This is the last week of our PMEY 3104 Integration of Technology in Primary Science Teaching. This week we presented our final assignment which is the instructional material.
Among the points presented by my group are:
a) LEARNING PROBLEM
b) THE ADDIE MODEL ANALYSIS(FLOW CHART)
c) WHY USE BLOG IN TEACHING?
d) STORYBOARD 1
e) STORYBOARD 2
f) REFERENCES
Why we choose Blog?
- Practicality: blogs can be developed easily by opening a blog account and start blogging with students. It can be updated and accessed easily by everyone.
- Students would be able to improve their writing skills and techniques of giving and receiving comments positively.
- Parents can also monitor on their children progress
- Can be an online class forum that enable students to discuss between themselves and the teacher.
- Blog encourages students to write and also to read on a topic they wish to comment on.
- Encourages continual search, filter and posting of ideas and information - higher order thinking skills.
- Using blog as one the educational sources, education can be done anywhere and at anytime.
- Makes education to become less formal. It is because it allows elements of fun to come together along the learning process.
Our blog
Video and podcast
We were also required to reflect on the platform based on several questions:
1) Opinion about the use of the platform in science class
Integrating blog in the teaching of science is a great way to combine both the pedagogy and technology in education. Through my own experience of creating and developing a blog for Science teaching, I found that it is very flexible and can support multi teaching platform such as chat room and video podcast. A blog enables teachers to transmit knowledge outside the traditional classroom. Pupils can look back at classroom notes and get extra information from the teacher anytime and anywhere. This means that learning process occurs outside the school boundary which is good for our children to learn and discover themselves the knowledge using the technology available. I would also highlight several positive characteristics of a blog:
[1] Blogs are interactive tools, fostering debate, discussion and critical thinking;
[2] Blogs can foster technological literacy.
[3]One can post documents and files (PowerPoint), podcast, pictures, homework assignments, video and audio clips, articles, link to other websites, journal entries and discussion questions.
[4] Students can respond to blog.
2) Before and after the introduction to Addie model (does it help in developing the instructional material?)
Before the introduction of the Addie model, it is hard to develop our own blog which focuses on the topic of endanger animal. An appropriate analogy for this is when a construction worker builds a house without a plan which is rather difficult as there is no guide for systematic planning. The Addie model serves as a guide for us from the start of the process. We are able to track our process and identify if we are on the right track. We can also refer back to this model in case we need to redesign our blog. Among the aspects covered in this model includes, identifying the learning problems, learning objectives, design layout and the actual product. These are only some of the example in the Addie model. In short, the Addie model definitely assists the development of a systematic, informative and effective instructional material.
3) Would you choose this platform? If yes, how would you use it?
As future teacher living in the 21st century education, I would certainly use this platform as an instructional material. Although to be realistic, it is very hard to be implemented due to the lack of computers facility and internet connections in school especially in the rural areas. However, I believe this technology will be part of our teaching and learning process as we develop to achieve our vision 2020. So with the support from the education ministry and the vision to foster the development of technologically savvy students, I will definitely apply blog as part of teaching and learning process especially in Science subject.
I would create a blog and use it as a form of formative assessment for students, whereby, they can reflect and self-assess on their work and improve on their own weaknesses. Thus I would be able to encourage students to be self-assessor and independent learners. I would also use this blog to post latest information and video podcast so that students would be able to learn anywhere and anytime. Students would also be able to share their knowledge and ideas with others to widen their knowledge and increase critical thinking skill.
4) The teaching of Science subject will be taught in Malay language again in the next few years. How would you tackle this challenge when integrating blog which uses English language?
As an English and science teacher, it is my responsibility to teach students about the science terms in English because it very crucial to prepare students for higher education where they will encounter the situation where English is the primary medium of instructions.
Although Science is taught in Malay language, I can still provide bilingual lesson by using table to show the terminologies both in Malay and English language. Therefore, pupils would be ‘shocked’ when they face higher learning level.
This week marks the end of the class. However the learning process goes on. I would like to thank Professor Dr Rohaida for a wonderful session for 13 weeks. I have certainly learned a lot and gain invaluable experiences from this class.
