Manage children behaviour with ICT?

That is blasphemous!

That is a nasty way to conclude to integration of ICT in classroom. ICT helps children to focus on lesson primarily because children were excited and curious with the new way of learning (ICT tools). I was once that child who parents downloaded language software and expected me to enjoy and learn. I never did. I went through the mini games from software and nothing further.

I believe ICT are similar to hands-on experiences. Children need to be engage to these learning because it benefits them. One should not use these learning as a tool to control children’s behaviour. ICT are not a type of reward or punishment where children been removed from. Instead ICT tools are used to assist learning in children, and learning are mandatory to all children.

bartsimpson

Know your enemy: The teacher. Teehee!

Are you a good teacher?

Strange enough, my last semester in BECH did not ask us to reflect on this matter “What is the definition of a good teacher” (maybe we are expected to know this much earlier)

I found an interesting post from fellow mates Nazmeela on “What’s your definition of a good teacher?” She concluded her post with a perfect definition

“If I am to describe the profession or quality of a teacher I would say a good teacher is one who brings interests in children’s learning, understands the unique qualities of the child, respect their individual differences, accept their families, prepare, organize and strive to produce children of critical thinkers, shows patience and responsibility in the job.” – Nazmeela, 2013.

Her post had me reflect on my perspective of a good teacher. I used to goal of being the best teacher, and that includes being extra caring and patient. I am also strongly against scolding and physical punishment. BECH had taught me more than just being patient, most important I came to understand children on a wider context, which includes past experiences, home and family relationship and schools.

This source posted on the “Twelve qualities of a good teacher/mentor”
1. Committed to the work
2. Encourages and appreciates diversity
3. Interacts and communicates respect
4. Motivates students and co-workers
5. Brings a wide range of skills and talents to teaching
6. Demonstrates leadership in teaching
7. Encourages an open and trusting learning environment
8. Fosters critical thinking
9. Encourages creative work
10. Emphasizes teamwork
11. Seeks continually to improve teaching skills
12. Provides positive feedback

Please don’t kill my creativity.

I can’t remember anyone asking me to watch this video. But Mei Yih said a lecturer asked us to watch this video on our first year of BECH.

Introducing Sir Ken Robinson – The author of 2009 book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 21 languages. If you will watch the video (please do) you will find that Robinson is such an entertainer, he is funny and aspiring.

In this video, he talks about how school stigmatised children who make mistake. And that in turn “kills” creativity in children. He also added that because we’ve been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. Students with restless minds and bodies — far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity — are ignored or even stigmatized, with terrible consequences.

“We are educating people out of their creativity,” Robinson says.

Reflection (reloaded)

Consider this a double reflection of previous post. But what is exactly good and bad ICT integration? I think the question lies in how much and how you are using ICT.

“Technologies like tablets and student response devices are so engaging. Students really like being able to accomplish a task using technology and seem to work harder and longer at these tasks. In today’s world both students and their parents expect to use technology as a learning tool.” (WE are TEACHERS, 2012)

Undeniably children like using technology more than any other thing (my 3 years old nephew can prove that). If he is having a bad mood, give him the Ipad. If he doesn’t want to eat, give him Ipad. Yet too much of ICT can be detrimental to anyone. With so many interactive features (flying element in websites, advertisements, vibrant colours) ICT can be a major distraction to children. The focus here is to choose the correct technology that helps.

Technology is a useful tool, but it’s not the only way to develop the entire 21st century skill set.” What is your right balance of integrating ICT in classroom?

You can read Mei Yih’s idea of this.

Reflection

Part of our final week’s reflection required us (not compulsory) to reflect on our Professional Experience (PE) particularly our views on the role of ICTs in learning and teaching.

Here’s mine:

I used to think of ICTs as

• Expensive and that is the reason not all school wiling to invest upon.
• Difficult to learn and require constant updating (software and skills).
• Time consuming because teacher need more time to prepare lesson.

Towards the end of the course, my perception of ICTs did change a little. I had children paying full attention to my lessons. I had children eager to ask question.

I think if ICTs are used correctly

• Engage children learning
• Create exciting learning experience
• Provide platform for future engagement in ICT tools
• Connect children with wider learning network

This is what my coursemate said about ICT integration!

Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion

Final post for everyone…but not mine. Having to blog here is mandatory, part of EDC3100 assignment requirement. It is quite sad as I come to think of it, not because I have few more post to finish but rather the disconnection that I might have when everyone stops blogging. I knew most of the EDC3100 had been complaining about the unnecessity to blog but these blogs have created a greater personal learning network (PLN) beyond the context of my Malaysian friends. Some of these blogs were truly inspirational and gave ideas of creating meaningful lessons. Thank to Megan, through her blog I found this video of Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion.

A truly inspirational talk where she defines the influence she had as a teacher on her children as well as the power we hold as an educator.

Sleepy Chicks

So my previous post on “New friend in Pre 2” (basically two adorable frogs which were part of the learning experience) scared this little lady. Poor Kym, my coursemate.

I hope she will see this new post. Our new friend in Pre 2 (reloaded). Introducing the Sleepy chicks!

Sleepy Chicks

These chicks sleeps a lot, even when hand held. These chicks were used in the science lesson of Week 2 practicum. Children are learning about the lifecycle of chicken. They were supposed to identify the difference between each chick (sizes). They were allowed to hold and observe to chicks by taking turns. By the end of the day, the chicks were taken back by other teacher who wanted to keep it as pet.

Kidblog

Kidblog…neh

Seriously speaking… does anyone still blog? At least some of us have to blog for the purpose of fulfilling this assignment. But our lecturer insisted on us checking Kidblog.

Kidblog provides teachers with the tools to help students safely navigate the digital – and increasingly social – online landscape. In another word, kidblog is a social platform for children, just like Facebook for adults. However, Kidblog allows students to exercise digital citizenship within a secure, private classroom blogging space.
Kidblog allow academic discussions within whole class and controlled by teacher over student blogs and user accounts.

So I say join Kidblog and no more carrying notebooks!

P.S. what does my coursemate think of Kidblog?

BYOI – Bring your own insect

One of science lesson requires children to bring insects they had collected from home. For the whole week, children were supposed to present their new found insects (must be alive) in a container (with holes of course) and preferably with some food for the poor insects.

We (mentor and I) were constantly surprised by the “insects” children had brought. We have mosquito in container which was astonishingly not squash. We have children who brought dead cockroaches. We also have children who brought grasshopper with missing legs. And many grasshoppers in the coming days…

On the last day of the week (Friday), one girl happily ran to the teacher and showed her lunch box – a transparent box with lots of fresh vegetables.

“Ahhh…you brought salad” said mentor.

“No! that’s my insect” said the girl.

African Giant Snail

As we all know that is not an insect. But a snail. She was asked to present to the class and we have a small discussion about the snail. This snail was identified (by the coloration an shape of the shell) as African Giant Snail, scientific name Achatina fulica. Sadly this snail is actually an invasive species. Achatina fulica originates from coastal East Africa particularly Kenya and Tanzania. You can read more about it here.

Woah…Noah

Woahh…that was my reaction when I first heard about Project Noah!

Thanks to my EDC3100 course mate who posted this on their blog.

Project Noah is an award-winning mobile application that helps nature lovers discover local wildlife and aspiring citizen scientists contribute to current research projects. Noah stands for networked organisms and habitats. With the help ICT tools such as camera and Smartphones, anyone can join Project Noah to document and learn about their natural surroundings and as a technology platform research groups can use to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere. This especially helpful for teachers to instil science learning in classroom. Think little Jane Goodall!