Module 6 Activity 12

I have learned so much over the past few months when it comes to project approaches, activity 12 was basically about scaffolding our learners, we can not just throw them into the ocean, they may drown so I have learnt that  we need to create students support documents and these documents can be of different  types, the teacher however must create a suitable support document to help the learners successfully  create their project. during this activity I did learned how to properly create these different types of support documents..

Module 8 Activity 11 Flipped classrooms

This activity was a good one, I learned quite a lot. I have never heard bout flipped classroom before so I paid close attention to the pros, cons and how to set up a flipped classroom.

Ive learned a few important things: the videos should not be long because it may bore the students especially how they are using their own time to view the video. one great thing i have learned is that  flipped classrooms is student centred which helps them develop autonomy. I believe that flipped classrooms helps make life easier for the teacher since students come prepared for class and I was convinced from the activity to try this tool with my students. It may not work with all forms but by trying I will realise who it works best with then I can prepare videos. Internet may be a problem for some students so that is one of the drawbacks but students may view the short videos before class since schools have Internet access for all students.

Module 8 Activity 10

cellphones in classrooms

As much as I was shown the advantages and disadvantages of using cellphones in classrooms i will state as my opinion that  the cons outweigh the pros.  I have been told that cellphone can be used on class as polls and as a collaboration tool, however cellphones are probably the major distraction for students especially teenagers hence some schools move towards banning them in school.

from the activity I have gained some insight into the policies that are necessary for students bringing cellphones to the class-- they need permission from parents and mostly they need a strict set of classroom rules for using them. this activity was very interesting even though i did not totally agree with everything that was mentioned. I encourage my colleagues to read more on cellphones in classroom and see if they can agree that it is tool that can enhance learning. some may say they can be used as calculators or even for taking pictures for posting on social networks so the class may comment.I usually hear students raising points to allow the use in class but I stick to my opinion that it is not allowed. maybe for older and mature students it may work but for the teenagers I would reject it.

Module 8 Activity 9

Social networks in the classroom

The activity  brought out exactly what I have been saying to my colleagues at work, social networking carries a negative vibe if its to be used in the classroom but it definitely can be used effectively to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom. From what I have read I came to the conclusion that using certain social networks like Facebook and twitter, students will be enthusiastic to use them even if its for educational purpose, however the teacher now need to monitor the students to ensure they remain on those networks for the duration of the activities and use them for the intended purpose.
social networks can be used for sharing ideas, posting pictures of class event, posting videos and commenting on them all, basically the students use the network for collaboration. finally the main purpose of the module is management and that is necessary to ensure that social networking works with education

Module 8 Activity 8 safety

E-safety

this activity opened my eye about the things we as teachers need to consider when we point out sutdents to the Internet, especially on social networks. Teachers tend to take it lightly that on these social networks someone somewhere are there preying on kids for personal gain, in addition, we need to consider the websites, computers and even the protection installed on these computers because students can have their personal information stolen. now it may seem simple but  I learned in the activity that we may just want our students to collaborate and communicate using the social networks but online safety is much more important.and students need to be monitored as they work.

Module 8 activity 7 Tablets in the classroom

Tablets in the classroom was quite an interesting activity, I basically learned that like all other devices that are used there are pros and cons. from the activity I can conclude that there are more pros than cons with using tablets in the classroom, think about. In my classroom if tablets are used the students would misbehave less since they would be occupied, there are many apps available so students can use them for a variety of purposes- tablets can be used to take pictures, access social networking sites, view videos, type school work and more, not to mention that these days they are one of the cheapest devices available. I recommend teachers to employ the use of tablets in the classroom. the activity's examples were enough proof that they can improve teaching and learning in the classroom.

management of tablets in the classroom maybe an issue since students may become carried away so I learned that as teachers we need to be more vigilant and manage the internet properly and encourage students to use apps the tablets wisely because usually once they drop that they will be  broken.

tablets are great for the classroom as long as they are properly managed.

Activity 6- One to One computing

I like this activity not basically for what we had to do to complete it but because one to one computing has always been a controversy for many schools in my country. Currently in SVG we have a 'one laptop per child' initiative recently implemented by the Government of SVG; this initiative was implemented with teacher training on ICT integration and on technical aspects of the laptops. This activity gave me lots of ideas to take back to the classsroom and also help me with the classroom management aspect. Many teachers believe one to one computers can work effectively without proper planning for time, space and   but from the activity i realised how important it is to plan properly. I look forward to learning as much in the upcoming assignments as I did in this one