Use of ICT in Classroom Teaching

Use of ICT in Classroom Teaching

6^th REFLECTION ON TEACHING USING ICT

(Second post for the month of October)

Class:  VI   Section: A

Subject: Science

Period: 4^th & 5^th

Date: 17^th October

Google classroom has many benefits, as a free online learning platform and as a trail, I created 

Google Classroom account with class VI and V students. I have implemented it successfully. To 

strengthen further, I am planning to create account for all the students of class V and VI in the 

academic year 2020.  If you wish to learn more on google classroom benefits you can log on to:

https://www.thetechedocate.org/10-benefits-of-google-classroom-integration/

I had lesson on the topic “Energy Related to Motion.” My lesson objectives were: (a) define kinetic energy, (b) write some examples of kinetic energy and (c) state the factors on which kinetic energy depend were my lesson objectives which is to be complete in 90 minutes. 

Owing to poor internet connectivity in the classroom, I have conducted the class in the conference hall and in the open field where connection is first.  I took theory and practical class in the conference hall and activity part in the ground. To go with the topic, the class was divided into 6 groups of four members and each group was provided with smartphones. All the phones were connected to the Wireless Inferred Firewalled Internet (Wi-Fi). We discussed and carry out the work practically in the conference hall. Right after the theory and practical class, I told them to carry out the activity part using google classroom link. I posted the questions a day before the actual lesson in the google classroom forum for group discussion. They have been using this google classroom teaching for several times. Taking an advantage, I straightly asked students to open the google account link and work on it using their smartphones. They were given 30 minutes to carry out the activity. 

After the activity, I instructed them to post the information in the google classroom forum to share their information with other group members. After having done that, I asked some groups to read out what their friends have posted in the forum. It was found that, almost all the groups have done the work successfully. I found drastic change compare to previous classes. This time they were able to do it by themselves which is of great success. Children were very excited and they wanted to carry out such activity throughout the academic year. Some brilliant students suggested me to create individual account so that they can use it at their home. In the academic year 2020, I am planning to talk with the parents of class V and VI students about the benefits of google classroom account.

Google Classroom Account

“Nothing is impossible for a willing heart.” Owing to many benefits, for trail, I have created account for those students who can manage the phones. As stated in my earlier post, I couldn’t create account for all the students as their parents don’t have smartphones. To create and make it user friendly, I sweated a lot, but it turns out to be a great achievement. It has become user friendly now. The objectives of creating this account was to share simple learning activities such as like how to post, view the friend’s work and comment the work in the classroom. Now, I am planning to create account for all the students after seeking consensus from the school administration and as well as from the parents. It is not necessary that children should have smart phones. They can access from any phones and computers.

Observation

(a)   Strength

This time the learning was very different from what I had before. I had lots of difficulties while implementing this apps which turn out to be a great success. In my previous post, use of this apps were not up to my expectation. It didn’t go as expected. I even made a prayer to have progress as learning progresses. I am bothered too much because I have invested (sacrificed) many periods and my leisure time besides school work and assignments pressure.

Children were enthusiastic to carry out the activity. Right after the practical and theory class I directed them to log on to google classroom link to work on the topic. This time all the group did their job successfully. In the first post (October), students were confused and they were not able to locate the information as there are several buttons with icons familiar only to Google users. That was the frustrating part, however, today there was drastic change. They were able to locate the information easily. They were able to find teacher and friend’s post easily. In the previous post, making comment on friend’s post and posting their own documents in the forum was the challenging part. Now they can do it by themselves. To work on this activity, I gave them 30 minutes but they didn’t take even 20 minutes to complete the tasks. This is one indication where they are getting used to it with the new apps. So, in the meantime I posted another question as there was 10 minutes more. They were able to do it confidently. I felt really proud, and fully satisfied when students can do without teacher’s help. This is the greatest part of achievement I ever had with ICT. 

    (b)  Weakness

There was one group totally confused. They were able to view my questions in the link but they could not find the page where to write their work. They were busy writing in a piece of paper. I got close to them and asked; are you making a draft? How are you going to post then? They said that, they are going to pass the paper around the group. All other groups heard and laugh a lot. In view of this, my instructions were not clear to them. Actually, I went step by step but some how they have missed my instructions. So, I need to check whether they have understood my instructions or not before assigning the task. It would not have happened if I checked before assigning the work.

(c)   Recommendations

1.      Whatever works are assigned to the students, one should always remember to give clear directions. I shall never forget to check student’s understanding of instructions before they carry out the activity.

2.      I shall strengthen the use of google classroom with my students. If they are provided opportunity in the grass root level, I am sure they will perform better in later part of their life.

3.      I shall create google account for class V and VI students in the academic year 2020 to strengthen the use of ICT in teaching and learning after through discussion in Parents Teacher Meetings.

4.      My school don’t have computer class. So, I shall make use of substitution periods meaningfully to orient how to use google classroom forum. Being first time, as stated above, I scarified my teaching periods. Of-course it turns out to be big success.

5.      Besides many advantages, there are disadvantages. Children can learn almost anything by themselves, using the internet. But if a child is alone with the internet, the web can be a deadly, subversive, filthy and perverse place. Therefore, we need to caution while children use the net. Talk on the mindful use of net before problem arises.

References

Lynch, M. (2018, September 4). Ten Benefits of Google Classroom Integration. The Tech Edvocate. Retrieved October 27, 2019, from https://www.thetechedvocate.org/10-benefits-of-google-classroom-integration/

 

Cains, J. T. (n.d.). What is Google Classroom? Retrieved 10 27, 2019, from https://www.dummies.com/education/internet-basics/what-is-google-classroom/

Use of ICT in Classroom Teaching

5^th REFLECTION ON TEACHING USING ICT

(First post for the month of October)

Information:
Class: V
Subject: Science
Topic: Protecting Habitat
Period: 3rd and 4th
Date: 2nd October 2019 (Wednesday)

Working with children and the internet for the past few months, I have learnt that internet can be helpful as well as harmful too. When children access the internet on large, publicly visible screens in safe and public surroundings, the net can be their most beneficial friend. Children can learn almost anything by themselves, using the internet. But if a child is alone with the internet, the web can be a deadly, subversive, filthy and perverse place. Therefore, we need to caution while children use the net.

I had lesson with class V students on 2^nd October on the topic “protecting habitats.” My lesson objectives were: (a) Define habitat, (b) explain how we can protect habitat and (c) explain the consequences if the habitats of plants and animals are destroyed.

To go with the topic, the class used the smartphones. All the phones were connected to the Wireless Inferred Firewalled Internet (Wi-Fi). The class was divided into 6 groups of four members and each group was provided with smartphones. We discussed on “Disappearing forest,” which was taught earlier to make connection to what they are going to learn. Then we switched on to the topic “Protecting habitats.” The teaching was focused on student centered learning whereby students are instructed to explore from the net to learn the topic. To guide the activity, the following questions were posted to the class:

1.      What is a habitat?

2.      Why is it important to protect habitat?

3.      What would be the consequences if the habitats of plants and animals are destroyed?

Although my school have net facilities but we have shortage of computers. After seeking permission from the school administration, I asked those children who can manage smartphones to bring it to the school for classroom use. Children were already trained how to fetch educational information from the google and how to use google classroom account during the substitution periods several times. Taking an advantage, I directly asked children to find the detail information for the above questions from the google using their smartphones. They were given 30 minutes to carry out the activity. After the activity, I instructed them to post the information in the google classroom forum to share their information with other group members.

Google Classroom Account

Owing to many benefits, as a free online learning platform, with lots of sweat, recently I created Google Classroom account with class VI and V students which took me about a month. I couldn’t create account for all the students as their parents don’t have smartphones. For trail, I have created account for those students who can manage the phones.  I ask those children to bring their phones whenever necessary because I seek consensus with those parents to use their phones. There phones will be use in the class in group to learn the basic tips on ict use, during teaching and learning process. The objectives of creating this account was to share simple learning activities such as like how to post, view the friend’s work and comment the work in the classroom. This will help them to build basic foundation of ict usage in learning process.

Observation

Children were fully engaged and they learned in their own pace. I found all the group has done their job agreeably and they were able to tell about the “Habitats” satisfactorily. However, I found that most of the information posted by group in the forum were directly copied from the net. So, have to intermediate and rephrase the sentences to their level. It indicates that, my instructions to them were not clear. So, I have to provide clear direction before they carry out the activity in future.

Being first time google classroom user, students were confused, as there are several buttons with icons familiar only to Google users. That was the frustrating part I ever had. Searching for information was not a problem but how to post and viewing friend’s post and making comment to the post in the forum was the challenging part of the session. The duration of my teaching was 45 minutes however it took another 45 minutes to complete the above task. I should have use projector to guide their work, so that it saves time. Henceforth, I am going to use projector along with the smartphones. I wish and hope that, by and by children might get adapt to it as learning progresses.