Activity 6: Assessing Information Literacy

In this activity I created a lesson that include using websites as a resource. I had difficulties finding suitable websites for this lesson. Yet I found the ideasof using websites in the lesson to be quite interesting. I also realized that there are many different aspects of a lesson that can be assessed. This will cater to the different learning styles and multiple intelligences of students

Activity 1

The activity helped me to focus on how I my assessment strategies. The outcome of the research showed that both myself and my students see my assessment activities in a similar way. I was able to see what I was doing right, for example giving my students feedback and what I was doing wrong, for example I was testing more written work than oral. I was able to see what I can do differently.

Activity 5: How we assess evidence - assessment tools

I have come to see assessment tools in a whole new light. I now know that assessment tools is more than outcome and allocating scores to outcome (which I use to focus on).  I now know that you must have outcomes, measurable criteria, specific skills to be measured, the level of performance required, a place for score and comments etc. I have realized also that knowing the requirements for an assessment tool makes it easier to develop one that would be helpful to my students. It would also help me to know when I have developed a good assessment tool..

Activity 4: How we assessed - Assessment methods

I was amazed  to see the range of evidence we as educators can gather and people we can involve in assessment. Though I have had students done some peer assessment before, I now realized it was not properly structured, hence the reason it was always tiresome and time consuming. I now realized if done properly peer assessment would not only be less consuming but very beneficial to students. I have also come to see the benefits of group and self assessment.

Activity 3: What we assess - catering for assessment

I have tried as much as possible to include items in Bloom Taxonomy when I am doing assessment. I have come to realize though that I do not pay enough attention to the learning styles of students and cater enough for multiple intelligences. I know now that I need to be able to link the way students learn to how they should be assessed. I have been reminded that not all students learn the same way and that if I bear the aforementioned factors in mind when assessing students they are more likely to do better when assessed.

Activity 2: What we assess

This activity forced me to think about the things that I normally assesses. I realized that the things that I normally assessed are so routine, like discussions, measuring, research etc. I see many other things that I have not been assessing, that I can now include in assessing, like role playing, acting and performing. These can add more excitement and variety to my assessment methods. I was also able to get some great ideas for assessment also from my colleagues comments via the blogs.

Activity 11: Creating a Personal Learning Network

This activity was a challenging one for me. I followed the guidelines to set up a PLN but was not sure that I had done so when I was done. I cant say that I am excited about this activity as I have been about the others as I am not  seeing the full use of it at this time.

Activity 10: Social Media

My scope on the social media has widened. I have come to realized that it is more than Facebook and Twitter. I have come to realized that podcast and blogs are also included in what it encompasses.
 I have also become aware of the vast potential of the social media to make us smarter workers. I am now aware that it is more than just a place to meet people. I am now aware that a lot sharing and learning can be done through the social media. It is place where we can find solutions to problems and keep up to date with what is happening in our profession.

Activity 1:The roles of the Educator

I became more aware of the many roles that I performed as an educator and how ICT  can support me in carrying out those roles. I realized that I have been using some of these applications already and I discovered some new ones. I was also able to put names to some applications I was already using.

Activity 8: Spreadsheet as a Learning Resource

I was able to focusing in on the many ways that the spreadsheet can be used in my subject area. Social Studies calls for a lot of calculations and my students struggle with calculations. My students also struggle with creating graphs which they have to do. I realize that spreadsheets can make life easier for my students.

Activity 7:Using Spreadsheets

This activity help me focus in on the many uses of the spreadsheet as a leraning tool. I realized how useful a tool it can be to assist my Social Studies studentswho in the past I had to send over and over to redo their diagrams for their School Based Assessment(SBA) for CSEC. Many of them have not done IT and struggle to create charts that are suitable and accurate. I realized how much easier I can make life for these students(and for myself) if I can have sessions where I teach them how to use spreadsheets to do their charts and have them practice the application ahead of time so when the time come for them to do their SBA they would not be struggling.

Activity 4: Spreadsheets

I found this activity to be very challenging. The only experience that I have had with spreadsheets before was to put in grades.Ii had never created one. This exercise forced me to learn to create my own spreadsheets. I struggled with the formulas but that was before I understood what I was doing with them. Now that I better understand spreadsheets, I find them to be enjoyable. I am fascinated by the many things you can do with them. I also realized once you understand what you are doing spreadsheet can make your work easier.

Activity 3B: Integrating the word processor

This was an interesting activity. I enjoyed reading the lessons. It gave me ideas about various ways I can integrate the word processor into my lessons. I became more aware of the many uses of the word processer.
From the feedback of my colleagues, I also realized how much students learn better and find lessons so more enjoyable when they are allowed to use ICT tools. It also helped me to focus in on what can be done to improve lessons.

Summary Reflection

This module has brought clarity to me about what is involved in ICT. I thought the programme was going to be just another of those programme I would have little use for when I was done. This was not the case. I came to understand what ICT entails and how beneficial it can be for my students. I have already spoken to members of staff to sit on an ICT Committee to develop an ICT programme. I have already spoken to an ICT expert to coordinate the programme. I have already placed an ICT staff development slot on the school's calender for this term. The coordinator is planning an activity to familiarize staff with the different ICT equipment and how to use them.
At the start of the programme I did not know much about the ICT equipment and what they are used for. This programme encouraged me to find out more. We are looking at ways at my school to better utilize the students laptop.
I will love to continue the programme but I am still struggling with managing the little time I have to manage a school and do this programme.

 

Activity 9

The STaR Chart covers a wide area  and helped me to see what my school needs to have an effective ICT programme. I see the need for my school to raise funds to assist in the implementation of the ICT programme as at present we are solely dependent on the MOE to finance everything at the school. I see the need also for a coordinator of an ICT programme to monitor the implementation process.

Activity 8: Teaching Spaces

This activity helped me to focus on the existing teaching spaces at my school and their suitability for ICT. I concluded that though my school is the most recently built one in the country not much thought had gone into  making it suitable for ICT. I am also aware of the need for builders, financiers,etc. and educators to collaborate when schools are being built to cater for an effective ICT programme.
This should not prevent us from making proper use of the existing space and resources available to us so that our students can get the best out of their learning experience.

Activity 7: ICT Staff Development

This activity has made me aware of the lack of a proper ICT prgramme at my school and the need to have staff development to make the staff aware of the current situation in the school in relation to ICT. I realize with all that I have learnt in this course I will have an active role to play in the implementation of any ICT programme at my school.

Activity 5: The integrated approach

Computer literacy should not be taught in isolation. It should be integrated in all classes making it the responsibility of every teacher.

Activity 4

I have to agree with Vygotsky that spontaneous learning needs to be linked with scientific concepts. Students bring with them a wealth of information that can be capitalized in the classroom. Students are not just empty vessels waiting to be filled by teachers but they are able to discover a lot on their own. Students are better able to retained and practice what they learned if they are actively involved in the learning process.

Activity 3: Roles of Learnerners learning with ICT

I found the mindMeister to be very interesting and I can see its usefulness in the classroom. It was good to see every ones contribution coming together which I think is what collaboration is all about.

Activity 2:Two generations of teachers

The article  'Two generations of teachers: Differences in Attitudes to ICT' was quite an eyeopener. Here I was jumping to the conclusion that older teachers  just was not  open to trying new methods. I have now concluded that older teachers are having problems adapting to and using ICT because of the lack of professional and technical support. This was bourne out in my research where the majority of the older teachers questioned claimed to have no training or little training and whatever training they have was from their own initiative. All of the teachers stated that they are willing to receive training. This was a very welcoming piece of information as it tells me that ICT has a future in the schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Activity 1

Audit of West St George Secondary School(WSGSS) ICT use (what we have and what we do with it):   After reading the articles on the Rationale for ICT in Schools and Common ICT use in Schools, I have come to realize that WSGSS has access to sufficient technology and trained teachers necessary to integrate ICT in our classrooms. The problem is we have not been maximizing the resources available.   WSGSS is equipped with two computer labs that house approximately twenty working computers each. There is also a media room with a white board. The media room can seat over fifty students. The school also has two multimedia projectors. In addition, each department in the school has its own laptop. The staffroom also contains two desk top computers that are available for use to all teachers. Both the principal and the deputy principal have their own laptops. Our present Form two students are beneficiaries of the one-laptop per student project.t All these were given by the Ministry of Education in their quest to have ICT integrated in our classrooms.  WSGSS  also has internet access but this is not always up and running. The school boasts a reading room that is equipped with computers and software donated by the Venezuelan Embassy to assist the students with their reading.   Though these are used to enhance learning, the use to which they are put is too limited to have the kind of impact that I have read about in other countries where research was done to identify the positive impact on learning when ICT is integrated in the classrooms.   The two computer labs are mainly used for the teaching of Information Technology and Electronic Documentation Preparation Management(EDPM).   They are also used for the teaching of other subjects such as Principles of Accounts. The students also use the labs to type up their School Based Assessment (SBA) for the regional exam Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate(CSEC).However they are also allowed to use the computer labs to do research for their projects. Students are only allowed to use the computer labs under the guidance of a teacher.   The media room is generally used for teaching sessions where the teacher has to use the multimedia projector to enhance teaching and learning. This room is also underutilized.   The computers in the staffroom are generally used by teachers to access lesson plans and information to use in their lessons. The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has a site where teachers are allowed to place and access lessons in their subject areas. Teachers can use these computers to access these and other lessons.   The students with their laptops get little constructive use of them in the classroom as only the IT teachers seem to use them in their sessions. The students can be seen sometimes using these laptops in their spare time to play games.   Many of our students are reading far below their grade level. The reading teacher has been using the computers and soft wares to assist the students in developing literacy skills.   Our Peace Corp. volunteer has also started a programme where he has teamed up students in a school in the United States of America with some of our students. The students are expected to communicate by email. This programme is expected to help the students develop their reading, writing and expression skills. Our students were introduced to their counterparts in the USA through the use of the multimedia projector.   I believe with proper planning and execution of a plan on the integration of ICT, students at WSGSS too will be able to boast about the benefits they are having from integrating ICT in the school.