EDTK 2030

Graded Discussion 1 is a powerpoint presentation, i have tried many different ways to upload the document but without  success. Below are the contents of the powerpoint presentation in microsoft word format with the hope that you will understand what it is about.

What is convergence?

According to Janssen (n.d) convergence is the process of combining two or more different pieces of technology into a single system. Convergence allows more than one thing to be done saving space and energy (Janssen, n.d). The connection of technologies can be done with or without wires for sharing information. Services such as conference calling, news via the internet and skype using cellphones have all become possible because of convergence (Asthana & Panda, 2002).

3 images of ICT media that can effectively be converged.

There should be a pictureof a digital camera, a laptop and a LCD television

Using 2 forms of media to teach 1 lesson

Theme: Animals

Subtheme: Pets

(inserted here should be picture showing how the lesson is transfered from the digital camera unto the LCD television and a mouse for the children to use)

Lesson Plan for 5 years old

Objectives – at the end of lesson, children should be able to ;

Tell name of animals seen

Count the different animals seen

Click on the animal you would like to have for your pet

Developmental steps

1. Teacher will transfer pictures of animals from digital camera unto laptop individually. Children will be asked to tell names of animal seen.

2. Children will be asked to count the different animals seen while teacher uses wireless mouse to move each animal.

3. Children will be randomly chosen to click on the animal they would like to have for their pet.

Materials Needed:

Digital camera, laptop with wireless mouse

ICT has caused the teaching and learning process to be less time consuming has persons no longer have to be reading this vast amount of books but instead surf the internet for exactly what they want.

                                                                                                            References

Asthana, M. K., & Panda, D. M. (2002). Convergence, The Human Perspective. Delhi Business Review, 1.

Janssen, C. (n.d.). Convergence. Retrieved September 19, 2014. from Techopedia: http://www.techopedia.com/definition/769/convergence

unknown. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2014. from google: ttps://www.google.com.jm/search?q

Hi Shaliza

In response to your post, I would like to add that critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored and self-corrected thinking which attempts resoning at the highest level of thinking. It requires the individual to assess, apply, analyze and evaluate their experience or observation of a topic before making a conclusion (Foundation for critical thinking, 2013).

I am of the believe that parents must be involved in their childs education, hence giving a task where parents will be required to assist children is a good example. Parents will also be given the opportunity to use their critical thinking skills. They will be able to monitor the sites their children interact with. In using ICT careful analysis must be done to help children think critically. Please refer to the APA document for proper citing of sources used.

Reference

Foundation for critical thinking. (2013). Defining Critical Thinking. Retrieved from The Critical Thinking Community: http://www.criticalthinking.org//

Hi Beverly

I have read your contribution and I must say children do learn from each other and they do not have to be in the same place at the same time. Wiki has allowed for interaction on the World Wide Web. This interaction gives one the opportunity to share their thoughts, lessons learnt and ideas to each other.

Hulla

Hi Jean

There is a saying in Jamaica that says” It takes a village to grow a child,” I strongly believe that parents should be a part of their child’s education what better way to encourage this than giving assignment? Children would access to more caloric foods at home to explore with their parents. I liked your suggestion to have children use the computer to design menus based on their calorie intake. Even though this is a science lesson, children were exposed to basic math as they could have counted the amount of items on the table top and also call the numbers for the amount of calorie they get from a specific food or beverage.

Hi Nathalie

Giving an essay for assignment in my opinion is a good assessment to see how much they have learnt from the lesson, what I think could be done also to make this assignment a group assignment to see how well they can work together outside of the classroom then have one person presenting orally. Putting the children in different groups help them to work as a team especially in this lesson where they will be using the internet.

Hi Janelle

Your post is very simple and easy to understand. However, I would love to see in your plan how you be assessing the children. You could also do a little assessment of yourself to see how well a job you did in teaching this lesson. Discovery learning allows the child to have a better understanding of a given lesson providing he/she has an effective teacher that can bring the lesson across.

P.S. I could not access your link to see the actual lesson plan.

Option 1

Critical thinking is defined by the Foundation for Critical Thinking, (2013) as a mode of thinking that allows the thinker to improve his/her quality of thinking about a subject, content or problem by taking charge of essential parts that exist in the thinking process. In other words it is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored and self-corrected thinking which attempts resoning at the highest level of thinking. It entails conceptualizing, applying, analyzing and evaluating information gained from experience, observation, reasoning or communication (Foundation for critical thinking, 2013).

Analysis is the breaking down of complex topics into smaller parts in order to gain a better undersatnding of it (Wikipedia.org, 2014). Analysis is one method that can be used in ICT to build critical thinking skills. Teachers can contribute to the develoment of critical thinking skills in ICT by providing materials where children can be creative by linking experience or observation to ICT. Teachers can alos give assignments that requires students to think critically and at the same time use ICT tools to analyze their thinking.

An example of critical thinking in ICT is a set of grade 6 students were discussing the importance of eating 3 meals per day and in what proportions each meal should be eaten. These children already know that 3 meals are to be eaten each day, however, they do not know in what roportions and what are the best things to eat at a particular time. They will need to think critically and use ICT to get the information. After finding the information they will now develop habits of eating healthy as they would have discovered important information that contributes to their health.

Providing opportunities that enhances children critical thinking skills teachers can act as guide or mentors for students by asking open-end questions (Smart Schools Program, 2012). Teachers can also give assignments that will involve the participation of parents.

References

Foundation for critical thinking. (2013). Defining Critical Thinking. Retrieved from The Critical Thinking Community: http://www.criticalthinking.org//

Smart Schools Program. (2012, august 22). Develop Students’ Critical Thinking Skills in ICT. Retrieved from Smart Schools Program: http://www.smartschools.ph/tools/teacherresources/12-08-28/Develop_Students_Critical_Thinking_Skills_in_ICT.aspx

Wikipedia.org. (2014, August 31). Analysis. Retrieved from Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis

According to Wikipedia.org a wiki is a server software that can be modified by its users from any web browser (Wikipedia.org, 2002).

The wiki I choose is Mrs. Anderson class http://mrsanderson10.pbworks.com/w/page/33263525/FrontPage this wiki encourage students to work together in compiling information to share what they have learnt with other persons worldwide. This wiki gives valuable information about the brain that not only students will find useful but also adults. The different subject areas were accessible and an assignment which I think was very helpful.

There could have been more fun activities/games. There wasn’t a parent’s space where parents could go and make their contributions. The page could do well with some more pictures/graphics to make it look more attractive.

Reference

Wikipedia.org. (2002, June 27). What is wiki. Retrieved from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Years_Professional_Status

Theorists such as Piaget, Vygotsky and Dewey suggests that discovery learning encourage the child to actively participate in a lesson by exploring and answering questions based on the experience. The goals of Discovery learning includes promoting a deeper understanding and higher level of student engagement, encourage autonomy and independence and provide an individual learning experience (Coffey, n.d).

Example of a discovery learning lesson plan can be found at

http://www.togethercounts.com/at-school/lesson-plans/food-and-energy

Topic: Food and Energy

Summary

The objectives of this lesson is to teach children how food and beverage gives them the energy they need to work and play. Children will be to tell what energy is, tell what calorie is, the role of calories in our diet, tell reasons why some people need more energy than another and put in order some foods and beverages by the amount of energy we get from them. Materials to be used in teaching this lesson include foods from the different caloric levels, measuring cups and spoons and access to the internet.

Strategy/Procedure

Children will be asked to participate in a game of “Simon says”. Children will be introduced to the word “ENERGY’ and its definition. Children will be asked to tell some things they love to eat. Children will be asked to tell what they get from eating food. Children will be asked to tell activities they love to do. Teacher will ask children “how do you feel when you do not eat breakfast?” teacher will put the caloric foods on table top and ask children to tell which one they think would give more energy. Children will now be introduced to the word “CALORIE” and its definition and importance. The measuring cups and spoons will be used to show children how much calorie they would get from each food item on table top. They will be asked to guess before see actual answer. Children will be asked tell why they think some people need more energy than some and to arrange the foods in order of the appearance based on the larger to the smallest portion of calorie gained from each.

Assessment

Children will be assessed by providing answers to questions from the link http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/downloads/calreqtips.pdf. They will be asked to name one energy food or beverage they had eaten for the day. Teacher and children will do some energy activities such as dance, jump run etc. children will be given an assignment to encourage parental participation where the parent/guardian will be asked to go to the following link http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/calories-burned.php and do the activity with their child.

Reflection:

Were children able to:

1. Tell what energy is?

2. Tell what calorie is?

3. Tell the importance of calories in our diet?

4. Tell reasons why some people need more energy than another?

5. Put in order some foods and beverages by the amount of energy we get from them?

6. Does children show and understanding of what was being taught?

7. Was teacher satisfied with the outcome of the lesson being taught?

References

Coffey, H. (n.d). Discovery learning. Retrieved from LEARN NC: K- 12 Teaching and learning from the UNC School of Education: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/5352

Together Counts . (2014). Grade-K-2 Food and Energy . Retrieved from Together Counts: http://www.togethercounts.com/at-school/lesson-plans/food-and-energy

Be creative and think of ANY topic in ICT that interests you. You need to independently think about something that you are curious about as long as it relates to this course. (You need to fully come up with a topic on your own) 

As an early childhood educator I have to keep up with trends of the present century. Lately I have been hearing about Pinterest a lot, as I triggered my mind trying to figure out what it is, the question was even asked at a BBC session I had but was ignored. The interest to find out what exactly Pinterest is gradually died down as I set my mind on tasks at hand. This assignment gives me the opportunity to learn all I want to know from about Pinterest.

According to Wkikpedia.org Pinterest is a free websites that one has to register before being able to use, after registration the individual is able to upload videos or pictures to their page, this page is called ‘pin it’. Pinterest can be used as an educational ICT tool by creating a page/group so that persons in the same class can interact with each other by adding their comments to a particular topic .

The reason for choosing this topic is so that I may be able to learn about Pinterest, why everyone seem so interested and how Pinterest can be used in education. Like Facebook, twitter and WhatsApp, Pinterest is another social media that allows you to see the latest trends and happenings through the World Wide Web. Pinterest can be used to connect with long lost friends and relatives and also keep in touch with present loved ones.

Pinterest can help me teach mathematics or any given topic to person that are in my contact or persons desiring to learn through this medium of communication. What can be done is that I could post a question or work and persons can access the question and give their answer by using the ‘pin it’ page. A conversation thread would then be created and everyone could be able to see what each other is doing, give their feedback and work the problem together.

Describe the affordances and constraints of email as an ICT tool for learning.

Information Communication and Technology (ICT) includes a range of technology and other resources used to create, store, communicate, disseminate and manage information (Tinio, as cited in EDTK2030 Essential Readings, 2014). The use of ICT tools in education are very important, students are required to use their efforts to understand the different applications. Teachers incorporate these tools in teaching and learning by including them in the various content areas of the curriculum. In order for ICT tools to be effectively utilized in teaching and learning the knowledge of how people learn should be taken in consideration (Uwiopencampus EDTK2030, 2014). According to Stevenson, “the use of Information and Communications Technology ICT as an aid to teaching and learning has been adapted largely as an act of faith” (as sited in Kennewell, 2001, p. 101).

According to the online Macmillan Dictionary affordance is define as the “quality of an object or environment that allows someone to perform an action.” The same dictionary defines constraints as “something that limits your freedom to do what you want” (Macmillan Publishers Limited, n.d.). Affordances and constraints are related and are necessary for any activity to take place. A persons’ abilities and what they will do with ICT tools must be considered when thinking about affordances and constraints (Kennewell, 2001). Theories provides support for understanding different developments that takes place in the learning environment (Uwiopencampus EDTK2030, 2014). Theories that support the use of ICT based on unit 2 is the constructivist theories with emphasis on the three dimensions: activity based teaching and learning, reflective teaching and learning and teaching and learn that focuses on social negotiation.

An example of affordances within my professional environment is the ability to communicate and interact with e-tutors and peers about given topic. I can send email to myself as reminders of important dates, work I have done and stored on laptop or flash drive as backup in case of malfunctions. This email can be retrieved from any computer saving me the time of having to redo the work. I am able to communicate and stay in touch with relatives in the island as well as those abroad. I am also able to meet new friends from different parts of the world and interact with them.

An example of constraints as it relates to email and learning is the unauthorized use of password to access email, writing down passwords for future reference and not properly storing it or not properly logging out from a public computer are risk for person to loose important information if found out by troublemakers.

A possible solution to the constraint identified above is to ensure that the computer is properly logged off after every use and recommends the use of simple passwords that are easily remembered such as a child’s name.

Whilst “the use of Information and Communications Technology ICT as an aid to teaching and learning has been adapted largely as an act of faith” (Stevenson, as cited in Kennewell, 2001, p. 101) students are required to use their efforts to understand the different applications. In order for ICT tools to be effectively utilized in teaching and learning, the knowledge of how people learn should be taken in consideration, (Uwiopencampus EDTK2030, 2014).

                                                                                                                    References

Kennewell, S. (2001). Using affordances and constraints to evaluate the use of information and communications technology. Journal of Information Technology for Teacher, 101.

Macmillan Publishers Limited. (n.d.). Retrieved from Macmillan Dictionary: http//www.constraintbyMacmillanDictionary.htm

Uwiopencampus (2014). EDTK2030 Unit 2. Development and Characteristics of Information and Communication Technologies ICT. [Essential Readings], p. 3.