I may get a smartboard for my school if I can explore the usage, train others to use it and carry out a research especially on the effectiveness of using smartboards as a learning tool.
So much of doing a teaching module huh:) So probably I need to find out what would the teachers benefit from using the smartboard IN RELATION TO THE TOPIC I INTEND TO RESEARCH ON.
May be, I can still design something for teachers, but use the smartboard as an added or the learning tool for teachers...wow, there's a lot to do!! I wonder where do I go wrong in conceptualizing my ideas? Have I started a little bit narrow? Now my literature map has another added component - the teaching module, the future skills, the gap in EST syllabus, the use of web 2.0 ..and now the smartboards.
But I have found links to the use of smartboards, the thing that I like is that it is claimed that the smartboard can help in solving problems of lacking computer access. But..how do I use only one smartboard with many learners? How high is the level of thinking that can be applied when using the board? How do I get to enhance my teaching by using the smartboard, other than for the sake of using the technology?
I need to explore.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Skills for sustainable future
I am still searching for what would be the skills needed by our young generations for their future. I started off with the word "sustainable future" and am still reading about them. What I can see is that sustainable future is mostly used in environmental education. So what is the scope for environmental education? Still am searching too.
I found a sample of book in the Internet: "Studying Society and Enviroment: A Guide For Teachers" that explains the meaning of sustainable. What catches me is the 3 Strategies that needs to be applied in educating the youngs for the future:
1. "balance of emphasis in education between reproducing existing social system and promoting social change";
2.development of teaching and learning processes that stresses on "moral virtues, ethical discernment, learning how to learn, reflection, creativity, civic mindedness, and the motivation and abilities to work with others" in building sustainable future; and
3. Focusing on the school as "a sustainable community and seek to provide the students with practical experience in building sustainable school."
I start of somewhere...so now I understand that if I would like to refer the skills for our future as "sustainable future skills" I may need to define and have a list of the skills required.
Hmm...still a long way to go!
I found a sample of book in the Internet: "Studying Society and Enviroment: A Guide For Teachers" that explains the meaning of sustainable. What catches me is the 3 Strategies that needs to be applied in educating the youngs for the future:
1. "balance of emphasis in education between reproducing existing social system and promoting social change";
2.development of teaching and learning processes that stresses on "moral virtues, ethical discernment, learning how to learn, reflection, creativity, civic mindedness, and the motivation and abilities to work with others" in building sustainable future; and
3. Focusing on the school as "a sustainable community and seek to provide the students with practical experience in building sustainable school."
I start of somewhere...so now I understand that if I would like to refer the skills for our future as "sustainable future skills" I may need to define and have a list of the skills required.
Hmm...still a long way to go!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Get things right!
Too many things in my mind now, having started a personal reading program on research and also defining the meaning of curriculum. I have yet started my literature review seriously, still, I managed to find a few good and latest article in current trends of educational technology.
It bugs me greatly to know that they are practitioners who claim that technology have done wonders in teaching. Personally, it is not the technology that does magical transformation but how the teacher/ trainer integrate technology into his or her teaching processes. A good foundation on the trends of technology in education through reading should be the answer. The emphasis by instructional technologies worlwide is now on "technology-enhanced instructional designed learning environment" as such the technology or media should not be evaluated or looked into in isolation. It has to be with the approches or methods used together with the technology. As what Prof Raja said, "it should be the people that we teach first", not thinking about which technology we are using before knowing the problem of the learners.
So, my research will be what problem my learners are facing now, in school? I am thinking about the lack of soft skills being planned and integrated in teaching and learning. Ad I am thinking of the common practice of ICT integration with all the facilities provided by the Ministry. Combined with the claims of Web 2.0 that can facilitate communication and collaboration eith no boundaries. Hmmm, that could make a good current research in terms of developing modules. Yet, will be current enough in another 2-3 years? That one I need to think again!
It bugs me greatly to know that they are practitioners who claim that technology have done wonders in teaching. Personally, it is not the technology that does magical transformation but how the teacher/ trainer integrate technology into his or her teaching processes. A good foundation on the trends of technology in education through reading should be the answer. The emphasis by instructional technologies worlwide is now on "technology-enhanced instructional designed learning environment" as such the technology or media should not be evaluated or looked into in isolation. It has to be with the approches or methods used together with the technology. As what Prof Raja said, "it should be the people that we teach first", not thinking about which technology we are using before knowing the problem of the learners.
So, my research will be what problem my learners are facing now, in school? I am thinking about the lack of soft skills being planned and integrated in teaching and learning. Ad I am thinking of the common practice of ICT integration with all the facilities provided by the Ministry. Combined with the claims of Web 2.0 that can facilitate communication and collaboration eith no boundaries. Hmmm, that could make a good current research in terms of developing modules. Yet, will be current enough in another 2-3 years? That one I need to think again!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
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