Week 5 - (1) Wake up! Feeling down! Be motivated!

Ever felt that way? I'm sure we do face issues in our life that makes us feel that way everyday. You know you start thinking when people tell you "don't worry, you are not alone with your problems". If was living in a time which there was not any online community, I won't find it too easy to believe that "I am not alone". Especially not when I'm feeling down.

However, with the richness of ICT and the mass online community we live in today, we just got to believe that "we are NOT ALONE". Why? Just get online and you can talk/ chat/ read/ discuss about emotional issues- almost all of that facility is available online to help boost up our sad an sorrowfulness and even our negative thoughts. One of my favourite website to help me get on my feet back is this page that provide tips for life regarding self issues and even daily issues that that can be solved- in a blink of an eye (well sort of) ;) Happy or sad, lifehack shares the happy and motivating short stories which boosts my confidence and even laziness during times like completing assignments.

As helpful as it is for me as a teacher to get myself going for the day, I believe it will also be motivating for teachers who teaches special needs children. According to Vian's blog post of special needs students, it is widely proven that ICT enables them to join the mainstream life with the various functions available for them to produce their own outcomes. I'm sure they will feel less of feeling lonely and boost their self-esteem and self-confidence as they are able to share and contribute their skill with others. Interesting how it helps us in many ways to not feel alone! :)

Regards,
Sarah

Week 4 - (3) Curriculum & Assessment

I find it interesting when I first learn the links between curriculum, assessment and pedagogy (i'd like to refer the Curriculum & Assessment as --CA). Initially, I see curriculum as a one big umbrella with various subjects/ things to be taught to students within a time frame. Only now I realize that it is very important that the assessment created should be in line with what has been taught to be able to provide a reliable test for students.

The Standard National Preschool Curriculum (KSPK) document is now available online! (it is now easier for me to refer to it) when doing unit plans for the school. Anyways, going back to the link of CAP, it is shown that the curriculum designed is moving towards creating students to have critical thinking and creative thinking skills (besides the rest of the other holistic development). KSPK also includes the idea of constructing knowledge and transforming knowledge. The tables provided under each subjects highlights what students need to know and the expected outcome from them. Thumbs up to the curriculum makers for acknowledging this important point in the curriculum document so students can have a fair and reliable assessment as it determines the students level of learning in schools. Here is an interesting talk linking curriculum and assessment which enhances teachers to be most effective in their teachings as they will be very much aware of the learning outcomes that students need to achieve.

Regards,
Sarah

Week 4 - (2) Socializing on media?

Social Media? Familiar? Off course! Even those who don't have social media account knows about it. There are also people without social media accounts who knows very well of the content and how it is being used. See the power of majority? I won't label those people as outdated for not having social media accounts because having one doesn't determine your smartness or advances. And in fact, being online 24 hours also doesn't mean we are reading/ looking/ searching for proper/ quality information for the WHOLE time. See the time wasted online? In case you're wondering, here are some of the points of why some people are not attracted to having social media accounts. So, want to try and reduce our social media accounts? :D

On the other hand, socializing on media also means gossiping! More and more gossips! I won't deny it and its really unhealthy because-- number 1, it ain't nice to gossip about other people because most of the time, what we spread is not 100% true. And mind you, we are suppose to be extra careful to not spread the untruth. ( ok, we should now practice to avoid gossiping!) Imagine the available resources (pictures, videos, check-ins) online, our mouth and mind are just itchy to spread more and more unsure ideas. Regardless the proof; we should really be extra careful before we say something and avoid gossiping :) If you are very self-cautious of what people say to you, you might wanna check out social mention. It highlights to you people who have mentioned your name in either blogs or videos. Ahaaa but don't over do with it, you might hurt yourself. Take it the positive way ya!

Regards,
Sarah

Week 4 - (1) The bigger picture of Module 2

Approaching Model 2, we are always reminded that ICT is NOT ONLY about teaching the "how to". Teaching ICT should be about exposing various strategies of learning to students. For instance, we are to equip students with the knowledge of software and online applications available and get them to use it to produce outcomes. Exposing students to different learning strategies enable individuals to produce their work creatively and succesfully. As shared in this post, we educators are to remember to constantly adjust our teaching styles to suit different type of learners.

You're wondering what do I mean with the "how to?" teaching? I'd define the "how to" teaching as a way of teaching how to use the keyboard, use the mouse or the printer. My experience of learning ICT during primary school was about identifying, naming parts of computer and learning the correct way to use it. It was a good experience of learning about the computer at that time however we weren't exposed to using it for the purpose of learning other things. It was merely just to know about it. Due to that experience, I am now able to visual the idea of ICT that EDC3100 is trying to get to me which is to teach students to use ICT as a medium to further their learning and understandings. 

Regards,

Sarah