Last IT session

My Reflections (field trips)

-What are the ICT resources in 2 centres?

 

At Childfirst

1) Projector
2) Interactive Whiteboards
3) SmartCart - Eddie
4) Computers
5) CCTVs
6) Cameras

 

At Odyssey
 

1) OHP (Over Head Projector)
2) Interative Whiteboards
3) CCTVs
4) Cameras
5) Computers

-How have these resources help the children to learn?

These resources made learning interactive and interesting as they captured children's sense of sight, touch and hearing. This provided hands-on experiences for children which are essential in helping them gain knowledge.

-How have these resources help the teachers
 to teach?
 

These resources had lightened the workload of the teachers and enabled them to pay more attention on their children rather than their work such as completing lesson plans and newsletters.    

-What kind of preparation do they need to integrate IT into their curriculum?

They need to make sure that the children under their care are ready to use IT in their learning. To measure their readiness, teachers got to bear in mind the age appropriateness and the children's experiences with IT at home.

- Do you think they are successful in integrating IT? In what ways?


Yes indeed did both the centers integrated IT successfully. They were able to use IT in their lessons which made the children happy and supported the children's learning. One example was the light and shadow technology project done at Odyssey.

 

- What have you learnt from it?


I learned that technology can be integrated into the curriculum successfully with the support of the management and most importantly, the teachers' determination to use technology to bring learning to a whole new level.

-How are you going to apply what you have learnt in your teaching in future.

I will adopt the teaching practices that both ChildFirst and Odyssey are using in my teaching in the future, by using technology to enhance learning.

My own personal ICT pedagogy

As a teacher in times of rapid technology advancement, ICT have to be incorporated into my teaching practices. Therefore, I have to make the best use out of them and I believe I will be able to do so as well with perserverance.
Productivity tools such as Microsoft Word or Excel will be used to create lesson plans and to aid administrative work.
Communicative tools will be used to foster ties with families, community and colleagues.
To enhance children's learning, educational softwares and webquest can be incorporated into my curriculum. ICT tools such as cameras and computers can help children in carrying out research and help them in constructing their own knowledge, just like how ChildFirst and Odyssey had done so.  These are in support with Gagne's theory of instruction of applying concepts of instructional theory to the design of computer-based training and multimedia-based learning,
 

Field Trips to ChildFirst and Odyssey

Childfirst@Dunearn

The visit to this centre was truly an eye opener for me as it was the first time I had came across a centre which is so modernized with technology. Technology is integrated into the curriculum which helps to support teachers in their teaching, as it captures children's interest by engaging some their senses such as sight and hearing. It is also used to help them in completing their work such as creating newsletters and planning of lesson plans. Children's development can also be monitored through the reports generated in the computers after the children had engaged in certain softwares. These will definitely reduce the workload of the teachers and at the same time children's learning are not compromised.

Odyssey@Wilkinson

First and foremost, what I liked most about this centre was its space and layout. As we know, space is a constraint in Singapore and it is rare that we have childcare centres that have an abundance of space. Additionally, unlike most centres, Odyssey has Art and Music Specialists to nurture children's artistic and muscial capabilities. They are also inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach of engaging children in projects. Their projects involve the use of technology such as cameras, OHP protractors and computers. I am certainly encouraged by their practices as the staff showed confidence and passion in their work with children, especially when it came to integrating technology in their settings. For example, they were comfortable with letting children as young as two years old handle a video camera, and this is something we are usually skeptical about due to our worries.

In conclusion, these field trips had got me thinking about the integration of technology in early childhood settings. They had made me witness the benefits of it and how it can be carried out effectively, which is a team effort.

Session 6

Reflection on WebQuest

After learning about the Webquest and creating one with my IT group mates, I found that using IT in early childhood education can be actually be very beneficial. This is especially so when the world is constantly moving towards techology, and familiarizing with IT is becoming an essential skill to everyone. 

Not only does Webquest enables children to practice the use of IT, it also provides an  alternative platform for children to work in teams. Furthermore, with information just a click away, children are able to search for information easily and in a faster rate, this may increase their interest in learning and the amount of knowledge they can gain within a short period of time.

Through Webquest, they are also able to obtain feedback instantly, which may once again increase their interest in learning and independence. Webquest also promotes integration as it has  visuals and audio which may appeal to children with different types of learning styles.

However, there are several concerns which I have about children using Webquest and they are basicially of health issues. As we know that myopia cases are on the raise these days, and technology is definitely one of the reasons so. Therefore, adults (teachers and caregivers) should monitor children's use of computers so as to minimize the harm and maximum the benefits caused by computers.

Session 2

Class activity 1:
Directed Technology Integration strategies Theoretical Base

1.Behaviorist theory by B.F. Skinner

Measures observable behaviors produced by a learner's response to stimuli.

2.Information-processing theory

Human mind is like a computer, it stores information and has 3 different kinds of storage (sensory, short-term and long-term)

3.Cognitive-behavioral theory
The study of human psychology that deals with a persons behavior, concentrated around what people think, how they react to stimulation and their perception through vision and hearing.
 

4.Systems theory and systematic instruction design by Gagne

Different optimal conditions needed for effective learning to take place. Has 9 events of instruction that shape learning...
1) Gaining attention
2) Informing the learner of the object
3) Stimulating recall of prerequisite learning
4) Presenting the stimulus materials
etc. Inquiry-based technology integration strategies theoretical base

1.Social activism theory by J. Dewey

Believes in hands-on and experiential learning through social interactions.

2.Scaffolding theory

Breaking the task down into smaller steps, providing motivation, and providing feedback about progress as the person progresses

3.Child development theory by Jean Piaget

Children's cognitive growth develops through 4 stages as they interact with the environment
1st: Sensorimotor
2nd: Pre-operational
3rd:Concrete operational
4th: Formal operations

4.Discovery learning

Inquiry-based and constructivist approach, active learning, students are able to test out their knowledge

5.Multiple intelligences theories

Musical, visual, logical, kinestatic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist, linguistic

Class participation activity 4:
Discussion on the website Starfall.com.
 

Age group for the site

4 1/2 to 8 years old

What kind of software?

An interactive software to stir children's interest in reading and language arts.

Learning theory it uses?

Information-processing theory

Evaluate website

It incorporates several interesting activities for children to learn how to read. The activities have different levels, starting from the basics such as phonics and the website provides immediate feedbacks/rewards to them when they complete the tasks.

Class participation activity (5):

Reflection on the 3 main productivity tool (word, excel and powerpoint- webquest); which is most useful to me and the roles that these tools play in the ECH education.

The most useful productivity tool for me currently is the Microsoft Word as I am constantly using it to do my assignments. Even during my vacation, I tend to use it for working purposes when I am required to do certain preparations for lessons, such as putting pictures into a new document file for printing. The next familiar tool for me is the Microsoft powerpoint as it is user-friendly and is always used by  me when I am required to do a presentation.

As for the roles that these tools play in the ECH education, I do believe that they all are essential and helpful in serving different types of purposes. For excel, it is commonly employed by the admininstrative staff as they are in charge of attendance (staff and children), enrolment etc. For Microsoft word, it is required to draft newsletters. Teachers tend to use it for lesson plans and obseravational records. Lastly, powerpoint is usually used for presentation, and this may be used by the management when they are required to present certain topics to the staff.

 

EDU 352 Session 1

Class participation 1:

The uses of computers and what they mean to me.

For me, I feel that the main benefit of computers on us is the increase in efficiency. They enable us to store information and retrieve them easily, and with the addition of the internet, we are able to search for information from multiple sources. This helps to open the world up to people and bring knowledge around much faster.

On the side note, it is not surprising to say that we are becoming too depending on computers, be it for work or even leisure. It is hard to imagine what it would like without them now.

Class Participation 2:
Goggle and find out more about these Computers to Fit Every Need (world café)

6 basic categories of computers

1)      Embedded computers

Rather than stand alone computers like personal computer (PC), embedded computers are installed into other devices such as telephones, digital watches, cameras and television. They serve a key purpose of controlling something within a larger system.

2)      Mobile devices

Mobile devices (also identified as handheld devices) are pint-sized computing device which are compatible. They have evolved over time and are capable of performing various functions especially with the addition of WI-FI, Bluetooth and GPS,

3)      Personal computers

Personal computers (PC) are designed specifically for individual usage in terms of size, functions and pricing. They include desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or a handheld PC.

PC these days usually has connection to the Internet, which provides access to the World Wide Web. It may be connected to a local area network (LAN), either by a cable or wireless connection.

4)      Super computers

Super computers are computers that are used to perform highly calculation-intensive tasks such as weather forecasting, climate research and oil and gas exploration. They are very expensive and they are able to carry out immense amounts of mathematical calculations. The key difference between a super computer and a mainframe is it channels all its power into carrying out a few programs as fast as possible, while a mainframe uses its power to carry out many programs simultaneously.   

5)      Mainframe computers

Mainframe computers are powerful computers mainly employed by corporate and governmental organizations for critical applications and bulk data. They are capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users concurrently.  A simple example of a mainframe is the automated teller machine (ATM) and credit purchase at a retail store.  

Class participation (3):
A mindmap in about my life (present and future– your work especially) and computers.

 

Class Participation 4:

Jig Saw for different computer communicative  learning

1)                  Asynchronous Online Communication Tools

Asynchronous tools enable communication and collaboration over a period of time through a "different time-different place" mode. These tools allow people to connect together at each person's own convenience and own schedule, thus this benefits people living different time zones.

Example: Online Blogs

2)        Synchronous Online Communication Tools

Synchronous online communication tools are being used simultaneously, unlike asynchronous. They enable real-time communication and collaboration in a "same time-different place" mode. Their advantage is that they enable people to engage immediately at the same point of time.

Example: Google Documents, FaceTime, Skype

3)                  Social Bookmarking And Tagging

Social bookmarking is the usage of a web-based site that contains tags and tags of people we know, enabling us to benefit from their bookmarks as well as our own. It brings the organization of precious research to a new level.

Social tagging is also identified as collaborative tagging and it enables ordinary users to assign keywords, or tags, to items. These items are typically Web-based resources and the tags become instantly available for others to see and use.

4) Social Networking

Social network is a social structure consisting of a group of individuals and dyadic relationships between them.

Examples: Facebook, Twitter

4 about Me.