Effective ICT tools in teaching and learning

Throughout this semester, I learned various ICT tools for effective teaching and learning. ICT tools promote change and foster the development of 21^st century skills. ICT can lead to many developments in education as it can make learning more interactive and easier for both students and teachers it also enhances modes of communication. Following are some of the ICT tools that are critical for situating teaching and learning and for co-constructive tool. We can use this situating tool in teaching and learning when a specific real-life experience is unavailable or difficult to obtain, as it places the user in the environment, allows them to understand and modify factors, communicate with other users, and encourages creativity and visualization abilities.

Simulation

Simulations encourage student to think critically and explore on our own. Students learn more and remember it for longer when they use simulations. Phet provides fun and educational free interactive science and mathematics simulations. https://phet.colorado.edu/ this link will take us to phet. To ensure educational effectiveness, each simulation should be thoroughly tested and evaluated. I found out that Phet simulation was entertaining and helpful in understanding the subject. It would be enjoyable and simple for young children to comprehend the lesson. Following are some of the simulations that we can get from phet simulations.

 

 

Google docs

Google docs is an online word processor. Any google accounts has access to it. 

We can use Google Docs to create and collaborate on online documents. It enable us to edit in real time with secure sharing from any device. Documents of google docs are directly saved in our google drive.

Benefits of google docs

1. It works seamlessly with Microsoft Word.

We can easily open and edit Microsoft Word documents directly in Google Docs. We can also download our google doc as a word document.

2. Ease of collaboration

Google Docs allows many people to work and edit on the same document at the same time.

3. Access your work from any device  

we can log into our google account and access our document from any device at any time. We can write and edit on the go. 

4. Automatic saving

All changes are automatically synced across devices and saved as we write, so we don't have to worry about vanishing files ever again.

5. It has a lot of useful features

This application provide various useful features. For example, voice typing tools, a simple formatting feature for fast formatting copied and pasted material, and a font library ready to import from google fonts. 

 

 

 

 

Google classroom

 

The most effective way of mastering the technology is through introducing technology in the world of education. Google classroom is very helpful for distance learning classes and large school events. Google classroom is online tool that allow teachers to set assignments, have work submitted by students, to mark, and enhances online collaboration. In an increasingly digital world, google classroom make digital learning possible. Classroom is available on the web or by mobile app.

Google classroom is one of the example of ICT as a constructive tool. As it help learners to construct one’s own knowledge, manipulate information and visualize students understanding. Thus, it plays a vital role in our academic life. Google classroom provide us with organizational features that are easy to use and are very simple.

Google classroom provide us with different features:

1. Creating tabs

Google classroom allows you to make separate tabs for different topics or units. It helps in avoiding confusion and smooth workflow.

2. Assignments

Educators can create learning activities (assignments) using learning content like YouTube videos, Google Form surveys, or PDFs. 

 

3. Announcements

Educators can give updates to learners through announcements.

4. Private feedback

Teachers and students can both provide private feedback or ask questions. 

 

Benefits of google classroom integration:

1. Accessibility

Google Classroom can be accessed from any computer via Google Chrome or from any mobile device.  All files uploaded by teachers and students are stored in a Classroom folder on Google Drive.

2. Communication. 

Teachers and students can send emails, post to the stream, send private comments on assignments, and provide feedback on work. 

3. Collaborate

Teacher can facilitate online discussion between students and create group projects within the classroom.

4. Engagement

Because most digital natives are at ease with technology, they are more likely to take charge of their own learning. Moreover it enable teachers to differentiate assignments, include videos and web pages into lessons, and create collaborative group assignments. 

5. Differentiation

Through google classroom, teacher are easily able to differentiate instruction for learners. Teachers can assign lessons to the whole class, individual students, or groups of students. 

6. Feedback

Providing meaningful feedback to students is a valuable part of all learning. Google classroom allow educators to monitor student's progress and provide instant feedback on all assignments. 

Google classroom offers numerous ways to make learning interactive and collaborative. it has  a great impact on both teachers and students. Teachers can use google classroom to arrange their lessons by establishing theme, assigning tasks, and administering tests. By employing all features of google classroom, teachers can make the environment comfortable for students. 

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a teaching and learning design place. It is an online platform that allows students to access instructional content. This can be done on computers or through mobile devices. Virtual learning is intended to broaden students' educational opportunities. The majority of VLEs are created by a particular educational institution. For example, a school, college, or university.

                                       PCE Virtual Learning Environment

 

The main purpose of virtual learning is to extend educational experiences. Virtual learning environment allow us to do conversation, share lesson plan and home works. 

Teachers can use a VLE to connect students to other online resources and incorporate YouTube videos and articles. VLE helps educators perform their jobs more efficiently.

Active learning take place in virtual classrooms. A digital whiteboard, breakout rooms, screen sharing, file annotations, video playback, and quizzing are all features that help learners become more engaged in our study.

In this pandemic time also it has greatly benefited us in teaching and learning it gave us an opportunity to access resources, content and information and interact with each other.

 

Features of virtual learning environment

1. An extensive array of course resources and tools

Educators can generate content such as lesson plans, and students can complete and submit assignments utilizing a variety of methods. Classrooms and forums are used to facilitate student interaction.

                                                         Discussion forum

2. Automated alerts and notifications

Educators are alerted to student submissions and non-submission.

3. Storage of learning materials

We can easily access to all the class materials.

 

                                                      Learning materials

 

4. Assessment tools

Educators can see how students react to their materials, which can help them improve course content and provide feedback to students.

Advantages of Virtual learning environment

1. Track learner performance easily- Electronic records allow easy tracking of students who have submitted their course material on schedule or ahead of time.

2. Deliver content easily- The same material is accessible to all learners and the content can be updated easily when required.

3. Save cost and time- Content can be disseminated to the audience, without the need to print.

4. Encourage collaboration among users- Educators can communicate through forums and other messages boards. 

5. Promote flexible learning- Since the content is available from anywhere at any time we can revisit and review unclear topics.

6. Announcement

We can easily check if there is any announcement made or not from the VLE. 

                                                               Announcements 

Some of the benefits I gained from using virtual learning environment in the college are:

- Immediate feedback on learning.

- Improved my technical skills. 

- Greater flexibility and comfort.

- Community and relationship building.

 

 

 

 

Power point presentation (PPT)

 

Due to the rapid progress in technology, there are many ways of learning that have started. Which attract the mind of most students. The effect of using power point presentations on the students learning is huge. Power point presentation makes education more interactive and attract students towards the modified version of studying.

Microsoft power point is one of the most popular software for presentations created by Robert Gaskins and Dennis Austin at Forethought, Inc. Most known for its templates we can use it for multipurpose such as business, education and household. Using it is very simple and easy. It can add various fonts, colors and animation with click of a button.

Power point is an effective educational tool for teaching and delivering materials in classes. It allow us to create a slide show off important information, charts, and images for presentation. It is an engaging method which arouses our curiosity and increases our grasping capabilities.  As said ‘Learning is more in seeing than in hearing’. Through power point we tend to understand more and retain information for longer duration. Moreover it makes our learning more fun and enjoyable.

The image given below shows the main page of power point, this is where a person lands, when a program is run on a computer system.

 Steps to open power point on a computer

1.     1.  Click on the start button

2.      2. Then choose “All Programs”

3.     3.  Then select “MS Office”

4.     4.  Under MS Office, click on the “MS PowerPoint ”.

Features of PowerPoint

·         Slide layout

Multiple options and layouts are available based on which a presentation can be created. It is available under the “Home” section.

 

·         Insert

                    Under the “Insert” category, multiple features are available. This include images, audio,                          video, shapes and symbols.

 

 

 

·         Slide design

Power Point provide us with various themes from which we can add different designs and textures on our slides.

 

·         Animations

During the slide show, the slide appear on the screen one after the other. And we can add some animation to the way in which a slide present. The different animation styles available on power point are:

Advantages of power point

1.  It can be used virtually anywhere

We can put our presentation on a USB flash drive or in a cloud storage software so that we may access it at any time.

2. You can choose to create your own design

PowerPoint gives us complete control over the appearance of our slides. We have complete control over the design of our presentation.

3. It facilitates an effective way of communication with the audience

Power point enable us to choose our communication style, images, text or videos, all of them can be easily integrated into power point. Using images and videos help us to explain our idea better and in an engaging way.

4. Extremely efficient tool

We can even name shortcuts tat will change the way we use it and will also save a lot of time.

                    Disadvantages of power point

1. Presenters rely too much on slides.

Sometimes when we use PPT we may forget to actually prepare to deliver the presentation and we may end up reading from the slides.

2. High risk of technical issues. 

Our computer may fail to start, receive an update just before we begin or lose power during the presentation. 

Power point has both benefits and drawbacks but I think it has more benefits as using power point improves our learning focus, clarify our understanding,  engages different learning styles, as a presenter it boost our confidence, and it also enable us to use some basic sounds which we can use or insert our own audio for the desired effect.