LESSON 4 BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP

Content:

            Lesson 4 apprehends on the need to change our educational systems for if not, generation gap will really prevail. With the advent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) it’s really a necessity to bridge the digital gap within our society. We should know that ICT is universal and influential, a lot of old traditions are being taken away in this new era that we should unavoidably adopt.

            Teachers should be urgent in bridging the gap between them and the new generation learners. The old technology were easily replaced by the new and improved tools that teachers should know and understand for them to impart to their students. If we fail to respond to this arising generation, then we are helping our students to neglect education and lose their enthusiasm in learning.

Experience:

            Fortunately, I am part of this 21^st millennium students who use digital type of instructional materials especially in making reports. As I observed, most of my teachers do not know how to manipulate or even make Power Point Presentation (I’m not blaming them for being so), I somehow pitied them for they were taught in a traditional way that’s why they also teach traditionally.

            On the other hand, I’m so happy that my teachers now are so open-minded about the new teaching styles where technology is being integrated in school. Hopefully, this is the start of bridging the gap between yesterday and today.

Reflection:

            “You cannot give what you do not have.” I cannot teach my students the technology-supported skills they need if I myself as a teacher do not know how to manipulate the computer. I love the idea of bridging the gap between the traditional educators and the modern learners. I cannot do it without an action. I do not want my students to become white elephants that’s why I will do my best to acquire the necessary skills I need to give what I have for the new generation learners.

                    I would commend some of my teachers before who grew in traditional teaching but are now willing to learn new technologies.  But other teachers are so complacent in giving traditional approaches which is becoming ineffective today. I somehow consoled to my teachers who do not know how to use computers but I would understand those who are already old since they cannot handle it anymore. But for younger educators, I cannot think of any reason of not learning the technology.

Application:

            Embracing the changes we have right now in our education system is not just for our students. We know exactly that ICT is global, so if we are able to adopt to the growth and innovations of ICT then it means so much. We become also global teachers who are partakers of bridging the gap between the old and the new generation. Teachers who can relate and connect in today’s education are confident enough to help their students do well in life. If I can bridge the gap between the old and the new, how much more in bridging the new and the future.  This is both beneficial to learners and teachers.

LESSON 3: UNDERSTANDING TECHNOLOGY LEARNERS

Content:

            Students nowadays are evidently visual and experiential learners. They are not used to just sit and listen while the teacher is discussing. They want movements, they want to be involved. Understanding this kind of learners is of great importance because they are the center of learning. A lot of teachers are still using the traditional way of instruction though their learners are already digitally inclined.

            Undeniably, technology has detriments but let us also consider that there are more advantages of technology than its harms. So let us allow our students to be computer literate because it’s a need for this information technology age.

Experience:

            As far as I can remember, it was only in college where I experienced digital instruction. It’s very new to me where simple Power Point Presentation had a big appeal. I like it when my instructor will show some video presentations before getting into the discussion or playing some relevant music. It’s one of my motivation in learning because I enjoy it a lot.

            Back when I was High School, everything was Manila paper, other times we’ll just looked at our books while the teacher was discussing. Though we still learned with those kinds of strategies, but it’s really different when our teacher will integrate in the discussion some technology-based educational tools. Granting, we have Computer subject then but the computers were just limited so we can only meet twice or once a month and just encode one paragraph stories or draw anything you want in 30 minutes, just like that. The rest of the subjects our teacher will have lecture method. The education we have before was far different from our education now. It’s a lot more convenient and the information we need in school are just searchable.

Reflection:

            I now understood the need to learn the new ways of teaching students specially the information technology learners. If I will remain blind to the needs of the learners as to having a good instruction, I’ll be missing the chance of helping them succeed in life. As a teacher, I must adapt and accept the fact that somehow traditional approaches to instruction cannot support the learning styles of the students in this generation. As they say, there is no best strategy in teaching but we need to give appropriate and suitable strategies to our learners for them not to be frustrated in going to school or even lose the appetite of learning.

Application:

            Understanding and meeting the needs of digital learners is one way of helping them improve their lives. Since their exposure to computer games and social media are inevitable, let’s make use of it as a digital tool for them to learn in a way they want it to be. We should not neglect the learning styles of our learners, if they learn best when they are in front of a computer or watching educational videos why not give them that opportunity. It’s a matter of how we assess our students’ needs. I know that as teachers to be, we are mostly concern on the learning of our students. And I am willing to help them learn in the best way I can through learning the things that an IT age teacher needs to learn.

LESSON 2: AN OVERVIEW: EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 2

Content:

            Technology 2 is about the integration of technology, teaching, and learning. This topic is more focused on student teachers as well as the professional teachers who wish to upgrade their knowledge and skills in the use of technology for them to help their students add their learning tools.

            Educational Technology 2 aims to enhance teaching-and-learning through technology integration. It will allow student teachers to master the concept of the computer deeply and the hands-on application of these skills to adapt to the technological changes like Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Professional teachers can also learn this course not just for instruction but also to improve the school program and curriculum. They should be open to teaching new strategies like integrating computer skills to the learning of the students. Consequently, learning would be much refreshing, exciting and fun.

Experience:

            As a student teacher, I am excited and inquisitive about the integration of technology to teaching and learning. Though we have already experienced being taught with the use of computer in our IT 21, it’s different now because I’ll act as the teacher who will integrate computer skills to the learning of my students.

As to the objectives of this course like learning to use and evaluate computer-based resources, managing IT classrooms, using internet for learning and inculcating higher level thinking and creativity, I know that I can learn all of these things not for my sake but for the sake of the learners.

Reflection:

            I realize that I have no choice, whether I like it or not, I need to learn the technology for the future of my learners. Besides, learning Educational Technology 2 is not a burdensome, it is an opportunity for me to meet and adapt the rapid changes of the educational arena in terms of the teaching-learning process. I am so much willing to be a part of the 21^st millennium teachers who can weave technology to teaching. This is much a privilege to me.

Application:

            Learning to use Educational Technology is very important in the learners that we have in this generation. Personally, I better learn and understand things visually and experientially as other learners do. So, to help my learners have an enjoyable and non-threatening learning, there is a need for me to be acquainted with computer skills so that I can give to them what I have. Being able to integrate teaching and learning to the technology is a way for me to assist my students in acquiring higher order thinking and creativity.

LESSON 1: A REVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 1

Content:

            Educational Technology 1 opens the mind of the learners to the history of Educational Technology, definition of terms like instructional technology, educational media, audio visuals, multimedia and many other terminologies relevant to the subject, advantages and disadvantages of technology, and different teaching strategies that would aid the teacher in giving non-threatening, enjoyable, and experiential approaches that are outcomes- based.

            Moreover, Educational Technology 1 emphasizes its theories and philosophies as well as the four phases of the application of Educational Technology in the teaching-learning process. It helps in the setting of learning objectives, designing specific learning experiences based on the learning objectives, and revising of the teaching-learning process to improve instructional activities.

Experience:

            Back then, Educational Technology 1 was a bit challenging to me since it needs gadgets like laptop, packet Wi-Fi and all other materials needed. Unfortunately, I do not have one. But as a student you need to find alternatives for you to learn. That’s why I borrowed a laptop for me to apply all the necessary skills that we should learn from our instructor like making a comprehensible Power Point Presentation, making comic strips online, editing picture in the Adobe Photoshop and movie making which made us actors and actresses for a moment. All of these things were possible because of the patience that our instructor gave us and the hard work that we invested just for us to make a good output.

Reflection:

            Although our life was never easy on the process of learning all the things I mentioned above, all the sweat and tears we endowed and the hard work that we devote, all of those things were worth it. Certainly, I learned a lot because what we have done was totally real experiences. Only rare learners were given opportunities such as what we had. I think everyone would agree that Educational Technology 1 was the mos t challenging yet the most relevant course we have ever taken specially that we are to teach the 21^st century students.

Application:

            Educational Technology 1 is very helpful to me as a future teacher wherein the strategies in making good PPT, the four phases of the application of Educational Technology in the teaching-learning process and a lot of student-centered approaches, I can use and vary them depending on the students that I will be teaching in the future. I’m very sure that once I apply the things I learned from this subject in my future learners, learning would be so easy and enjoyable. Last but not the least, the computer skills I learned, even the simplest like making PPT, encoding and other basic skills, I can use them as a part time job to make money.

HISTORY OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

Content:

            This report includes the history of educational technology, times gone by the computer, as well as the characterization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in line with education. Originally, Educational Technology is coined to “techne” which means the process of applying knowledge systematically to the practical art of instruction. With this, a lot of individuals tried to make their own concepts of Educational Technology through providing tools to help in the educative process.

            The computer is one of the tools used in education. It started with the discovery of Abacus to Calculator then Punch Card devices, Electronic computer, Mainframes, Minicomputer, Microcomputer, Microcomputer system, and presently, the Internet. Basically, this is the evolution of the computer.

            Information and Communications Technology is the newest trend for the 21^st century. This is about using different technological tools to create, communicate, store, and manage information. Examples for this are computers, internet and other relative devices. Accordingly, it’s a powerful tool for educational change and reform. Moreover, ICT’s, if used appropriately can be a way to easier access to education, strengthen the relevance of education and for students to engage in a more real life situations.

            To sum it up, Educational Technology and ICT talks about learning, unlearning, and relearning.

   Experience:

            ICT is just like other educational instruments which help in creating, communicating and managing information which we are actually experiencing right now through the use of technological devices like computers. In the classroom, we are already exposed to using this ICT which is really more convenient compared to the traditional teaching tools. It’s a lot easier to report things with the use of projectors and laptops. We are also engage in a more realistic situations through student-centered approaches and outcomes- based instruction.

Reflection:

            Realizing how important ICT is and testifying about its boons made me decide to really apply it to my future learners especially that they will be a product of this Information Technology generation. Learning these technologies would also enable me to become more adaptive to the changes of the world of education for the betterment of our curriculum and the teaching-learning environment. I would say that ICT is not just for me, but for everybody. The challenge is to think a million times on the appropriateness of the ICT’s that we plan to use in the classroom versus the learning styles of our students.

Application:

            Becoming aware of the usefulness of Information and Communications Technology that include the Educational Technology and Computer is like being responsible of the learning of our students. ICT is not being idealistic rather being realistic about the experiences of our students. Therefore, we should not neglect the chance of learning this technology as what Alvin Toffler said, “The illiterate of the 21^st century is not those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”