LESSON 8: HIGHER THINKING SKILLS THROUGH IT-BASED PROJECTS

Content:

This lesson is more on the specific view of the ways to develop higher order thinking. It focuses on the four IT-based projects that will enable the learners to use critical thinking in making projects which are really student-centered, namely: Resource-based projects, Simple Creations, Guided Hypermedia projects, and Web-based projects. These projects represent a constructivist approach where the teacher is the one who creates the environment, give students the tools and facilities, and the one who facilitates learning.

Mainly, resource-based projects is about independent study where students are the ones who will find facts and information about a certain topic or problem that a teacher will give to them. This is more on inquiry or discovery approach where learners will relate their experiences to the real world. Simple creations is about the creativity of the students in terms of utilizing the technology. It defines the real meaning of creativity which is to analyze, synthesize, and promote. Guided hypermedia is on using the self-made multimedia projects as an instructional or communicative tool. Instructional when students makes PowerPoint presentation to aid reporting. Coomunication when students use multimedia to present something in class that requires the participation of all. And web-based projects are not that applicable to average students for it requires uploading of journals or outputs to be viewed by public. But still it’s not prohibited to them.

Experience:

            We can already relate to these projects for in Educational Technology 1, we have done making outputs from different software materials which we have used and applied not just in Edtech but also in our other subjects like rubistar, toondoo, edmodo, camptasia, and other applications which are so helpful in our learning.

Reflection:

            As a reporter of this lesson, I understood that there are a lot of projects and activities that can be given to students where their higher thinking skills will be used. This lesson is of great help for teachers to vary their strategies in giving students the tasks that they need to perform in school. I realize that a teacher should just really be a facilitator in the new generation, thinking that all the projects are learner-centered.

Application:

            As a learner, I am able to use my knowledge in Technology to the different projects I have which is the target of this lesson.  Higher thinking skills involves constructive projects where a learner is able to produce an output through the use of technology. Hence, I should impart the learning I have to the new generation of technology learners.