Why use wiki for e-learning week? Why not use other e-learning platforms like blogs, discussion forum, podcast or...? I suppose the choice of tool that one uses depends on one's content and purpose. Unlike blogs and those mentioned, wiki allows collaboration within the targetted comunity of learners. This idea is certainly great if it's used for a particular project/discussion that is to be done within a limited period of time (like the e-learning week) and learners just need to focus on one particular page and build on one another's idea. However the organisation of the content and instruction that follows, is very important. Users need to know first the features of a wiki to be able to utilise it confidently. Once they are confident, they will be able to understand the instructions given on the frontpage of the wiki used and intended objectives of the author of the wiki may be achieved.
Nowadays, quite a number of educators use wiki for e-learning purposes; for content enrichment in blended learning or for compiling learners' work saved in pages created in wiki itself. Authors/ administrators can lock these pages and ensure that only the assigned individual or group members can access it and make changes. For a group task, the members in the group can work on the page assigned to them wherever they are as long as they can access the internet. This feature would be very useful for formative assessment too.
I am one those going-to-be avid users of wiki because I'm working on on-line blended learning with wiki and i find that it's the best tool for my content and purpose. However, there are few areas that I am not comfortable with wiki-the layout. It is very rigid and lacks aesthetic. It's too functional and structured (yes.. I agree that's what wiki is intended to be)and ... linear. One has to scroll down the page to see the last word of the page..urgh!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Netizens of singapore
The idea of getting the red dot wired up does work for a purpose.. to really create one nation, one Singapore and this includes both locals and the new-comers. The latter has to embrace the local culture, where most is digitalised. With little natural resources to depend on, we have to depend on ourselves and the machines.. oops.. technology! Reasons being: Efficiency! And to ensure efficiency, we need technology. The affordances that technology provide, helps Singapore to boost its economy generally. However, opportunity cost comes in... values and social behaviour are negatively affected. (.. to be continued)
Monday, February 1, 2010
AVATAR-visual reality?
Before I start blogging this, I keep telling myself that this is not going to sound like a movie review... I can count with my five fingers the number of times I went to a cinema to watch movies within a fifth less than half a century of my life... Today I watch Avatar for a purpose.. I want to know what so great about it that it ranks second after Titanic (forgive me if I'm wrong).. Well, that movie is FANTASTIC! For someone who had once struggled to create animation, I really and truly salute the creator of this fantasy. With the 3-D specs on, I watched the movie in awe... I know I am a technophile.. or maybe a cautious technophile now (after attending Digital Literacy..haha!)
For the digital natives, this show is nothing spectacular.. they are like the characters in the movie who flourished themselves with high technology like a cup of tea (I wonder if transferring image from one screen to another with the touch of a finger will happen in future... mmm) Creating an avatar of oneself is nothing new as they are used to all of these in video games, wii, x box, playstation and what not. They are always the hero in their own stories.( I have tried creating an avatar of myself and 'flew' into the SEcond Life... it's awesome! .. but it takes too much of my time. ) And they can identify themselves with the soldiers in robots especially the wii players. For these digital natives, the only message that they may feel strongly is 'saving the mother earth mission'.
For the digital immigrants, I was truly amazed by the animation and the visual reality that the movie creators have designed... and the message that they are trying to portray is not only about saving the earth.. but it's more than that. In the movie, the 'people' who are close to nature and refuse change are labeled as 'savages'. The latter's home is destroyed and 'the civilised people of the machines' enforce authority over them by driving them out of their homes with force and brutality.. (My tears nearly dropped when I saw this)... This reminds me of how the internet creators have been successful in controlling the people's mentality... they do it subtly (not like that in the movie.. but it does seem similar) I also recalled some news lately about effort put in by the authority in America to extend ICt convenience to 25% of the American population and the Malaysian 's authority's effort to provide free wifi service to the people living in the rural areas. To them, with ICT facilities, people can easily email forms (they don't have to take the hassle to travel far to submit a hardcopy) and distance learning can take place with ease.....REALLY????? Remember what our classmate said..'thing done remains undone'.
This movie is a fantasy.. no doubt... but there must be a reason why the 'hero' character' is disable and wheel bound, isn't it? Think of those who are stuck in front of the computer and immersed themselves in the virtual games on their chairs. Can they be represented by this character 'Jake', a dreamwalker? There are many 'avatars' out there.. they need to wake up!
For the digital natives, this show is nothing spectacular.. they are like the characters in the movie who flourished themselves with high technology like a cup of tea (I wonder if transferring image from one screen to another with the touch of a finger will happen in future... mmm) Creating an avatar of oneself is nothing new as they are used to all of these in video games, wii, x box, playstation and what not. They are always the hero in their own stories.( I have tried creating an avatar of myself and 'flew' into the SEcond Life... it's awesome! .. but it takes too much of my time. ) And they can identify themselves with the soldiers in robots especially the wii players. For these digital natives, the only message that they may feel strongly is 'saving the mother earth mission'.
For the digital immigrants, I was truly amazed by the animation and the visual reality that the movie creators have designed... and the message that they are trying to portray is not only about saving the earth.. but it's more than that. In the movie, the 'people' who are close to nature and refuse change are labeled as 'savages'. The latter's home is destroyed and 'the civilised people of the machines' enforce authority over them by driving them out of their homes with force and brutality.. (My tears nearly dropped when I saw this)... This reminds me of how the internet creators have been successful in controlling the people's mentality... they do it subtly (not like that in the movie.. but it does seem similar) I also recalled some news lately about effort put in by the authority in America to extend ICt convenience to 25% of the American population and the Malaysian 's authority's effort to provide free wifi service to the people living in the rural areas. To them, with ICT facilities, people can easily email forms (they don't have to take the hassle to travel far to submit a hardcopy) and distance learning can take place with ease.....REALLY????? Remember what our classmate said..'thing done remains undone'.
This movie is a fantasy.. no doubt... but there must be a reason why the 'hero' character' is disable and wheel bound, isn't it? Think of those who are stuck in front of the computer and immersed themselves in the virtual games on their chairs. Can they be represented by this character 'Jake', a dreamwalker? There are many 'avatars' out there.. they need to wake up!
Use of ICT in schools-strategies and skills
I am one of those who look into teaching language pedagogies and there are many strategies that teachers can employ to make their leassons more engaging and effective ..like in the cooperative learning strategies, we have heads- together, round robin, round table and what not. And these strategies can be incorporated via different approaches like problem-based, inquiry based and so on.. The use of ICT is one of the strategies that can be adopted in one of these approaches. The use of blogs, discusion forums, independent learning via webquest or even facebook are very relevant in today's era. Students are very much into them.. so why not take advantage of their interest areas to deliver lessons? Most of them are 'multi-taskers', they can listen to music online, chat on messenger and do online searching/ learning all at the same time. I remembered a professor sharing his worry about his daughter not 'studying' the 'right'way. She was doing all the 'ICT' stuff at the same time reading her book. To him or maybe to some us, she might not be able to digest everything that is in the book. When she was asked to follow the 'right' way, she complained about not being able to move on and remember what's in the book. Well, it can be difficult to understand how these digital natives study...
I agree with Dr T that schools need to draw a line between strategies and skills related to ICT lessons. Teachers generally are not clear about these two. When I ran ICt programmes in my school in the past, I myself was not aware of the differences. All I know ; I need to cover most if not, all programmes suggested by MOE in their ICT plan within 6 years of primary school. THe first four years are focussed on skills like touch typing, paint brush, inetrnet search/ security,Microsoft office and video editing and how students apply these skills in their ICT presentation. There were of course some strategies employed to ensure that the skills are learnt effectively with relevant worksheets to assses and monitor students' usage. And IT ENDS there! Teachers left the 'duties' of teaching these skills to the IT trainers and there is no follow up in class. Teachers on the other hand , knowing that the students have been equipped with these skills , should follow up and plan lesson strategies that require students to apply the skills they have learnt.. BUT I believe.. teachers themselves, are not confident ICT users... their reason is- time constraint... OR they do not know how to incorporate ICT in their lessons other than using Powerpt. Teachers need to be trained .. not just the skills but the approach as well. ANd there's a need to monitor and follow-up on their practice so the class does not appear merely like a performing stage!
I agree with Dr T that schools need to draw a line between strategies and skills related to ICT lessons. Teachers generally are not clear about these two. When I ran ICt programmes in my school in the past, I myself was not aware of the differences. All I know ; I need to cover most if not, all programmes suggested by MOE in their ICT plan within 6 years of primary school. THe first four years are focussed on skills like touch typing, paint brush, inetrnet search/ security,Microsoft office and video editing and how students apply these skills in their ICT presentation. There were of course some strategies employed to ensure that the skills are learnt effectively with relevant worksheets to assses and monitor students' usage. And IT ENDS there! Teachers left the 'duties' of teaching these skills to the IT trainers and there is no follow up in class. Teachers on the other hand , knowing that the students have been equipped with these skills , should follow up and plan lesson strategies that require students to apply the skills they have learnt.. BUT I believe.. teachers themselves, are not confident ICT users... their reason is- time constraint... OR they do not know how to incorporate ICT in their lessons other than using Powerpt. Teachers need to be trained .. not just the skills but the approach as well. ANd there's a need to monitor and follow-up on their practice so the class does not appear merely like a performing stage!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Internet creators are moderate users?? (pt2)
Clifford Stoll in his book, Silicon Snake Oil, admitted that he used to be an internet addict.. he enjoyed keeping in touch with people around the world. THe WOrld is No Longer RounD..It is Flat! Internet knows no boundaries. It hooks everyone incuding him ( and Me!) People get connected in the virtual world..everyone seems so near , yet so far! It 'has cheapen the meaning of actual experince'. People need to wake up! In the sixty- minutes time spent surfing the net for something that is not real, why not spend the time with real people outdoors.. it makes life more meaningful. People are clamoring..'Safe the environment..safe the trees!!' and then comes along online post-cards, emails and.... People just need to have a computer ... and click. Out pop a colorful 'card' accompanied with music/ voice/ animation/garphics appear before them on the screen. It stays on the screen.. that's all! If you try to print it out, all the animation and sound are all gone. If you happen to have good quality paper... then at least you can get to decorate your locker or tack it up on the wall in front of your office table. But.. how many people out there in the world have access to computer and have good quality paper?? And worst of all, where's the human touch? Stoll contended that email is often 'undependable.. impersonal and boring... A handwritten letter is arguably cheaper, more reliable and far more expressive'(p.17) E-mail takes time to be read and this includes junk mails (p.30).
Well, what Stoll says brings in some sense there... No doubt, in this rapid and busy time, who has time to decorate a letter and post it? For any work to run efficiently and punctually, email is the best mode... but work is work.. no need human touch... all people are concerned is $$$. People even work from home. You can't run away from emails. You'll be questioned if your emails are not replied as soon as possible. Even when one is sick or on leave..one can't live without checking the mails.. to ensure that work 'runs' as efficient as can be. (UrGGGhh!)
I agree with Stoll to a larger extent. As for human touch, I remembered the time when I received Teachers' Day card from my students.. Some created their own cards with their little creative hands while others used the computer to produce a beautiful card with the keyboard. I tend to appreciate the former than the latter.. I suppose its natural.. human likes human touch and not computer touch!
Mmm.. I have only started reading this book.. and I am beginning to reflect on my own internet 'obsession'. With I-phone in hand, internet is just one click away.. something has to be done. YEs, internet provides the channel to all sorts of information but what about the time taken to make the right choice = ^
Well, what Stoll says brings in some sense there... No doubt, in this rapid and busy time, who has time to decorate a letter and post it? For any work to run efficiently and punctually, email is the best mode... but work is work.. no need human touch... all people are concerned is $$$. People even work from home. You can't run away from emails. You'll be questioned if your emails are not replied as soon as possible. Even when one is sick or on leave..one can't live without checking the mails.. to ensure that work 'runs' as efficient as can be. (UrGGGhh!)
I agree with Stoll to a larger extent. As for human touch, I remembered the time when I received Teachers' Day card from my students.. Some created their own cards with their little creative hands while others used the computer to produce a beautiful card with the keyboard. I tend to appreciate the former than the latter.. I suppose its natural.. human likes human touch and not computer touch!
Mmm.. I have only started reading this book.. and I am beginning to reflect on my own internet 'obsession'. With I-phone in hand, internet is just one click away.. something has to be done. YEs, internet provides the channel to all sorts of information but what about the time taken to make the right choice = ^
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Internet creators are moderate users?? (pt1)
The Internet creators are the know-how people. They create the internet, the search engines... , so they own the virtual world and know where the loopholes are... and that justifies their cautious moves. Also, being creators, they know the weaknesses and the strengths of their creations. They only use the internet to serve their personal interest and economic purposes.
On another perspective, they may not be considered as moderate users In fact they are more fervent as internet users as well. They will find every way to protect their rice bowl. Just look at what happen recently; (refer Straits Times Jan 21) both the Google (American) and Baidu( China) search engines are tussling with one another over issues like hacking, attracting online users, copyright and many more. All these, I believe, is because they want to protect their interest. BAidu, easier to say as compared to Google which is pronounced as 'Gu Ge" for instance claims to be the 'more Chinese search engine' and caters 'better to the China's legions of youthful online users.' It accused Google as an 'alien interloper'. : )
On another perspective, they may not be considered as moderate users In fact they are more fervent as internet users as well. They will find every way to protect their rice bowl. Just look at what happen recently; (refer Straits Times Jan 21) both the Google (American) and Baidu( China) search engines are tussling with one another over issues like hacking, attracting online users, copyright and many more. All these, I believe, is because they want to protect their interest. BAidu, easier to say as compared to Google which is pronounced as 'Gu Ge" for instance claims to be the 'more Chinese search engine' and caters 'better to the China's legions of youthful online users.' It accused Google as an 'alien interloper'. : )
The internet users on the other hand, are so tempted to explore the virtual world..they are the pragmatics and they take risks. As such they are more exposed to the idiosyncracies of internet...
I am one of the internet avid users. I love to explore the net for information, entertainment and what not. Considering the amount of time that passed as I surf the net...it seems as though the internet controls my life.. it affects my time management.. I got addicted to technology! When I went to Sim Lim Square, I felt myself at home. It was so nice to be with the 'technology'! So much money was spent on IT gadgets. Not only that, when I was given the role to look into IT matters at work, it grew worse! At that time, I felt so special cos' I had the first hand on IT gadget that my other colleagues might not know.. and guess what.. I still can't get over it! Online shopping is there to trap people like me : ^
Monday, January 18, 2010
INterneT ScAm
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