Lesson 1: A Review of Educational Technology 1

     The Educational Technology 1 (ET-1) course has truly paved the way for the learner to
become aware, appreciative and equipped to use educational technology tools ranging from
traditional to modern educational media.

     Truly, the foundation for a truly satisfying exposure to educational technology has been
firmly laid down by the ET-1 course, starting with thorough treatment of the history of
educational technology, quality education, and the roles of ET in the 21st millennium.

     In ET-1, the learner was also oriented towards averting the dangers of dehumanization  which
technology brings into societies, such as through ideological propaganda, pornography, financial
fraud, and other exploitative use of technology. Sad to say, these dangers continue to affect
peoples and cultures while widening the gap between rich and poor countries.

     On the application of educational technology to instruction. Educational Technology 1

showed the 4 phases of application of educational technology in teaching-and-learning,
namely; (a) setting of learning objectives (b) designing specific learning
experiences (c)evaluating the effectiveness of the learning experiences vis-a-vis the learning
objectives, and (d) revision as needed of the whole teaching-learning process, or elements of it,
for further improving future instructional activities.

     Adding to the technology sophistication of the learners, Educational Technology 1 fittingly

refined the distinction between educational technology and other concepts, such as instructional
technology ( which is the use of technology in instruction, different from school
management), audiovisual aids (or learning media to stir the senses for more effective learning).

COMMUNICATION DEVICES:
Communication Signals
In sum, Educational Technology 1 served:

* To orient the learner to the pervasiveness of educational technology in society.

* To lend familiarization on how educational technology can be utilized as media for the avenues
teaching-learning process in the school.

* To uplift the learner to human learning through the use of learning technology.
* To impact skills in planning, designing, using and evaluating the technology-enriched
teaching-learning process.

* To acquaint learners on basic aspects of community education, functions of the school media
center, and finally

* To introduce the learner to what is recognized as the third revolution in education, the
computer

Lesson 2: An Overview: Educational Technology 2

     Educational Technology 2 is concerned with " Integrating Technology into Teaching and
Learning". Specifically this is focused on introducing, reinforcing, supplementing and extending
the knowledge and skills to learners so that they can become exemplary users of educational
technology. Mainly directed to student teachers, also professional teachers who may wish to
update their knowledge of educational technology, it is our goal that this course can help our
target learners to weave technology, with software (computer programmed learning materials)
becoming a natural extension of their learning tools.
      Necessarily, Educational Technology 2 will involve a deeper understanding of the computer
as well as hands-on application of computer skills. But this is not say that the goal of the course
is to promote computer skills. But this is not to say that the goal of the course is to promote
computer skills. Rather, the course is primarily directed at enhancing teaching-and-learning
through technology integration.

      In essence, the course aims to infuse technology technology in the student-teachers training,
helping them to adapt and meet rapid and continuing technology changes, particularly in the
thriving global information and communication technology (ICT) environment.

      More specifically, the course objectives are:

* To provide education in the use of technology in instruction by providing knowledge and skills
on technology integration-in-instruction to learners.

* To impart learning experiences in instructional technology-supported instructional planning.

* To acquaint students on Information Technology or IT- related learning theories with the
computer as a tutor.

* To learn to use and evaluate computer-based educational resources.

* To engage learners on practical technology integration issues including managing IT

classrooms, use of the Internet for learning, cooperative learning through the use of information
technology, etc.

* To inculcate higher-level thinking and creativity among students while providing them
knowledge of IT-related learning theories.

     While the course is primarily intended for the use of student-teachers, it can also be of great
to use to professional teachers, school administrators, teacher educators, and in fact anyone who
is interested on how Information Technology can be used to improve not only instruction but the
school management program and curriculum.
     It may be said, too, that the study of this course on integrating Information Technology in
instruction should not be considered as a formidable task, but rather as a refreshing and exciting
study given the idea that all learning should be fun.

Lesson 3:
              To provide confidence to educators that they are taking the right steps in adopting
technology in education, it is good to know that during the last few years, progressive countries
in the Asia Pacific region have formulated state policies and strategies to infuse technology in
schools. The reason for this move is not difficult to understand since there is now a pervasive
awareness that a nation’s socio-economic success in the 21st century is linked to how well it can
complete in a global information and communication technology (ICT) region. This imperative
among nations has therefore given tremendous responsibilities on educators to create an
educational technology environment in schools.
            And since it is understood that the state policies will continue to change, it is helpful to
examine prevailing ICT policies and strategies of five progressive states/city, namely New
Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
           
New Zealand 2001 ICT Goals and Strategy
( Web link for more a detailed document)
http;//www.tki.org.nz.ict/

GOAL
            Government with the education and technology sectors, community groups, and industry
evisions to support to the development of the capability of schools to use information and
communication technologies in the teaching and learning and in administration.
STRATEGY
It forces schools to be:
·         Improving learning outcomes for students using ICT to support the curriculum.
·         Using ICT to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of educational administration.
·         Developing patnerships with communities to enhance access to learning through ICT.
Focus Areas
·         Infrastructure for increasing schools’ access to ICTs to enhance education.
·         Professional development so that school managers and teachers can increase their
capacities to use ICT.
Initiatives
·         An online esource center with a centrally managed website for the delivery of multimedia
resources to schools.
·         A computer recycling scheme
·         A planning and implantation guide for schools
·         ICT professional development schools/clusters
Australia IT initiatives
(http.//www.deet.gov.au/schools/adelaide/text/htm)
In the adelaide declaration and national Goals for  schools, information technology is one of the
eight national goals/learning areas students should achieve. Students should be confident,
creative and productive users of new teachnologies, particularly ICTs, and understand the impact
of these technologies on society.
The plans for achieving the and national goal fo IT are left to individual states and territories
with the Educational Network Australia (EdNA) as the as the coordinating and advisory body.
Across the states and territories, the common features to planning, funding and implementation
strategies are:
·         Fast local and wide area netwoks linking schools across the state and territory
·         Substantial number of computers in schools, ensuring adequate access
·         Continuing teacher training in the use of teachnology for instruction
·         Technical support to each school
·         Sufficient hardware and software
·         Digital library resources
·         Technology demonstrations as models for schools

Malaysia Smart School-Level Technology Project

(http://www.ppk.kmp.my/smartschool/)
Technology plays many roles in a Smart School from facilitating teaching-and-learning activities
to assisting with school management. Fully equipting a school includes;
·         Classrooms with multimedia, presentation facilities, e-mail, and groupware for
collaborative work.
·         Library media center with database for multimedia courseware and network access to
internet
·         Computer laboratory for teaching, readily accessible multimedia and audiovisual
equipment
·         Multimedia development cente with tools creating multimedia materials. Computer studies
as a subject
·         Studio/theatette with control room for centralized audio-visual equipment,
teleconferencing studio, audio, room, video and laser disc video room.
·         Teachers’ oom with on-line acess to courseware catalogues and databases, information
and resource management systems and professional networking tools, such as e-mail and
gruopware.
·         Server room equipped to handle applications, management databases and web server
·         Administration offers capable of managing databases of students and facilities, tracking
students and teacher performance and resources, ditributing notices and other information
electronically

Singapore Masterplan for IT in Education

(http;//www.moe.edu.sg/education/masterplan/welcome.htm)
The masterplan has four key dimensions;
Curriculum and assessment
·         A balance between acquisition of factual knowledge and mastery of concepts and skills
·         Students in more active and independent learning
·         Assessment to measure abilities in applying infomation
Learning resources
·         Development of a wide range of educational software for instruction
·         Use of relevant internet resources for teaching-and-learning
·         Convenient and timely procurement of software materials
Teaching Development
·         Training on purposeful use of IT for teaching
·         Equipping each trainee teache with core skills in teaching with IT
·         Tie-ups with institutions for higher learning and industy partners
Physical and technological infrastucture
·         Pupil computer ratio of 2;1
·          Access to IT in all learning areas in the school
·         School-wide network, and school linkages whough wide area network (WAN), eventually
connected to Singapore One ( a broadband access service for high-speedy delivey of multimedia
services on island-wide basis

Hong Kong Education Program Highlights

(http//.www.info.gov.hk/emb/eng/prog_high/schoolprog.html)
            Government raise the quality of school education by promoting the use of IT in teaching
and learning. The IT initiative are;
·         On average, 40 computers for each primary school and 82 computers fo each secondary
school
·         About 85,000 IT training places for each teachers at four levels
·         Technical support for all schools
·         An Information Education Resource Center for all schools and teachers
·         An IT coordinator for each of 250 schools which should have sound IT plans
·         Computer rooms for use by students for normal school hours
·         An It Pilot Scheme to povide schools with additional resources
·         Review of school curiculum to incorporate IT elements
·         Development of appopriate software in collaboration with gvernment, the private sector,
tertiary institutions and schools
·         Exploring the feasibility of setting up an education-specific intranet

Lesson 4:
Levels of integration
            Now to provide moe specificexamples of levels of integration.

Ms. Cruz wants to show photos in her Social

Studies class, but the icture are so small. She Result: good class presentation followed by a
decides to use the computer scan the photos fo discussion
a computer projection to the class( a
presentation softawae package)
Mr. Alonzo thinks it is tedious to do paper and
pen match worksheets. He decides to use the
computer to put the woksheets into a
spreadsheet form. He then asked students to Result: more active student activity
submit thei completed worksheet to him by e-
mail.

Geography teacher, Mr. Sioson finds it

difficult to motivate her students to learn about
other countries. Her supervisor suggested an
instructional simulation software in which
students play detectives to solve mysteries
related to Geography. Ms. Sioson use the Result: an exciting group learning activity
computer-based material, also designed
worksheets and question-answer sheets to find
out the students’ experience in the learning
process.

Mr. Roxas uses a computer-bases

Trigonometry softwae, projected to the class Result: an interactive class using a software
using a pojector to supplement his teacher
centered class presentation.

English teacher Ms. Santos, used computer-

based activities (software) which students can Result: enrichment activity; recording- keeping
go through duing library time features of softwae allows checking of progress
of student learning.

Ms. Yu asks her students to find information

on H-fever in the internet. Students are to
create an information leaflet giving a family Result: creative skills employed by students
health tips on H-fever.
In these examples, Technology is the central instructional tool
 

Result:
To dish out infomation on the Asean Region, Mr. Lopez assigned newsletter increased
computer production by group social skills
to group
wok:
planning,
creativity,
computer
skills

Result: a
more
sophisticate
d
The Rizal school has a partner school in the US. A joint Science project allows the
Technology
Phillipines and U.S schools to exchange information on indigeneous herbal plants
-supported
in both countries. Video conferencing is held involving students of both schools.
project
demonstrati
ng global
communicat
ion and
socially
relevant
research.
                   
                    To reflect in may need time fo teachers who are novices in technology integration to
become adept technology instructional integrators. There is no need to worry since technology
integration is developmental and takes a gradual route to amstery and expertise. In time, teachers
can advance from basic to morecomplicated levels of technology use in instuction

Lesson 5: Obstacles to IT pedagogical practice

           Especially for educators living in developing or peasant economies, objections are likely
to be heard such as that the use of the computer is time-consuming and expensive. Besides there
is also the danger of a technology-centered classroom along the fear that computers may soon
replace teachers.
            Virtue is in moderation and so, there is truly a need for teachers to balance their time for
the preparation and application of instructional tools. Through wise technical advice, schools can
also acquire the most appropriate computer hardware and software. At the same time, training
should ensure that the use of ET is fitted to learning objectives. In addition, teachers should
acquire computer skills for so that they can serve as models in integrating educational technology
in the teaching-learning process.
 

                                                                                                                                   
FIGURE 1- SYSTEMATIC INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING PROCESS
          Following modern trends in technology-related education, schools should now foster a
student-centered learning environment, wherein students are given leeway to use computer
information sources in their assignments, reports and presentation in written, visual, or dramatic
forms.
          All these suggestions show that teachers and schools can no longer avoid the integration of
educational technology in instruction. Especially in the coming years, when portable and mobile
computing will make computing activities easier to perform, the approaches to classroom
pedagogy must change. And with continuing change in high-speed communication, mass storage
libraries, educators should be open for more drastic changes in the years ahead.

Lesson 6: IT enters a New Learning Environment

          It is helpful to see useful models of school learning that is ideal in achieving instructional
goals through preferred application of educational technology. These are the models
of Meaningful Learning, Discovery learning, Generative learning and Constructivism.
          In these conceptual models, we shall see how effective teachers’ best interact with students
in innovating learning activities, while integrating technology to the teaching learning process.
Meaningful learning
         If the traditional learning environment gives stress to rote learning and simple
memorization, meaningful learning gives focus to new experience that is related to what the
learners already know. New experience departs from the learning of a sequence of words but
gives attention to its meaning. It assumes that.
          Students already have some knowledge that is relevant to new learning
          Students are willing to perform class work to find connections between what they know
and what they can learn.
          In the learning process, the learners are encouraged to recognize relevant personal
experiences. A reward structure is set so that the learner will have both interest and confidence,
and his incentive system sets a positive environment to learning. Facts that are subsequently
assimilated are subjected to the learner’s understanding and application. In the classroom, hands-
on activities are introduced so as to simulate learning in everyday living.
Discovery learning
           Discovery learning is differentiated from reception learning in which ideas are presented
directly to students in a well organized way, such as through detailed set of instructions to
complete an experiment or task. To make a contrast, in discovery learning students perform tasks
to uncover what to be learned. New ideas and new decisions are generated in the learning
process, regardless of the need to move on or depart from organized setoff activities previously
set. In discovery learning, iti s important that the students become personally engaged and not
subjected by the teacher to procedures he/she is not allowed to depart from.

Generative Learning

           In generative learning we have learners who attend to learning events and generate to
learning events and generate to learning events and generate meaning from this experience and
draw inference s thereby creating a personal model or explanations to the new experience in the
context of the existing knowledge.

             Generative learning is viewed as different from the simple process of storing

information. Motivation and responsibility are seen to be crucial to this domain of learning. The
area of language comprehension offers examples of this type of generative learning activities,
such as in writing paragraph summaries, developing answers and questions, drawing pictures,
creating paragraph titles, organizing ideas/concepts, and others. In sum, generative learning gives
emphasis to what can be done with a piece of information, not only on access to them.

Constructivism

           In constructivism, the learner builds a personal understanding through appropriate

learning activities and a good learning environment. The most accepted principles of
constructivism are

-        Learning consist in what a person can actively assemble for himself and not what he can
received
passively.

-        The role of learning is to help the individual live/adapt to his personal world.

These two principles in turn lead to three practical implications:

-        The learner is directly responsible for learning. He creates his personal understanding and
transforms information into knowledge. The teacher plays an indirect role by modeling effective
learning, assisting, facilitating, and encouraging learners.

-        The context of meaningful learning consists in the learner connecting school activity with
real life.

-        The purpose of education is the acquisition of practical knowledge, not abstract or

universal truth.
Lesson 7: IT for Higher Thinking Skills and Creativity Higher Level Learning Outcomes
Complex Thinking Skills                                                Sub-Skills

Focusing                                                                      defining the problem, goal/objective setting,

                                                                                    brainstorming
Information Gathering                                                   selection, recording of data of information
Remembering                                                               associating, relating new data with old
Analyzing                                                                     identifying idea constructs patterns
Generating                                                                   deducing,
inducting, elaborating                                                         
Organizing                                                                   classifying, relating
Imagining                                                                     visualizing, predicting 
Designing                                                                     planning formulating
Integration                                                                   summarizing, abstracting
Evaluating                                                                    setting criteria, testing idea, verifying 
                                                                                    outcome, revising

Process
The act of proceeding; continued forward movement; procedure; progress; advance.
For example: “to learn is to change. Education is a process that changes the learner.”

Product
Anything that is produced, whether as the result of generation, growth, labor, or thought, or by
the operation of involuntary causes; as, the products of the season, or of the farm; the products of
manufactures; the products of the brain.
For example: “I like to tell people that all of our products and business will go through three
phases. There's vision, patience, and execution.”

Lesson 8: Higher Thinking Skills through IT-Based Projects

In this lesson, we shall discuss four types of IT-based projects which can effectively be used in
order to engage students in activities of a higher plane of thinking. To be noted id the fact that
these projects differ in the specific process and skills employed, also in the ultimate activity or
platform used to communicate completed products to others.
            It is to be understood that these projects do not address all of the thinking skills shown
previously in the Thinking Skills Framework. But these projects represent constructivist project.

            Key Elements of a constructivist approach:

a)      The teacher creating the learning environment.
b)      The teacher giving students the tool
c)      The teacher facilitating learning.

Now let us see four IT-based projects conducive to develop higher thinking skills and creativity
among learners.

I.   RESOURCE-BASED PROJECTS
The teacher steps out of the traditional role of being an context expert and information provider,
and instead lets the students find their own facts and information.

The general flows of events in resource-based projects are:

The teacher determines the topic for the examination of class.
The teacher presents the problem to the class.
The students find information on the problem/questions.
Students organize their information in response to the problem/questions.

TRADITIONAL AND RESOURCE-BASED LEARNING

Traditional learning model Resource-based learning model

Teacher is expert and information provides Teacher is a guide and facilitator
Textbook is key source of information Sources are varied(print, video. Internet,
etc.)
Focus on facts Focus on learning inquiry, quest, or
Information is packaged discovery
In neat parcels
The product is the be-all and end-all of Emphasis on process
learning
Assessment is quantitative Assessment is quantitative and qualitative.

II.   SIMPLE CREATIONS

In developing software, creativity as an outcome should not be equated with ingenuity or high
intelligence. Creating is more consonant with planning, making, assembling, designing or
building.
Three kinds of skills/abilities:
Analyzing- distinguishing similarities and differences/ seeing the project
as a problem to be solved.
Synthesizing- making spontaneous connections among ideas, does
generating interesting or new ideas.
Promoting- selling of a new ideas to allow the public to test the ideas
themselves.

The five key task to develop creativity:

Define the task- clarify the goal of the completed project to the student.
Brainstorm- the students themselves will be allowed to generate their own ideas on the project.
Rather than shoot down ideas, the teacher encourages ideas exchange.
Judge the ideas- the students themselves make an appraisal for or against any idea. Only when
students are completely off check should the teacher intervene.
Act- the students do their work with the teacher a facilitator.
Adopt flexibility- the students should be allowed to shift gears and not follow an action path
rigidly.
III.  GUIDED HYPERMEDIA PROJECTS

The production of self-made multimedia projects can be approached into different ways:

Instructive tools- such as in the production by students of a power point presentation of a

selective topic.
Constructive tools- such as when students do a multi-media presentation (with text, graphs,
photos, audio narration, interviews, video clips, etc. to simulate a television news show.

IV. WEB-BASED PROJECTS

Students can be made to create and post web pages on a given topic. But creating new pages,
even single page web pages, maybe tool sophisticated and time consuming fort the average
student.

            It should be said, however, that posting of web pages in the Internet allows the students
(now the web page creator) a wider audience. They can also be linked with other related sites in
the Internet. But as of now, this creativity project maybe to ambitious as a tool in the teaching-
learning process.

Lesson 9: Computer as Information and communication technology

          In educational technology course 1 the role of computer in education was well discussed.
It was pointed out that the advent of the computer is recognized as the third revolution in
education. The first was the invention of the printing press; the second, the introduction of
libraries and the third the invention of the computer, especially so with the advent of the
microcomputer in 1975. Thus emerged computer technology in education
          Through the technology, educators saw the amplification of learning literacy. Much like
reading, the modern student can now interact with computer messages; even respond to question
or to computer commands. Again like writing, the learner can form messages using computer
language or programs.
          Soon computer assisted instruction (CAI) was introduced using the principle of
individualized learning through a positive climate that includes realism and appeal with drill
exercise that uses color, music and animation. The novelty of CAI has not waned to this offered
by computer-equipped private schools. But the evolving pace of innovation in today’s
Information Age is so dynamic that within the first decade of the 21st century, computer
technology in education has matured to transform into an educative information and
communication technology (ICT) in education.

THE PC
Communication media                                                                                              Audiovisual
media

    (Internet)                                                                                                                    (Multime
dia)
   Email (text and video)                                                                                        Text, sound,
graphics
   Chat rooms                                                                                                               chart,
photos
   Blog sites                                                                                                                Power-point
presentation
   News services (print, video clip)                                                                        CD, VCD,
DVD player
   Music/movie/television room                                                                            CDVCD, DVD
player
                                                                                                                                     Educationa
l software
                                                                                                                                            (Intern
et)
                                                                                                                                     Educationa
l websites
                                                                                                                                     Software’s
, courseware’s
                                                                                                                                     School
registration/ records
                                                                                                                                    Accounting  
                                               

                                
FIGURE 6 – USES OF THE COMPUTER AS ICT IN EDUCATION
THE PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC) AS ICT
                Until the nineties, it was still possible to distinguish between instructional media and
the educational communication media.

                Instructional media consist of audio-visual aids that served to enhance and enrich the
teaching-learning process. Examples are the blackboard, photo, film, and video

                On the other hand, educational communication media comprise the media
communication to audiences including learners using the print, film radio, and television or
satellite means of communication.  For example, distance learning were implemented using
correspondence, radio, television or the computer satellite system
                Close to the turn of the 21st century, however, such as distinction merged owing to the
advent of the microprocessor also known as the personal computer (PC). This is due to the fact
that the PC user at home, office and school has before him a tool for both audio-visual creations
and media communication.

                To illustrate, let’s examine the programs (capabilities) normally installed in an

ordinary modern PC:

Microsoft Office- program for composing text, graphics, photos into letters, articles,
reports etc.

Power-point- for preparing lecture presentations

Excel- for spreadsheet and similar graphic sheets

Internet – access to the internet

Yahoo or Google- websites; email, chat rooms, Blog sites, news service (print/video)
educational software etc.

Adobe reader- Graph/photo composition and editing

MSN- mail/chat messaging

Cyber link power- DVD player

Windows media player- Editing film/video

Game house- video games

Lesson 10: The computer as a tutor
                   The computer is one of the wonders of human ingenuity, even in its original design
in the 1950s to carry out complicated mathematical and logical operations. With the invention of
the microcomputer (now commonly referred to PCs or personal computers), the PC has become
the tool for programmed instruction.
                Educators saw much use of the PC. It has become affordable to small business,
industries and homes. They saw its potential for individualization in learning, especially as
individualized learning is a problem since teachers usually with a class of forty or more learners.
They therefore devised strategies to use the computer to the break the barriers to individualized
instruction

Computer-assisted instruction (CAI)

                The computer can be a tutor in effect relieving 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. Even with the available computer and CAI
software, the teacher must;
Insure that 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’ achievements by ways of tests the specific
expected outcomes.

On the other hand, the student in CAI play their own roles as learners as they;
Receive information
Understand instruction for the computer activity
Retain/keep in mind the 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:
Act as a sort of tutor (the role traditional played by the teacher)
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 classes. This is so,
since the  computer able to  allow individual student to learn out their own pace, motivate
learning through a challenging virtual learning environment, assist student through information
needed during the learning process, evaluate student responses through immediate feedback
during the learning process also give the total score to evaluate the student’s total performance.

CAI Integrated with Lesson

                CAI computer learning should not stop with the drill and practice activities of
students in effect, CAI work best in reinforcing learning trough repetitive exercise such that
student can practice basic skills or knowledge in various subject areas. Common types of drill
and practice programs include vocabulary building, math facts, and basic science, and history or
geography facts. In these programs, the computer presents a question/ problem the first and the
student is asked to answer the question/problem. Immediate feedback is given to the student’s
answer. After the number of practice problems and at the end of the exercise, the students get a
summary of his overall performance.

                 The question arises: When and how can teacher integrate drill and practice programs
with their lessons? The following suggestion can be made:
Use drill and practice programs for basic skills and knowledge that
require rapid or automatic response by students (e.g. multiplication table, letter and word
recognition, identification of geometric shapes, etc.)
Ensure that drill and practice activities conform to the lesson
plan/curriculum.
Limit drill and practice to 20-30 minutes to avoid boredom.
Use drill and practice to assist students with particular weakness in
basic skills.
        In integrating computer programs in instruction, use tutorial soft ware associated with
cognitive learning. While practice exercise or learning by doing is still the heart of each tutorial,
the tutorial software should be able to:
Teach new content /new information to students (in as much as CAI
provides practice on old or already learned content)
Provide comprehensive information on concepts in addition to practice
exercise
Can be effectively used for remediation, reviewing or enrichment
Allow the teacher to introduce follow-up question to stimulate student
learning.
Permits group activity for cooperative learning

SIMULATION PROGRAMS

                Simulation software materials are another kind of software that is constructivist in

nature. This simulation software:
Teacher strategies and rules applied to real-life problems/situation
Ask students to make decision on models or scenarios
Allow students to manipulate elements of a model and get the
experience of the effect of their decisions

           An example of such software is SimCity in which students are allowed to artificially

manage a city environment. Decision-making involve such factors as budget, crime, education,
transportation, energy resources, waste disposal, business/ industries available. (Note: soft ware
may not be available on local computer shops. Still concept-learning is helpful).

INSTRUCTIONAL GAMES
                While relating to low level learning objectives (e.g. basic spelling or math skills),
instructional computer games add the elements of competition and challenge.
                An example is GeoSafari which introduces adventure activities for Geography History
and Science. The program can be played by up to four players to form teams. Learning outcomes
can be achieved along simple memorization of information, keyboarding skills, cooperation and
social interaction, etc.

PROBLEM SOLVING SOFTWARE

                These are more sophisticated than the drill and practice exercises and allow students to
learn and improve on their own problem solving ability. Since problems cannot be solved simply
by memorizing facts, the students have to employ higher thinking skills such as logic,
recognition, reflection, and strategy-making
                The Thinking Things 1 is an example of a problem solving software in which the team
learners must help each other by observing comparing.
MULTIMEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA AND ELECTRONIC BOOKS

                The Multimedia Encyclopedia can score a huge database with text, images,

animation, audio and video. Students can access any desired information, search it vast contents
and even download/print relevant portions of the data for their composition or presentation. An
example is the eyewitness children’s encyclopedia.
                Electronic books provide textual information for reading supplemented by other types
of multimedia information (sounds, spoken words, pictures, animation). These are useful for
learning reading, spelling and word skills. Examples are Just Grandma and Me animated
storybook which offer surprises for the young learner’s curiosity.

Lesson 11: The Computer as the Teacher’s Tool

             In the previous lesson, we saw how the computer can act as a tutor, particularly along a
behaviorist and cognitive approach to learning. But we also saw how certain computer software
programs have been developed to foster higher thinking skills and creativity.

            In this lesson, we shall again look at the computer, but this time from another perspective,
the computer as the teacher’s handy-tool. It can in fact support the constructivist and social
constructivist paradigms of constructivist learning.

            Constructivist was introduced by Piaget (1981) and Bruner (1990). They gave stress to
knowledge discovery of new meaning/concepts/principles in the learning process. Various
strategies have been suggested to foster knowledge discovery, among these, is making students
engaged in gathering unorganized information from which they can induce ideas and principles.
Students are also asked to apply discovered knowledge to new situations, a process for making
their knowledge applicable to real life situations.

            While knowledge is constructed by the individual learner in constructivism, knowledge

can also be socially constructed. Social constructivism. This is an effort to show that the
construction of knowledge is governed by social, historical and cultural contexts. In effect, this is
to ay that the learner who interprets knowledge has a predetermined point of view according to
the social perspectives of the community or society he lives in.
            The psychologist Vygotsky stressed that learning is affected by social influences. He
therefore suggested the interactive process in learning. The more capable adult (teacher or
parent) or classmate can aid or complement what the learner sees in a given class project. In
addition, Dewey sees language as a medium for social coordination and adaptation. For Dewey
human learning is really human languaging that occurs when students socially share, build and
agree upon meanings and knowledge.
           

Learning Framework Constructivism Social Constructivism

Assumption Knowledge is constructed Knowledge is constructed

by the individual. within a social context.

Definition of Learning Students build their own Students build knowledge

learning. influenced by the social
context.

Learning Strategies Gather unorganized Exchange and share from

information to create new ideas, stimulates thinking.
concept/principle

General Orientation Personal discovery of Students discuss and

knowledge. discover meanings

Example 8*5-8+8+8+8+8  Two alternative job offers

option 1-8 hrs/day for
6days/week

Option 2-9 hrs/day for 5

days/week

FIGURE 7 SUMMARY OF THE TWO LEARNING PERSPECTIVE

The Computer’s Capabilities

            Given its present-day speed, flexibility and sophistication, the computer can provide
access to information, foster creative social knowledge building, and enhance the communication
of the achieved project package. Without the computer, today’s learners may still be assuming
the tedious task of low-level information gathering, building and new knew knowledge
packaging. But this is not so, since the modern computer can help teacher-and-students to focus
on more high level cognitive tasks.
            Based on the two learning theories, the teacher can employ the computer as a/an:
·         As an information tool
·         A communication tool
·         A constructive tool
·         As co-constructive tool
·         A situating tool

Informative tool

           The computer can provide vast amounts of information in various forms, such as text,
graphics, sound and video. Even multimedia encyclopedias are today available on the internet.
            The internet itself provides and enormous database from which user can access global
information resources that includes the latest news, weather forecasts, airline schedule, sports
development, entertainment news and features, as well as educational information directly useful
to learners. The internet on education can be sourced for kinds of educational resources on the
internet.
            Along the constructivist point of view, it is not enough for learners to download relevant
information using the computer as an information tool. Students can use gathered information for
composition or presentation projects as may be assigned by the teacher. Given the fact that the
internet can serve as a channel for global communication, the computer can very well be the key
tool for video teleconferencing sessions.

Constructive Tool 

            The computer itself can be used for manipulating information, visualizing one’s
understanding and building new knowledge. The Microsoft Word computer program itself is a
desktop publishing software that allows uses to organize and present their ideas in attractive
formats.

Co-constructive Tools 

           Students can use constructive tools to work cooperatively and construct a shared
understanding of new knowledge. On ways of co-constructive is the use of the electronic
whiteboard where students may post notices to a shared document/whiteboard. Students may
also co-edit the same document from their homes.
            The Computer-Supported International Learning Environments (CSILE) is an example of
an integrated environment developed by the Ontario Institute for studied in Education. Within
CSILE, students can enter their ideas in notes and respond to each other’s ideas. Manifest in the
student-generated database are higher level thinking processes-explaining, problem
solving/finding, expertise and development, literacy improvement.

Situating Tool

          By means of virtual reality (RS) extension systems, the computer can create 3-D images
on display to give the user the feeling that are situated in a virtual environment. A flight
simulation program is an example of situating tool which places the user in a simulated flying
environment.
            Multi-User domains or Dungeons (MUDs) MUD Object Oriented (MOOs), and Multi-
User Shared hallucination (MUSHs) are example of situating systems MUDs and MOOs are
text-based virtual reality environments on the Internet. When users log on to a MOO
environment, they may interact with the virtual reality (such as by writing on a notice board)
through simple text based commands. A school-to-school or classroom-to-classroom
environment is possible whereby the user can choose to talk around the campus, talk with other
users who are logged to the same site.
            To caution users, the computer as a situating tool is news and still undergoing further
research and development.

Lesson 12: Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning Classroom

The Traditional Classroom

            It may be observed that classroom are usually arranged with neat columns and rows of
student chairs, while the teacher stands in front of the classroom or sits behind his desks. This
situations is necessitated by the need to maintain classroom discipline, also they allow the
teachers to control classroom activities through lecture presentation and teacher-led discussion.
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 mange
misbehavior in class as students start to talk among themselves or simply stare away in lack
attention. To prevent this situation, teachers often make students take time to work individually
on worksheets can help the situation.
Another option is now presented and this is adopting the idea of developing students to be
independent learners with the end of making them critical and creative thinkers.
The SCL classroom

          John Dewey described the traditional learning process in which the teacher pours
information to students 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 kind of learning outcomes.

              The problem with the direct instruction approach to learning, however, is the fact that
the world’s societies have began to change. Of course, this change may not be strongly felt in
many countries in which the economy longer depends primarily on factory workers who do
repetitive work without thinking on the job. The traditional classroom and direct instruction
approach to learning conform to this kind of economies.

           In contrast, industrialized societies we find knowledge based economies in which workers

depends on information that can be accessed through information and communication
technologies (ICTs). Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration
and instructions, schools in these developed economies have also adopted the support of ICTs.
Their students have now become active not passive learners, who can interact with other
learners, demonstrating independence and self-awareness in the learning process.
Generally the new school classroom environment is characterized by student individually or in
group:
·         Performing computer word processing for text or graph presentation
·         Preparing power-point presentation
·         Searching for information on the internet
·         Brainstorming on ideas, problems and project plans
·     As needed, the teacher facilitating instruction, also giving individual instruction to serve
individual needs.

            Observably, there is departure from traditional worksheet, read-and-answer, and drill-

and-practice activities. Students also no longer need to mark the test of peers since the computer
has programs for test evaluation and computerized scoring of results.
Given this trend in teaching-and-learning, 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 students centered learning.
Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer
          Singapore has set the global pace for student-centered learning with a 2:1 (2 pupils with
one computer) ratio in its masterplan for IT in Education. This shows that even in other
progressive countries, the 1:1 :pupil-computer ratio is still an ideal to be achieved. Reality
therefore dictates that schools face the fact that each classroom, especially in public or
government schools, may not be equipped with the appropriate number of computers.
  The creativity of the teacher will have to respond to the situation, and so cooperative
learning will likely be the answer to the implementation of IT supported learning in our schools.
But the situation may not be that bad since there are motivational and social benefits to
cooperative learning and these can compensate for lack of hardware that educators face.

 Defining cooperative learning

Cooperative or collaborative learning is learning by small groups of students who work
together in a common learning task. It is often also called group learning but to be truly
cooperative learning, 5 elements are needed:
1. A common goal
2. Interdependence
3. Interaction
4. Individual accountability
5. Social skills

          Therefore not every group work is cooperative learning since students working on their
work sheets physically sat around a table may be working together without these features of
cooperative learning.
From several studies made on cooperative learning, it is manifested that cooperative learning in
its true sense is advantageous since it:
(a) Encourage active learning, while motivating students
(b) Increases academic performance
(c) Promotes literacy and language skills
(d) Improves teacher effectiveness

          In addition, there are studies show that cooperative learning enhances personal and social
development among students of all ages, while enhancing self-esteem and improving social
relations between racially and culturally different students. 

Cooperative learning and the computer

   Researchers have made studies on the learning interaction between the student and the
computer. The studies have great value since it has been a long standing fear that the computer
may foster student learning in isolation that hinders the development of the student’s social
skills.

Now this mythical fear has been contradicted by the studies which show that when
students work with computers in groups, they cluster and interact with each other for advice and
mutual help. And given the option to work individually or in a group, the students generally wish
to work together in computer-based and non-computer-based activities. Reflecting on this
phenomenon, psychologists think the computer fosters this positive social behavior due to the
fact that it has a display monitor – just like a television set – that is looked upon as something
communal.

Therefore researchers agree that the computer is a fairly natural learning vehicle for
cooperative (at times called promotive) learning.
Components of cooperative learning

Educators are still wary about the computer’s role in cooperative learning. Thus they pose
the position that the use of computers do not automatically result in cooperative learning. There
therefore assign the teacher several tasks in order to ensure collaborative learning. These are:
· Assigning students to mixed-ability teams
· Establishing positive interdependence
· Teaching cooperative social skills
· Insuring individual accountability, and
· Helping groups process information

          These are in addition to assigning a common work goal in which each member of the
group will realize that their group will not succeed unless everyone contributes to the groups’
success. It is also important for the teacher limits learning group clusters (six is the ideal number
in a group) so there can be closer involvement in thinking and learning.
Lesson 14: The Software as an Educational Resource
          Whenever people think about computers, they are most likely thinking about the computer
machine such as the television-like monitor screen, the keyboard to type on, the printer which
produces copies of text-and-graphics material, and the computer housing called “the box” which
contains the electronic parts and circuits (the central processing unit) that receives/ stores data
and direct computer operations. The computer machine or hardware is naturally an attention-
getter.

      It’s more difficult to realize, however, that the computer hardware can hardly be useful
without the program or system that tells what the computer machine should do. This is called
software.

There are two kinds of software:

1. The system software. This is the operating system that is found or bundled inside all
computer machines.
2. The application software. This contains the system that commands the particular task or
solves a particular problem.

In turn the applications software may be:

(a) A custom software that is made for specific tasks often by large corporations, or
(b) A commercial software packaged for personal computers that helps with a variety of tasks
such as writing papers, calculating numbers, drawing graphs, playing games, and so much more.

Microsoft Windows

Also referred to as program, Microsoft Windows or Windows for short is an operating

environment between the user and the computer operating system. Also called a shell, it is a
layer that creates the way the computer should work. Windows uses a colorful graphics interface
(called GUI – pronounced “gooee”) that can be seen on the computer screen or monitor
whenever the computer is turned on.
The user can work with on-screen pictures (icons) and suggestions (menus) to arrive at the
desired software. Windows 95 (now improved with Windows 2003 and 2007) is software
designed for Microsoft Windows. Actually, Windows is in itself a self-contained operating
system which provides

· User convenience – just click a file name to retrieve data or click from program to program as
easy as changing channels in your TV screen
· A new look – fancy borders, smooth and streamlined text fonts
· Information center – Windows puts all communications activities (e-mail, downloads etc. in a
single screen icon); adapts/configures the computer for the Internet.
· Plug and play – configures the computer with added components, such as for sound and video.
Instructional Software

Instructional software can be visited on the Internet or can be bought from software shops or
dealers. The teacher through his school should decide on the best computer-based instructional
(CBI) materials for the school resource collection. But beware since CBIs need much
improvement, while web-based educational resources are either extremely good or what is
complete garbage. In evaluating computer-based educational materials, the following can serve
as guidelines:

· Be extremely cautious in using CBIs and “free” Internet materials

· Don’t be caught up by attractive graphics, sound, animation, pictures, video clips and music
forgetting their instructional worth
· Teachers must evaluate these resources using sound pedagogical principles.
· Among design and content elements to evaluate are: the text legibility, effective use of color
schemes, attractive layout and design, and easy navigation from section-to-section (such as from
game to tutorial to drill-and-practice section)
· Clarity in the explanations and illustrations of concepts and principles
· Accuracy, coherence, logic of information
· Their being current since data/statistics continually change
· Relevance/effectiveness in attaining learning objectives
· Absence of biased materials (e.g. gender bias or racial bias)

Lesson 15: The Internet and Education

  The Internet ,also simply called the Net ,is the largest and far-firing network system-of-all-
system.How is everything coordinated through the Internet?This is done through a standardized
protocol(or set of rules for exchanging data) called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol(TCP/IP).To gain access to the internet,the computer must be equipped with what is
called a Server which has a special software (program) that uses the Internet protocol.Originally
developed and still subsidized by the United State government, the Internet connect not only
commercial,industrial,scientific establishments but all other sectors including education and its
libraries,campuses and computer centers.
Getting around the Net

         The vast sea of information now in the Internet,including news and trivia,is an
overwhelming challenge to those who wish to navigate it.Everyday,the Net user-population and
the available information continue to grow,and new ways are continuously being developed to
tour the Internet.

The most attractive way to move around the Internet is called browsing.Using a program called a
browser,the user can use a mouse to point and click on screen icons to surf the
Internet,particularly the World Wide Web (the web), an Internet' s subset of text,images,and
sounds are linked together to allow users to access data or information need.

The future of the Internet seems limitless.Already its complexity has spawned and continue to
spawn Net sites including new demand for services to business,industries,science,government
and even homes.Many experts predict that the Internet is destined to become the centerpiece of
all online communications on the planet and in some future time in the solar system using
interplanetary satellite communication stations.

A view of  educational uses of the Internet

        Today,even elementary school graders in progressive countries like the United States are
corresponding via e-mail with pen pals in all 50 states.They ask probing question like,"What is
your state's most serious problems,"or how much does a pizza cost in your state?This educational
activity prodded by their schools are paying dividends from increasing the pupil's interest in
Geography to a greater understanding of how people live in large cities and other places in the
United States or the world.

        Educational software  materials have also developed both in sophisticated and appeal.There
is now a wider  choice from rote arithmetic or grammar lesson to discovery and innovation
projects.But the real possibility today is connecting with the world outside homes,classrooms,and
Internet cafes.And 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. 

Lesson 16: Understanding Hypermedia

            From the educational Technology 1 course the student has already become aware of
multimedia or an audiovisual package that includes more than the instructional media(means of
knowing)such as text,graphics,audio animation and video clip.

            Hypermedia is nothing but multimedia,but this time packaged as an educational computer

software where information is presented and student activities are integrated in a virtual learning
environment.Most educational IT applications are hypermedia and these include:

Tutorial software packages

Knowledge web pages
Simulation instructional games
Learning project management and others

             The presentation of information-learning in hypermediais said to be sequenced in a non

linear manner,meaning that the learner may follow his path of activities thus providing an
environment of learner autonomy and thinking skills

Characteristics of hypermedia applications

There are two important features that are outstanding among other features---that characterize the
hypermedia software:

1.)Learner control - This means the learner makes his own decisions on the path,flow or events
of instruction.The learner
 has control on such aspects sequence,page content,media,feedback,etc. that he/she may
encounter in the hypermedia learning program.

2.)Learner wide range of navigation routes - the learners controls the sequence and pace of his
path depending on his ability and motivation.He has the option to repeat and change speed,if
desired.  The learner also has a wide range of navigation routes such as by working on concepts
he is already familiar with.

In the use of hypermedia the following instructional events will prove useful to the teacher:

 Get the learner's attention

Recall prior learning
Inform learners of lesson objectives
Introduce the software and its distinctive features
Guide learning,eliciting performance
Provide learning feedback
Asses performance
Enhance retention and learning transfer