Lesson 18: Tablets for Textbooks in Schools

Today, books are still the primary medium of instruction in most schools. Already, there is a disadvantage of using books for learning that are being debated upon. The errors in public school textbooks have also been exposed, errors resulting from wrong information, technical mistakes and editorial lapses.

                                  

      Today, technology is being viewed as a savior because the students are enamored by computer games. By that, the educators have begun to think that the computer screen can very well serve as a power point educational medium.

      In general, tablets as a primary learning tool can be replacing the textbooks. Tablets are conducive to higher thinking, constructive and participative teaching-and-learning. By that, parents gave full support to the IT advancement. Technology itself may be a key to problem resolution and Filipino ingenuity is called to respond to the challenge facing the digital generation of the millennium.

Having something that can replace heavy bulky books is a good idea, the students will no longer suffer from carrying heavy books and if the only use tablets they can access their books anytime anywhere because it can be brought easily without hassle.

It is no longer impossible as what the students in La Salle were experiencing. Even ordinary college students were no longer buying books in the store especially now that PDF format copies of the books were already available and free to be downloaded.

In the near future this kind of events will be achieve by all levels of schools in the Philippines it may sound impossible because of the current situation in our country that cannot even provide good classrooms and equipment. But nothing is impossible, if there’s a will to become better there will always a way in achieving better and bigger things.

Lesson 17: Educational Technology 2 Practicum

Educational Technology 2 Practicum is a performance phase, which offers students the experiential process of adapting to technology. This is the practicum phase consist of hands-on computer tutorials and requirements such as:

a. Computer laboratory or special classroom with adequate computers for learning

b. Participation of computer lab assistant- to assist the learners in the use of computer

c. Assigned number of hours base on the requirements needed by the course

The practicum phase consists of:

1. Basic Microsoft Word

           - Tutorial familiarizes each individual learner to the basics of Microsoft Word by learning how to use the toolbars and software; they will be taught how to encode, edit and format text; creating, formatting, editing and saving documents and printing as well.

            At the end, the learner shall be able to create, open and save word documents; insert graphics, tables or charts; apply format on the text, hyperlink or creating standard documents.

 

2. Microsoft PowerPoint

   - Tutorial is focus on the familiarization on the basics of Microsoft PowerPoint presentation so enhance the teaching of subjects. Coverage of learning includes PowerPoint fundamentals, enhancement of PowerPoint presentation with the use of graphics, audio or videos, using templates, presenting and printing a slide.

            At the end of the tutorial, the learner will be able to create and open PowerPoint presentations, insets objects to creative presentations and templates to enhance presentations.

3. Internet as tool of Inquiry

            - Tutorial will facilitate the finding of sources of information appropriate to a learning task. Its coverage includes accessing the internet, use of internet tools and search techniques.

            Thus, at the end the learner may able to search and retrieve information from the web, acquire skills in locating appropriate information, acquire ability to use internet tools, gain knowledge of techniques use and learn the ability to execute the research.

            Therefore, the practicum phase brings the learners and educators a challenge of a new age by integrating technology in the teaching-learning process. In each phase students were expected to know and understand such task and i the end they will be able to perform and apply it. Thus, practicum is a preparation to encourage the educators to instil learning with the aid of technology and shall be empowered to meet the technology challenges of the 21st Century.

Learning technology, the way it is and how it is was never waste of time not because you are able to catch what’s new but because it can really help in a way or another. My computer literacy before in high school was not that fun, I’m not an internet geek and I really don’t bother accessing the computer, luckily I wanted to pass the subject so I learned and I didn’t regretted that days because what I learned in those times I was able to apply today.

I think that the goal of Educational Technology 2 meet the expectation of a future teacher like me - to use and apply the new trends of technology in teaching. Educational Technology 2, aims to have modern teachers that will teach modern students. To use the different technologies as a strategy in teaching, it will be more affective and pleasing to the students. As a future teacher, I must appreciate the broad benefits that the computer can bring in the lives of students and teachers.

By learning all of things it will be then easier for future teachers like me to become more equipped and confident in dealing my future students. I can relate to them in a way that they are good; the computer. With this we can always meet halfway to avoid compromises.

Lesson 16: The Internet and Education

The invention of the computer and the subsequent software programmed for its use has totally changed the whole concept of progress and communication.  Every part of the world can now be reached and contact with other persons where ever they are can be done through the internet.  The internet is the system that enables the user of a computer to gain access to whatever he needs be it for information, for communication, for business or for personal reasons.  Missing relatives can even be found thru the internet by using different search and social sites.  How much more for the field of education; the internet has become its partner in the ever changing learning process.  Students can interact with students in foreign countries, they can share information, learn and grow with each other.  They can search any topic and subject they want to research.  The globe becomes smaller and its inhabitants become closer and relations between countries are improved and strengthened.

It is very amazing when the teacher and the students communicate with each other through internet. It saves time and effort and with this even if you are away can always see to it that you are never behind whatever is happening. Human living has really evolved into something great. Before, if you don’t go to school you can’t attend classes but now, online lessons and courses were very in demand.

Despite of the disadvantages of technology you can never deny that it really helped us in so many ways, ways that we are notable to imagine before. From communication to studies and now, even shopping online is no longer something amazing. Undoubtedly, the internet is now a big part of education especially to the learners of this generation and of the years to come.

 

Having an access to the internet is a big edge for someone because we are all aware that internet is now a big part in education, not in terms of the information because we can get it from books but in terms of how we do things on our way. Why read lot of books when you can directly look for something in the internet. Why bother giving hard copies when you can email those. We can do things without internet but what can we do it make things easier for me and for you.