Martes, Setyembre 27, 2011

InformationTechnology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration and instruction, schools in these developed economies have also adopted the support of ICT's. Their students have now become active not passive learners, who can interact with other learners, demonstrating independence and self-awareness in the learning process.

Observably, there is a departure from traditional worksheet, read-and-answer, drill-and-practice activities. Students also no longer need to mark the tests of peers since the computer has programs for test evaluation and computerized scoring of results.

It must be pointed out, however, that traditional classroom activities - especially in less developed countries - will continue to have a strong place in the classroom. In spite of this setback experienced in some countries, the option has now been opened for the modern teacher to shift gears to student centered learning.


As we all know, in the traditional classroom, a teacher can discipline and manage his/her students. The teacher in that has always the first and final say in the lesson. But the difference is that in the traditional classroom, a student can sometimes feel intimidated and bored since it is always the voice of the teacher who echoes most of the time and leads the discussion. While in a SCL environment, it gives students the venue to interact with each other, be motivated as everyone can participate and enjoy. It can be as noisy as it is, but it gives the students independence and self-awareness.

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.



Issues:
IT Support in Student Centered Learning Comparing to other Teaching Method

Content-centered teaching focuses on and meets the requirements of the content. Mastery of the content is paramount. The course’s organization cannot be changed to meet the needs of either the instructor or the students. In fact, someone completely separate from the instructor, for example, a discipline committee, often carries out the decision-making process.
Instructor-centered teaching focuses on the teacher as both authority and model. The instructor determines the content and organization of the course to a great extent. The students are recipients of the instructor’s knowledge.

Student-centered teaching focuses on the student. Decision-making, organization, and content are largely determined by the student’s needs and perceptions. Even assessment may be influenced or determined by the student. The instructor acts as coach and facilitator. In many respects, the goal of this type of teaching is the development of the student’s cognitive abilities.



REFLECTION


               It just likes the battle of the old and the modern method of teaching wherein the both side is a process that the student must be learned. In other way, teacher must think what is good method he will use to the student to be more effective in teaching. Once the students are engage with any material or method that caught their interest they are willing and actively participating the class discussion and teacher and easily evaluate the performance of the student.


Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration and instruction, schools in these developed economies have also adopted the support of ICT's. Their students have now become active not passive learners, who can interact with other learners, demonstrating independence and self-awareness in the learning process.

The Internet And Education


The Internet, also simply called the Net, is the largest and far-flung network system-of-all-systems. Everything in the Internet is coordinated through standardized protocol called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). The vast sea of information now in the Internet, including news and trivia, is an overwhelming challenge to those who wish to navigate it.
Today schools are gearing up to take advantage of Internet access, where they can plug into the library of congress, make virtual visits to famous museums in the world, write to celebrities, and even send questions to heads of states. Educational software materials have also developed both in sophistication and appeal. There is now a wider choice from rote arithmetic or grammar lessons to discovery and innovation projects. But the real possibility today is connecting with the world outside homes, classrooms, and Internet cafes.

The Internet has become an increasingly important feature of the learning environment for teenagers. Research by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in November and December 2000 shows that teens use the Internet as an essential study aid outside the classroom and that the Internet increasingly has a place inside the classroom. The Project surveyed 754 online youth ages 12-17 and their parents. Teens and parents report that Internet is vital to completing school projects and has effectively replaced the library for a large number of online youth. 71% of students report using the Internet at their primary source for their last major project, and they also report accessing online study aids like Sparknotes or CliffNotes. Beyond legitimate assistance with studies via websites, or email or Instant message communication with teachers, students also take advantage of the Internet to cheat, with 18% of students reporting knowing someone who used the Internet to do so. 
ISSUES:
I have a frustration to vent…is that okay?
After you read this I want your feedback - more on that in a minute.
It has to do with your Internet entrepreneurial success so hang with me here.
If you have kids you know that the cost of attending college is shooting up so fast that it’s scary.
It’s shocking to recall that fifteen years ago I attended a state college and paid a bundle of money to learn a lot of things I NEVER use today. For example, why exactly did I endure a semester of 8AM (Mon,Wed,Fri) “Economic Geography” while pursuing a technology related degree? Someone please answer that…
Of the many courses I took while obtaining my degree I can confidently say that I don’t use ANYTHING I learned in 90% of those classes (as if I can remember any of it anyway).
And yet my degree was 100% necessary to land my first job out of college. So in the end the $50 thousand and five years of my life that I spent on college helped me land a $29 thousand annual salary job - which I was laid off from one year later.


REFLECTION


          
An online education program can be a very rewarding experience for those individuals wanting to earn a degree in a non-traditional education environment. Studies have shown that students who are mature, self-motivated and organized are extremely successful in their online learning pursuits. By allowing students to control where and when they study, online programs are best-suited to those individuals who possess strong time management skills and are independent learners.
In the part of technology, internet is part of education which accommodating the necessity of the student in gathering information, data, and other materials for learning. It showcase, how important technology today through the use of Internet that acquiring educator to be the references of the material for their teaching and giving for informative technique to help the student to be more competitive learners.
Today schools are gearing up to take advantage of Internet access, where they can plug into the library of congress, make virtual visits to famous museums in the world, write to celebrities, and even send questions to heads of states. Educational software materials have also developed both in sophistication and appeal. There is now a wider choice from rote arithmetic or grammar lessons to discovery and innovation projects. But the real possibility today is connecting with the world outside homes, classrooms, and Internet cafes

The Computer As A Tutor

          There has been a fear that someday in the future teachers will be replaced with CAI because as an assessment it is much better if we will used the computer to assist as in our learning for it is consistent and objective. Yes, it is partly true and also partly wrong because we all know that there are roles that teachers have to do that CAI cannot. A computer cannot assess and insure if the students have the needed knowledge and skills for it does not have any will and intellect.

Teacher can decide the appropriate learning objectives while computers do not, a teachers can plan any structured activities to achieve objectives suited to the needs of its students and a teacher can evaluate the student’s achievements by ways of tests of the expected outcomes. With CAI, we can only expect lower level learning skills and what is only programmed in the computer will be the only thing a student will learn unlike with a teacher, we can learn more from him/her as we can freely asks questions or can interact with different experiences in life.


Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)

          The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as a classroom tutor. It should be made clear, however, that the computer cannot totally replace the teacher since the teacher shall continue to play major roles of information deliverer and learning environment controller. Even with the available computer and CAI software, the teacher must:

·         Insure that the students have the needed 
          knowledge and skills for any computer activity.
·         Decide the appropriate learning objectives
·         Plan the sequential and structured activities to
          achieve objectives.
·         Evaluate the students’ achievement by ways of tests
          of the specific expected outcomes.
On the other hand, the student in CAI play their own roles as learners as they:

·         Receive information
·         Understand instructions for the computer activity
·         Retain/keep in mind information and rules for the computer activity.
·         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 tutor
·         Provides a learning environment
·         Delivers learning instruction
·         Reinforces learning through drill and practice
·         Provides feedback

Today, educators accept the fact that the computer has indeed succeeded in providing an individualized learning environment so difficult for a teacher handling whole class. This is so, since the computer is able to allow individual students to learn at their own pace, motivate learning through a challenging virtual learning environment, and assist students through information needed during the learning process.




ISSUES
Computers have become commonplace in the classroom, at least in some classes. One problem is students' vulnerability to the distractions that computers provide. It can be incredibly difficult for teachers to monitor all the students, and some may play games or surfing the web instead of focusing on the work at hand. It is very common in public school that student do not directly go home instead they are with friend playing Dota and SF which are the very attractive games to the students that result to failed to go to school as well as the performance in the class discussion.

REFLECTION

                        Teacher must engage to the computer that explaining the student the good purpose of the computer not for playing or as part of their daily activities which id play games. We all know that computer can play the role of tutor in nearly any classroom. Teachers have only so much time on their hands, and even the most student-oriented teachers can leave children behind. One way to close this gap is to use the computer as a tutor. Many lessons, instructions and problem-solving materials are available on the web.One concern with computers is that they can reduce learning demands on students.
                       With access to the web comes millions of pieces of information, many of which contain answers to common problems from school. Students can use computers to do less work or even to cheat. The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving the teacher of many activities in his personal role as classroom tutor. It should be made clear, 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.