Week 4: Creating a Blog!

Today was our first lesson in Creating a blog. In fact, it's not new to me because I used to browse some blogs in the internet while am searching through Google. So, the name is not new, but the building and having one is new. However, I have an experience in building websites. Therefore, building a blog is almost like building a website. You can add videos, sounds or even pictures. You can change your blog colors. It's so easy; you just need an email to create your own blog. Then everything comes easy. You can choose the ready made template to build your blog. Once you did create yours, you can post your thoughts, ideas, talk through your own blog. The important thing is to keep checking your blog and updating it with latest to share with others your thoughts, and knowledge.

BTW, I am very happy to have my first blog in the Internet through this ICT course.

Week 3: ICT as a Mindtool

"Every generation has his ways and his style" this is an old say I used to hear it from my old-age relatives; especially, when they compare their lifestyle with the current. In fact, the same applies for teaching style and methods. In my school, I talked to experienced teachers about what style they prefer in teaching and I found out that they almost prefer the old traditional way of teaching. This can not fit with the new generations who grown up with computer, internet, mobile, and play station. It's been obvious that such a way of teaching is going to decrease student's desires of learning. Therefore, teachers are encouraged to use Mind-tools like ICT tools to engage student's critical thinking and higher desire of learning.

A good example of ICT tools in communication and co-operative learning is using a blog. Each student will have his/her own blog and will fill it with their reflections, thoughts, and ideas. It’s a good source for sharing knowledge among students and at the same time it will encourage students to learn more and more since they feel the awareness of learning. Moreover, having a blog will help students to organize their thoughts and will improve their writing skills at the same time. On the other hand, it will help teachers to understand their students more efficiently through their writings. I believe that teachers even experience one should improve and update their teaching styles to encourage and help students in their learning.

This website is about ICT Mindtools : http://www.mindtools.tased.edu.au/default.htm

Week 2: ICT Role in Education

Can we live without technology? The answer is absolutely not. We live in a world that is full of technology around us. Look around! You will find simple gadgets such as calculators to most complicated ones like robots and mainframe. Technology has been everywhere; especially; after the revolution of Information and communication in last decade. Therefore, ICT or Information and communication Technology plays an important role in our life in all majors. One of them is Education. ICT has changed the way of learning and teaching. Therefore, it’s been obvious that the change in life has affected the teaching styles. Teacher shouldn’t use the old methods in their classes because today students used to use computer as a main tool in their learning. So, computer can be used as a tutee in programming side like in IT courses that students learn how to build a program or a website therefore; it needs understanding of the programming language that will be used to build such a program, for example, C++, Java, XML.
In the other hand, computer works as a tutor in some areas like in educational CDs for learning PowerPoint Presentation as an example. Here, the computer goes with the students step by step to learn the lesson.

Also, computer can work as a tool in two terms. First one, productive tool; in this teacher can use computer as a tool to produce worksheets, exams, e-lessons.., etc. Then, the production work will appear in good design and colors that will attractive students and motivate them in learning.
Second term, we can use computer as a mind tool like using inspiration program. Moreover, computer as a mind tool helps user to organize his/her thoughts like using blogs.

Welcome : )

Well, this blog will deal with the reflections of ICT course in ECAE for the Higher Diploma program. It will handle different topics in ICT in Education and my reflection about them. So, I hope you enjoy surfing it! :-)