week 7: integration of technology + smart board

For this week, Ms Chin has taught us on the topic integrating technology in the teaching and learning process. I learnt a lot from lectures today as there are many things I find very useful and practical for me as a future teacher. Before this, I wasn’t know that there are differences between
“Learning through technology” and “Learning with technology”. Obviously, they are 2 different things. The first one refers to process of learning that uses technologies as the medium of learning and the second one refers to the process of learning that aid or facilitate by technologies. Another interesting thing would be “Learning about technology”. This refers to the process of learning about the skills related to the technology itself. As a future teacher, it is important for me to know how to transform the traditional T&L process to more advances where technology becomes a matter. As for examples, we can use Smart Board, PowerPoint presentation and e-book. However, in making this realistic, teachers need not to be rushed but to get the students learn slowly, steps by steps. This is important as not all of the pupils know how to use the technology especially computers. Perhaps, what teacher can do is to give them ICT skills needed but at the same time give some contents to them as well. In doing this, teachers must not forget to develop their understanding on the safe practise in using technology. When pupils are comfortable with all of this and can move a step forward, a teacher can give problem solving activities or task for them to complete. For instance, project, brochure or a PowerPoint presentation. It is possible if a teacher can publish the pupils’ work as one way of appreciating it. Maybe, the teacher can upload it in Teacher Tube, You tube and 4Shared. A step forward may be taken after this by engaging them in Collaborative learning like video conferencing, chatting, blogging and messaging. Perhaps, all of these can make teaching and learning process more interesting and fun.

To put in a nutshell, there are lots of things that a teacher can do for the pupils in helping them to be technology literate but most importantly, “Teacher shouldn’t transfer all the knowledge themselves, but let the pupils discover on their own”. 0_o!