired knowledge based on everyday experiences. Learning does not happen in a planned way but done spontaneously as apposed to schooled/scientific learning, where the child learning experiences are planned for them based on knowledge discovered before hand.
Minimally invasive education presents the idea of unsupervised learning where children learn through discovery and exploration. It has shown that their learning has accelerated exponentially.
If we simplify scientific concepts and try to link them to the spontaneous concepts that the learners has already developed and what stage a learner should undertake learning we can greatly improve our teaching practice of ICT and all other subject areas.

Activity 9 - Reflections: School readiness.

The STar Chart seems to be an effective tool for measuring schools readiness for ICT integration. The conclusions I've reached are that, with regards to my school the chart shows me where my school can be in relation to ICT. We can use the chart and set targets to work towards. Mankato Scale is a basic teacher ICT assessment tool. It could be very handy if teamed up with the STaR chart, to provide a guideline for Professional Teacher Development purposes.

The STaR chart is applicable and practical in some stages. However the Tech-Target stage can described as an ideal, but is it realistic to human nature?  Do we as teachers, parents and students need this level of ICT in our lives? In relation to the reading material about 'teaching spaces' it posed the question: are we creating barriers to the outside world and human face to face communication?

Reflections: Activity 8, Impact of ICT on schools

Although it's not necessary to wait for ICT to examine our teaching practices, the use of  ICT could greatly aid us in our efforts to enhance our teaching and learning, assessments, evaluating our teaching spaces and how best or appropriate we can arrange our classrooms to integrate ICT. The Churchill report findings was most interesting. I especially like the project that was done by the Vanguard School, District 214, Illinois where all curriculum subjects are integrated and project-based and  they rearranged the entire institution in an alternative  integrating  ICT and meeting the students needs. They actually turned it into a business centre, where students had to dress accordingly. All lessons were project based preparing them for the workplace. I totally agree that the timetable should be tailored to meet the needs of the students and the idea of extra curricular activities being brought into the curriculum.

Some of the findings is already implemented in my school, such as the computers in with internet access in the classrooms so students can have readily available information and materials as and when needed. The anytime, anywhere access to information sources  enables students to engage directly with expert sources when they are needed and the sight, sound, touch experience becomes a powerful motivator in learning.
 With regard to arranging desk/tables i think its a fantastic idea as the students responds positively to that change. I think its refreshing especially if you are occupying a small space and you spend quite a lot of time there. The only constraints would be if you have many computers  in your class, to rearrange often  can become cumbersome.

Reflections:Modules of technology adoption Activity 7

I enjoyed this activity and found it user friendly.

• The instructions were clear.
• The PowerPoint template was very helpful. It guided me to understand and formulate my content. The layout was appropriate and to the point.
• I appreciated the fact that it encouraged communication. I got an opportunity to present my ideas for an ICT training Programme at my school. It was also enlightening to receive feedback from my school management.
• It helped to clarify the ICT situation at my school and the best way to move forward.
• I was introduced to dropbox and was able to experiment with it. I like the fact that you can upload files and  access them anywhere on any computer using this tool. Its great for sharing.

Self -Activity 4

List of skills and behavior students learn prior on entering school:

1. A child on entering school may have learnt these skills. This list would be ideal but it is not necessary for the child to have them all.

Social- Emotional Development

• Expresses self verbally
• Identifies other children by name this could be other family members or friends.
• Can be away from parents for 2 to 3 hours.
• looks forward to going to school.
• Can take care of toilet needs independently.
• Cares for own belongings.
• Dresses self,brushes teeth.
• Maintains self control.
• Recognizes authority.
• Gets along with other children,shares with others.
• Talks easily,meets visitors without shyness.
• Puts away toys, helps with family chores and works independently.

Knows: Body parts, First name, Last name, Parents' Name, Home address, Home telephone number, own sex and when to use a handkerchief.

2. Motor Skills:

Is able to: run, walk a straight line,jump, hop, alternate feet walking downstairs, march, stand on one foot for 5 to 10 seconds, walk backwards for 5 feet, throw a ball, paste picture on paper, clap hands, button clothes, build with blocks, complete simple puzzle, draw and color beyond a simple scribble, zip clothes, control pencil and crayon well, handle scissors, cut and draw simple shapes.

3. Colors, Shapes & Numbers: Recognizes primary colors.Recognizes triangle, circles, squares and rectangles. Can count to 10, can count objects.

4. Time: understands day and night, knows age and birthday.

5.Listening and Sequencing: Follows simple direction, pays attention, recognizes common sounds, retells a simple story in sequence, repeats a sequence of sounds, repeats a sequence of orally given numbers.

6. Reading Readiness: Remembers pictures from a printed page, repeats a 6 to 8 word sentence, pretends to read(and has been read to frequently), identifies own name in writing, prints own name, answer questions about a short story, looks at pictures and tells a short story, understand that one reads from left to right, knows letters of the alphabet, some nursery rhymes and the meaning of simple words.

7. Size, Position and Direction: 

Understands: big and little, long and short, in and out , up and down, front and back, over and under, hot and cold, empty and full, more or less, top and bottom, fast and slow.

How may students learn these skills:

• Students may obtain some of these skills through socialization-interaction with peers and family members.
• Through everyday activities and experiences.
• By different forms of media, television, computers-internet, educational games, music, songs, dance etc..
•  Through self exploration and observation of his/her surroundings. 
• Modelling behaviors from parents and other family members.

Reflections Activity Three

This Activity was a bit tricky to begin with for me. I followed the instructions carefully and i was still unable to achieve the desired result because some vital information was missing or i may have overlooked it. Nevertheless, after playing around with Mindmeister for a while i managed to troubleshoot the problem. From there on it was smooth sailing. This made me realize as a teacher the importance of giving clear and simple  instructions to my students and double checking my instructions ensuring everything is concise.
This was the first time i came across Mindmeister and i was glad to be introduced to this online mind mapping software. Its simple to use fun Interactive and perfect for brainstorming. which can be useful to the upper grades when planning stories. They can put out their ideas, plot their scenes etc..This is most effective when working in teams.

•  It encourages creativity-It expands your thinking to include all aspects of the problem or solution. You can identify a wide range of  options. 
• Rapidly produces a large number of ideas. By encouraging people to offer whatever ideas come to mind, it helps groups develop many ideas quickly.
•  Equalizes involvement by all team members. It provides a nonjudgmental environment that encourages everyone to offer ideas. All ideas are recorded.
• Fosters a sense of ownership. Having all members actively participate in the Brainstorming process fosters a sense of ownership in the topic discussed and in the resulting activities. When the people on the team contribute personally to the direction of a decision, they are more likely to support it.
•  Provides input to other tools. You may want to affinitize the brainstormed ideas. And, if appropriate, you can work with the team to reduce the number of ideas by multi-voting.

I would definitely introduce this tool to my colleagues and use it my self whenever i get the opportunity to do so.

Group activity 1 reflections.

Question: Is it impossible for a developing nation to compete with developed nation in the field of ICT integration in schools?

After much consideration, I firmly believe if it's the aim of the developing nations to compete with the developed nations in the field of ICT, this can be achieved through proper planning, implementation, training of teachers, and I.T technicians. All areas of ICT needs to be thoroughly checked and maintained with the funding allocated of course in order for this to be achieved. In addition i think this can be accomplished much more quickly if the developing nations work together and share resources. I do not believe it is impossible for a developing nation to compete with a developed nation in the field of ICT integration in schools.