Reflection for center visit for Childfirst

The visit to Childfirst childcare center was an interesting one. I liked the idea of the technological support they have for the children to be engaged in lessons and for the teacher to have an aid while conducting a large group lesson. When I conduct my lesson, I have to ensure I have enough materials for all the children. But when this technology, it makes things easier for the teacher. The idea of the Chinese rhyme was a good use as well. It makes children relate to the images and the words and they can catch the word fast.
However, I felt that the use of technology in the center is too over whelming, in that sense that the teachers are dependent on it and it is like a easy way to conduct lessons. 

Reflection on Webquest

                                The assignment we did on the web-quest was rather an interesting assignment. It took everyone in the group to do something for the entire assignment to be presented. It was definitely not as easy task. Once we had narrowed down on a particular topic, we started to discuss about the tasks we wanted the children to embark in. Once we had that in mind, we started searching for websites that would be appropriate for the tasks. One of our team mate suggested making it like a story line where a super hero speaks to the children. This was an interesting concept. To do this, we had to find pictures to represent the characters. I felt that the assignment was fun to do but it was not easy as we had to make sure the characters, words and websites given to the children had to be age appropriate and the tasks given to the children should allow the child to be able to work independently.

Session 2

Week 1, Session 2

Class activity 1

2 main category: Directed and inquiry

Theory (1): Behaviorist Theory

Behaviorist Theory measures observable behaviors produced by a learner's response to stimuli. The behaviorist is not concerned with how or why knowledge is obtained, but rather if the correct response is given. This is based on operant conditioning.  It is based on observations and reinforcements. A lesson example would be rote memorization and computer games. 

Theory (2): Theory of Instruction

There are different optimal conditions needed for effective learning to take place. Children can learn when children's attention is gained, they can learn more. Attention can be gained using IT. 9 events of instructions that shape learning are gaining attention,  informing the learner of the objective, stimulating recall of prerequistic learning, presenting the stimulus material, providing learning guidance, eliciting the performance, providing feedback, assessing the performance and enhancing retention and transfer.

Theory (3): Information Processing Theory

This approach is the study of cognitive development which is based on 3 beliefs. When the individual perceives, encodes, represents and stores information from the environment in his mind or retrieves that information, he is thinking. 4 mechanisms work together to bring about change in children's cognitive skills, encoding, strategy construction, automation to generalization. The cognitive development is driven by self-modification, the child uses knowledge and strategies, acquired from earlier problem solutions to modify her responses to a new problem. A lesson example would be to use a software for children to solve math problems/ language (fill in the blanks and rearrange words). From the information gathered, children present the information through their own video.

Theory (4): System theory and systematic instructional design

This is an instructional task analysis. This includes systematic methods of designing training programs. A teaching example would be to use a power-point presentation to introduce meanings to new vocabulary words. Power-point could include images, clip-arts and other visual aids. 

Theory (5): Social Activism Theory

This theory believes in hands on and experiential learning through social interactions. An example would be to work together on tasks of their interests. 

Theory (6): Scaffolding theory

It is like the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). The learning process is tailored to meet the needs of the students. Instructions should be at the child's level. Socio- cultural approach to cognitive development. 

Theory (7): Child development Theory

Children's cognitive growth develops through 4 stages as they interact with the environment. The 4 different stages are sensorimotor, pre-operational , concrete operational and formal operations. An example would be to provide activities according to children's level of readiness and stage of development. If child is in the sensorimotor stage, provide activities which allow them to explore with 5 senses. 

Theory (8): Discovery Learning

Discovery learning is inquiry based and constructivist approach and it is not teacher directed. It involves active learning, allowing children to explore and experience first hand. Children will remember things better when they experience them first hand. Students are able to test on their new knowledge. An example would be to bring the children for a garden trip, allowing them to discover leaves and plants and all the things in the garden.

Theory (9): Multiple Intelligence Theory

Through the different multiple intelligence theory, use IT by providing computers in the classrooms. 

1   Class Participation 2

     It is an electronic worksheet to drill and practice the children with immediate response.

    The advantages are that it builds on previous acquired knowledge and sustains pupils's Mathematical skill. There will be an immediate response, a difference between using a paper and pencil to using a computer. It is more encouraging and association with motivation with the use of computer.

     The objective is it helps improve the arithmetic skills. 

Assessment: There are 2 groups of which one group would do the problems on paper while the other groups would do the problems on the computer and see the difference of which the one using the computer will do better because of the motivation of doing better and also the speed of doing it. This would test the speed and accuracy.

Design integration technology: using Excel

Prepare the environment making sure there are enough computers for all the participants. The environment should be quiet and conducive so that the children can concentrate. Children should be given proper and clear instructions. Instructions should be repeated 3 times if it is important. 

Evaluate and revise integration strategies. The children need to know how to use the computer first which will not affect the speed of usage. The children should be ready to use the software. 

-        There must be assistance throughout in case of problem to help, has to be constant for all the children to show fairness.

      Class Activity 3

     This website is on flashcard inspired dvds. These flash cards help children to learn literacy in a fun manner.  

•      Age group for the site : From baby to young

•      What kind of software? Interactive software

•      Learning theory it uses? Information Processing theory, Child Development Theory and Discovery learning 

•      Evaluate website: The website had useful tools and information needed to use the flash cards and for children to learn from it. 

•      Can this be used in the childcare center? This can be used in the classrooms as it promotes interactions. 

•      Can this be used to enhance the learning process of students? Yes it can. It can help children in their learning in terms of them remembering the content of the subject being taught to them. 

  

Session 1

Week 1, Session 1

Class Activity 1

The video was on the advancement of technology and the difference between the generation now and the generation back then. Personally, I feel that the technology advancement has taken over the young generation, so much so that socialization takes place with unspoken words. Based on the video, there was a part when they stated that India has more graduates than the US. with reference to IT, most people in India hardly own proper IT products and thus spend most of their times in books and socializing with one another. However in the US, technology is much more advanced. People spend so much time on social websites like face-book, twitter, my-space and you-tube, so much so that the amount of people spending their time can be the 5th largest country in the world. Technology has stolen the childhood of some children who were handed a iPad to keep them occupied and silent. IT is a good tool to be used during lessons but being dependent on it will lead to less interaction among students and teachers and the value of teaching would be lost. Not only technology, but any thing used more than abundance is not always good. 

Class Activity 2

 Embedded computers

Embedded computers are incorporated in devices such as a digital camera and mobile phones. It is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system, often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal computer (PC), is designed to be flexible and to meet a wide range of end-user needs. Embedded systems control many devices in common use today.

        Mobile devices

      Mobile devices are known as a handheld device or handheld computer. It is a small, hand-held computing device, typically having a display screen with touch input and/or a miniature keyboard. Mobile devices have been designed for many applications and include (1)Mobile computers, (2)Mobile collaboration, (3)Mobile internet device, (4) Mobile Web, (5)Smartphone, Tablet computer, (6) Personal digital assistant/enterprise digital assistant, (7)Calculator, (8)Handheld game console, (9)Portable media player, (10)Digital still camera (DSC), (11) Digital video camera (DVC or digital camcorder), (12)Mobile phone, (13)Smartphone, Feature phone, (14)Pager, (15)Personal navigation device (PND), (16)Tablet computer.

       Personal  computers

      A personal computer (PC) is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator. This contrasted with the batch processing or time-sharing models which allowed larger, more expensive minicomputer and mainframe systems to be used by many people, usually at the same time. Large data processing systems require a full-time staff to operate efficiently.

       Mainframe computers

      An example of a mainframe computer would be an ATM machine. It stores information in a shared folder and does heavy duty services such as processing. 

     

      Supercomputers

      Functions are specialized for weather forecast, it needs to calculate very fast, processing speed is very fast.

Class participation 3

KWLQ 

What I already know: I know about technology advancement in this era. I know how to use a computer and some of the features in it. I also know that we depend greatly on technology.

What I want to know: I want to know more about the different features I can use in the computer. I want to maximize the use of my laptop and not under use it.

What I have learnt: I have learnt how to use excel in simple formula.

Questions: Why has technology become more of a need?

What is a computer and what does it do?

A computer is a general purpose device that can be programmed to carry out a finite set of arithmetic or logical operations. Since a sequence of operations can be readily changed, the computer can solve more than one kind of problem.

Conventionally, a computer consists of at least one processing element and some form of memory. The processing element carries out arithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit that can change the order of operations based on stored information. Peripheral devices allow information to be retrieved from an external source, and the result of operations saved and retrieved.

Present

I depend heavily on my laptop to do my school work, research and so on. I depend on my mobile phone to make calls, keep in touch with loved ones and keep all my appointments in the calendar.

Future

I would want to get another laptop, preferably a Mac-book as I like the features in the laptop. Once I officially start work, I would use the laptop to interest children in lessons. I would also do more research about children in the laptop. As for my phone, as of now, I like the way it is. 

Class activity 4 

Asynchronous E-Learning

Create a platform for students to discuss in their own time, own target. Something likes a discussion board, promoting learning and peer-to-peer interaction.

Synchronous

To get a quick response from one another, more of an informal chat, more immediate response, same concept of speaking to one another face to face but in an online form, this tool is more interactive.

Social bookmarking and tagging

Like #tag something

Tagging: tag friends and share information, simple way for everyone to receive the same information rather than sending all of them one by one the same information

Bookmark: is for easy reference to find something that I have already searched and would like to work on it further

Social networking

Face-book and twitter, platform for us to connect with friends and its easy to find people whom we share the same interest in.