Week 7: On the edge of ICT

The class began with the introduction of ICT and learning principles in the primary ESL classroom context, which to me seems as a necessity as future teachers to take into consideration due to the ever changing and often challenging teaching profession. Previously, we have been exposed to the many division of technologies integrated for producing quality and interactive teaching aids like adding sound effects, photo editing and finally manufacturing our very own unique and genuine video art, though we have struggled much to get a foothold of what we are capable of creating for ourselves today. I believe a good mixture of these ICT skills plays a primary role towards the betterment of generating the perfect and ideal learning experience as well as meaningful learning conditions which are the basis of good learning principles. Hence, I am hoping the implementation of these skills will help children participate more the teaching and learning processes and transforms them into active learners; while at the same time enhance their creative and critical thinking in finding solutions.

Before the ideals of integrating ICT and learning principles can be carried out effectively, I believe it is imperative to take into considerations a few factors, for examples the learners’ criteria. This refers to whether the learners possess great level of interest, their various family backgrounds, their age-learning limit (as suggested by Jean Piaget) and their different proficiency level and background knowledge. Once all criteria have been carefully analyzed and the ideal actions to take have been identified, only then should I initiate the attempt of integrating ICT and the learning principles into the classroom context. The lecturer gave some reference for extra reading. The IWBs Tolley. There were ideas that needs consideration when we doiour Smartboard task using ICT. The ideas were divided into 3 part which are part 1 (The Technical Bits), Part 2 (The Sofware), Part 3( Five Level of Interactivity), and Part 4( Twelve Teaching Technique). All the parts gave me an understanding that the activity in the SMART board requires a step by step careful analysis and that each step is coherently the progression of the one after it. There must be harmony in what we create. :)

As future teachers, I know it is a must to learn about the learners preference, their abilities and the limitation to a certain degree. That is why learning principles such as behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism for instance are just some of the foundational models that need to be comprehended beforehand. It is important to note that learning is all about conjuring healthy and beneficial multiple interactions between different mediums like teachers and pupils so that learning is seen as purposeful to all the learners present in class. Sadly, teachers nowadays are more preoccupied in finishing the syllabus first without giving much attention to the learners’ participation or level of motivation. But this is also not entirely their fault as according to Penny Mckay, teachers are bombarded with unnecessary burden from high-stake holders parties like parents and the administration who are more likely pressuring teachers to keep the school standards from dropping out. That is why some teachers may find it difficult to cope with all learners and focus more on the elite ones while paying no or less attention to the weaker learners. Even so, whatever the future may hold for me, I will try my best to apply the knowledge I gained here into good use and cater all my pupils’ needs as much as I can. That is my promise to the future leaders of tomorrow. :D