Google Classroom

google classroom

By learning about the google classroom, I realized that it is also one of the precise examples of the situating tool. To be honest, I didn't even try creating the classroom but after doing lots of activities in creating the classroom, I knew and learned a lot about it.

As far as my understanding, I realized that this type of learning forum is more valuable and authentic to both the learner as well as the teachers because, in this classroom, we can upload lots of learning materials including video and link as well our own created video to make whatever concept clear for the learners.

reading materials

 Nevertheless, we can even upload assignments and make learners do. We can even grade their assignments and any other task constructively. Among many other tasks created in the classroom, creating a quiz assignment interested me as there, we can create different types of questions and even we can upload materials like video, pdf file and link for the references.

quiz assignment

Moreover, it is convenient that we do not need to creat each forum for each subject. It can be convenient to teach all the subject in one forum.

assignment

Creating a promotional video and editing in order to upload in this google classroom was quite fun as well as challenging. However, I learned that it is also important materials for the learners to understand the clear concept of the lesson. it is even like face to face teaching which will definitely encourage students to go through all the materials attached in the forum and become self-directed learners.

promotional video

All and all, this google classroom can be one of the teachings and learning media to keep the session always in touch just like the normal classes even when we can not conduct the real classes. Lastly, learning lesson on situating tool helped me a lot now and will surely be going to help me in future as well.

ICT as situating tool

As far as my understanding, ICT as a situating tool basically talks about situating learners in their learning by using technologies in the form of real context creating 3-D images to make learners feel that the context is like reality for better understanding.

As of now, I didn't even realize that technologies can help further like situating information and locate places particularly by logging into google classroom and emails. For example, after learning about the tool, I understood and experienced that we can even measure the distance between two places in google map. Moreover, it is very helpful to even calculate the time differences between two different countries. I got to realized that it can be very effective to be used while teaching subjects like social studies and mathematics. Nevertheless, it can be even effective to use in all the subjects.

After I understood the concept of the tool, I even came to realize that mathematics problems like linear equations can be solved correctly and clearly using this tool so that we as teachers can able to integrate the lesson usefully by using ICT efficiently. In this way, I can make better use of technology in teaching various subjects.

This tool is very important in teaching the concept which is difficult to analyze and understand as this tool can help learners go through the real-life experience in the form of creating a 3-D learning situation. For example, I knew that teaching about time calculation in social studies is far better in learning by going through the google map and it will be making learners experience where the exact locations are to calculate the distance and time. It is really like learning by experience in which learners can remember for a longer period.

CO-CONSTRUCTIVE TOOL

CO-CONSTRUCTIVE TOOL

source: bid.berkely.edu

source: ComputerHope.com

       It is an application that supports the construction of knowledge through a shared understanding, shared ideas, and through collaboration and partnership working. It mainly emphasized on learning from one another in an active and conformable way.

          Here, I  understood that we can integrate the co-constructive tool in any lesson by login into a Google doc and giving the student to discuss any topics where they can share their understanding and ideas collaboratively. It even develops a high level of a cognitive process as in the Google docs they can co-edit, comment, and proceeds towards active learning by solving problems among themselves. It unites the ideas of an individual to construct new concrete knowledge. 
 

For example, planning an ICT integrated lesson plan like how we are doing in this module. It really helps in creating active interaction among the members by supporting one another. 
Another precise example could be "Blog".
Here, we share the document with team members and it is accessible to work collaboratively. In this blog, the viewers can comment on the works done by others to make the write up much better.
 In this way, it helps developing creative writing by sharing the comments and ideas with the publisher. Therefore, I came to know that co-constructive tools are one of the tools that really help in developing our creativity by learning together.

How to use in the classroom

Learning through such helpful tools is effective and useful even if we can not gather in one place. Moreover, like in this type of pandemic situation, it is really empowering in learning. Therefore, the teacher can give any task or group assignment and let them work through google Docs as every participant can contribute and work on the given task constructively by chatting, editing, and making comments.

Similarly, in Blog, every work can be done by posting in the forum and let others comment on their write up. It can be done co constructively by taking every comment for further improvement. In this case, it can be more authentic by letting children write their weakly or monthly lesson reflection of the classes so that they can even revisit the learned lesson for the discussion.

The importance of Co-constructive tools

1.      It helps in developing creativity and partnership learning within the classroom by co-editing individual works.

2.       Communicate database, texts & graphics which will definitely be helped in the learning of an individual by co-constructing new knowledge.

3.       In this approach, a student will be working cooperatively and construct a shared understanding of new knowledge in which it enhances the collaborative learning environment.

4.      Through individual explanation to a topic and finding a new way of constructing ideas by solving a common problem helps in developing high-level cognitive processes.

5.       It promotes active & intentional learning that will definitely lead towards developing expertise.

CONSTRUCTIVE TOOL

  CONSTRUCTIVE TOOL

source: slideshare.net

         The constructive tool is one of the learning tools that can be used to manipulate information, construct own knowledge or visualize understanding of any content as the learner. The computer itself can be used for manipulating information, visualizing one’s understanding, and building new knowledge. Constructivism believes in the personal construction of meaning by the learner through experiences in exploring the technology. Therefore, integrating ICT in every class plays a vital role in developing students towards creative and useful resources in society.  

        

          As emphasized by Piaget and Bruner, learning is more effective when a student is made to construct their understanding as it develops critical thinking, retention power, and even motivates independent learners. It is basically leading towards student-centered pedagogy whereby learners are made to take an active role in their learning. In this tool, learners are given more opportunities to explore their learning through research using a wide range of resources on the net. Technology makes learners more visual and creative thinkers by exploring deeper than their existing knowledge.  

Example of Constructive tools 

 1. Concept mapping  

source: pt.slideshare.net

 It helps learners brainstorm and visualize their understanding to make the concept lively and it even helps in drawing relationships among collected concepts. 

 

 2. Desktop publishing program

It is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal desktop. It helps in organizing and presenting the ideas in attractive forms. 

 3. MS Office program

source: en.wikipedia.org

source: javaclue.org

 It is a set of interrelated desktop applications, servers, and services, collectively known as an office. They are, excels, words, power points, and publishers which are used to create useful work like; organizing, recording, manipulating, and presenting the ideas in an attractive way. It can be in the form of memos, reports, letters, and presentations where information was presented. 


My experience and usefulness of it in learning.

So far I was frequently using ICT as constructive tools like in preparing PowerPoint presentations, creating short videos and editing in some modules, using word office, excel, and other programs while doing assignments. However, I only came to know that those programs are authentically used as constructive tools after attending the ICT lesson. Moreover, I even learned other constrictive tools called simulation which actually burdened me without enough knowledge to use it effectively and efficiently. However, I understood that simulation is one of the effective constructive tools where we can put lots of information in graphic, audio, and even video form to make the concept clear to the audience. So, we can even use this type of tool in giving information to students so that we can make the lesson more engaging and boost their interest in the learning.

These types of tools are very useful in schools where it can be used for teaching any lesson on a daily basis as a teaching and learning material or as one of the lesson components. For example, the use of simulated videos related to the topic will make the lesson more understandable and moreover, learners will love to learn from it. Likewise, letting student make a PowerPoint presentation and letting them present will motivate their learning and becomes active learners. When we let them use these MS programs, they are learning by constructing their knowledge using the correct tools and helps in becoming self-directed learners.

Zoom as communicative tool

zoom as one of the communicative tools, it is very useful to convenience the lesson as well as any instruction clearly and authentically. It is helping in enhancing and expanding classes with powerful collaboration. after going through the lesson on communication tool, I understood that this zoom is under synchronous communication tool where students can join by clicking on to the cord shared by the meeting conductor. Before the pandemic, I didn't have little knowledge about the zoom app and how to join the meeting. After exploring the app it is very useful in teaching and learning process as we can able to collaborate and share our understanding as well as doubt which we can clear by using it.

I even learned that this zoom app can be very peaceful and informative learning as I experienced were to put off our noise and listen to the speaker. There is also effective features where we can see each other to know well by putting on to video feature like we did with our tutor.

(zoom meeting with tutor)

Moreover, we can even record the meeting in the form of the video so that we can keep it as our reference for the future to revisit the lesson.

In my near future, I can now able to use this communicative media with students to teach and clear students' doubt even after the class hours to enhance their learning. Before starting the meeting by using the tool, it is important to make student know how to use it properly to keep the track of learning. Moreover, I can use this media to give special attention to those slow learners separately to make them understand and stand as equal with other learners. Therefore, this communicative tool is one of the authentic ways of keeping the flow of teaching and learning.

COMMUNICATION TOOLS

COMMUNICATION TOOLS

       Communication tools refer to three forms of electronic communication in distance education courses like e-mail, discussion groups, and other chat rooms. For example;  Facebook, WeChat, google meet, zoom and etc...

source: tawporeflection.blogspot.com

       
How it helped me?

 It enables easy communication between the teacher and the students and among students beyond the physical barrier either by space, time or both of the classrooms. At this point, I learned a lot through communication tools during the pandemic situation. We were using various tools like, google docs, moodle, google meet, zoom, and other tools for the communication within ourselves as well with the tutors. It seems very effective as we can learn by connecting with everyone including the tutors through these communication tools and helps in clearing doubt as well as learning new things by communicating with one another. We can even see each other like in messenger and WeChat video calls whereby we are engaged in learning by keeping the track of every lesson. Moreover, we can even do our assignments through these tools by discussing collaboratively. Therefore, I learned a lot by using communication tools including the learning to use these tools at first and making use of it.

After knowing about the tool in more detail, I came to know that there are two types of communications;

1.            Synchronous communication

      

source: marketing91.com

  It is real-time in which users must be simultaneously connected, rather like a telephone call. It enables real-time communication. It even helps in solving urgent problems or issues by connecting with others. For examples; chat, telephone call, video conferencing.

 

    Mostly we use the easiest communication tools between our teachers and mates and the tools are effective and applicable in every way. For example, this is how we connect to one another in a video conference.

Difficulties of synchronous communication

source:columnfivemedia.com

•   Multiple threads of discussion are difficult to follow
•   Slow connection distracts to keep the connection
•   Discussion lose the focus because of many side discussions
•   Quick comments are difficult to make 

     2.   Asynchronous communication

Unlike asynchronous, here it does not require the people communicating to be logged on the internet at the same time. It is more appropriate for the activities that require more time in thinking before responding. For example; we chat, G-mail, VLE discussion forum, blog, and many more.

Difficulties of asynchronous

• Discussion boards/ blogs/ vle posts fail to maintain the interest
• Checking the discussion boards/blogs/vle for posts is an additional task
• It discourages learner’s participation

How to use it in the classroom?

It is very important in learning because, without communication, the learning seems unauthentic and less effective however we referred the notes. Therefore, these tools are not only used for clearing doubts but also for submitting assignments and other activities. To use in the class, the teacher can create a group using any communication tools like, google meet, zoom, and messenger group or WeChat group for the discussion on any problems to be done. It is more of like face to face teaching where students need to watch and listen to the tutor. You can even make student submit their assignments through mails or in WeChat and Facebook. Teachers can even provide them with learning materials through mails which will be more convenient as well as effective learning will take place.