Lesson 18: Tablets for Textbooks in Schools

Jean C. Cotamora BSED General Science 4

Author

CONTENT

Tablets in school

Here's video about Textbooks or Electronic Devices in School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etmn8LuAjD4

 

With advent of Tablets, reading, and learning as a whole have become less cumbersome. If books makes someone’s back ache, tablets are now here to take that burden away. Today, books however are still the number one medium of instruction in schools. Books are more durable than tablets but many educators now prefer the use of tablet in the teaching and learning process. Aside from the fact that it is less bulky, it offers a wide and faster way in accessing information because it cannot only contain books but also access the net. A book has its advantages, a tablet also has its pros – either of this two may prevail today but we cannot deny the fact that we are towards the digital realm where digital things are inevitable. With the present condition of the Philippines, it is still difficult for the government to provide all students tablets. For now, school administration, teachers, and parents must agree upon the notion of using tablets in school since tablets for now are very expensive, if there is a want to use tablets in the school.

Tablets in school

EXPERIENCE

The future with tablets use as replacement for books is good since it has many advantages like many books can be put inside the tablet and there is faster access to information since tablets can connect to the net. Based on experience, a tablet can really be a good aid in learning. A tablet being small, can be put inside my bag and carry it anywhere, which means to say then that I can study anywhere. However, it is not as durable as a book. My tablet no longer functions, I don’t know for what reason perhaps because it fell down – books are still books even when they fall down. I didn’t use my tablet in studying, it makes my eyes teary and afterwards my head to ache. Although, less bulky, tablets can cause harm. I have heard so many stories of students being victims of snatchers. Tablets compared to books are expensive, so, for now, I still go for books. I would like to make it clear however that I am not against the tablets for textbook in schools.

REFLECTION

The two – book and tablet – have their advantages and disadvantages, however, in this present situation, since our government cannot afford to give everyone this yet (although tablets are less expensive than PCs), we have to use the books that we have (no wonder, books still remain to be the number one instructional material in the Philippines). Books are no less different than those book that has become an EBook in tablets. If one can afford to buy a tablet now, then that’s good but schools should not make it necessary to have this in school if the majority cannot afford it. The use of tablets instead of books is still a choice, not mandatory, hence a teacher can still teach using a book, and it has not yet become useless.

Teaching with tablet

APPLICATION

Here's a video about a High School Without Textbook:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB2RXPqFgdI 

Later if the government can already afford to give everyone tablet, then teaching for me (somehow) wouldn’t be so hard. If by now there are some lessons that are difficult to explain since it requires illustrations, with the use if tablets, it will be easy. I will just share to my students my lesson and give them the handouts as guide and it will be up to them to do the action and I will make use of hypermedia to facilitate individualized learning. I will conduct online class since everyone already has the gadget whenever I’m not around.

Lesson 17: Educational Technology 2 Practicum

Jean C. Cotamora BSED General Science 4

Author

CONTENT

 Here's a video about Technology in Education:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXyCECMxhOs

By definition practicum is the practical application of what has been learned and acquired during the process of learning. Educational technology 2 offers a practical application of the theories learned and skills acquired during the discussion. This practicum makes teachers and teachers in the making equipped with the necessary computer skills to become a more effective teacher and the learners become computer literate. Practicum is the hands-on phase in learning. However, in order for a practicum to happen, there must be an avenue for it, example a computer laboratory where learners could do an actual drill. There must also be an expert to guide the learners. There must be time allotment to allow everyone to do the “hands-on.” Microsoft word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Internet inquiring are among the basic applications in the computer that a learner or a teacher must have or master to meet the technology challenges in the 21^st century. This is also for the teachers to be prepared in meeting the technology learners of the 21^st century.

EXPERIENCE

I can say that I have these basic skills but I have gone through a rough road to have these. In high school, although I was taught to acquire these skills, I did not receive enough reinforcement to further develop these skills back then. I learned to use MS Word by simply typing nonsense things then later I realized its use when I was asked to submit an output out of it. Same is true for MS PowerPoint. Learning to surf the net however wasn’t that difficult for me. I learned to use the internet by observing. I can still remember the first thing I research in Google was the Loch Ness monster, Nessie. Now in college, I can say that these skills have become better. I can make better outputs now form MS Word and PowerPoint and I have now better researching techniques.

REFLECTION

To be equipped with these basic skills means to be ready to face the future. We are towards the digital world and so, in order to go with the flow, one must really have the skills. It is important for a teacher however to acquire more skills other than these three. These are just basic, hence there are higher skills. A teacher for the digital future must continue to learn (regardless of his/her age) since learning recognizes no age and the future needs competent teachers. Teachers must expand more their wings and learn other skills other than teaching. They must make it necessary for them to acquire more skills if they want to be fit to teach the 21^st century students.

These basic computer skills can be likened to basic literacy skills – without it you cannot conform, it’s like you know nothing (there in the digital future). To be computer literate means to be in conformity with the trend – YOU ARE IN. I need to practice more. I may already have the basic skills but I know these are not enough. I need to develop more these skills into higher level and acquire others skills. For the meantime, since I still can’t access myself to learning more, I just focus on making these basic skills I already have. I must elevate it to higher level so that I can do more out these basics.

 

APPLICATION

In my teaching soon, I will make use of these basic skills in making my instruction better. I will let my students too, to have this.  If in case no materials are available, then I guess I will just have to introduce to them the skills. If ever computers are available, then I will require my students to make an output out of the computer related to our lesson for them to practice the skills. 

Lesson 16: The Internet and Education

Jean C. Cotamora BSED General Science 4

Author

CONTENT

Here's a video about Internet and Education: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nISdGdoWL5o 

The Internet, shortly termed “net” has become an important part of education as a whole (from administrative to actual teaching and learning process). The Internet is a network system of many systems. It is not a network, rather, a collection of networks across the globe from which computers access. It does not have an owner, no central office and it does not tell users information of what is available in the system – the user searches it. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is a set of standardized rules for exchange of data. To access to the Internet, a computer must have a server which has software that uses Internet protocol. Internet is used not only in education but almost in all industries and fields. Vast amount of information can be accessed in the Internet, both old and up-to-date information. Browsing is the way of going through the net through a program called browser. The number of Internet users are growing every day. Every now then, people and companies requiring its services gets many by the minute.

Browsers

Along with Internet development is the rise of educational software materials. Both teachers and learners are now provided with vast choices of software to use. It is up to them how to make use of those effectively.

EXPERIENCE

If it were not because of the Internet, I would have not reached where I am right now. I must say, a big percentage of college students graduated college because of the internet. Since the Internet provides everything, I make use of it in the utmost way possible. Searching in the net provides immediate information about something but I don’t trust everything that results when I hit the search bar.

The internet has revolutionized me from being spoon-fed learner to being an independent learner. I have learned through time that I can learn on my own, at my own pace, at my own time, by my own preference and interest. With the Internet, I get to communicate with distant friends and get to travel (not really travel, like transfer from place to another; travel in a sense) to different places by being able to see other places by researching it.

REFLECTION

Although the Internet may provide everything, it is important for a learner to examine the information he/she is getting from the net. Not everything in it is reliable, some are just made by people for fun. As said above, anything can be found in the net, even bad information. Hence, the teacher must never forget to guide the learners in choosing the right sources or right way of researching and examining information.

APPLICATION

Internet in education

As a future teacher, I must make use of the internet in making my lessons and teaching as a whole, better. I must make use of sites that offers simulation activities for my students to experience. I must makes use of the information from the Internet for me to be updated. I must let my students explore the net for them to develop the zest for learning on their own. I should give researching activities to develop my students’ researching skills and evaluative skills in selecting good and reliable sources. I must conform to the trend for me not to be out of place in teaching the 21st century students.