Basically it is a pilot project where schools rent the device for SGD5/per student, and students get to use the device to fill in digital "worksheets", take photos etc. I'd agree that it is a good move as the device can easily fit in pockets, and is less cumbersome than juggling papers, pen and a camera.
However, the idea that "scribbling on bits of paper...may well be history" made me wonder - will writing be history in the future as we type more than we write? (personally it it a norm not to hold a pen for the whole day, but i will definitely type on my keyboard or phone.) But i guess going digital could save the trees ;)
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K - I already know ICT is an exchange (hence communication is two-way) of information using technology
W - I would want to learn how to effectively incorporate ICT in lessons. Sometimes i think teachers use it just because they have to. As far as possible, I would like to use ICT in lessons because it will make lessons more effective and impactful.
L - I learnt that there are various ways to incorporate ICT in lessons, and there are various dimensions of a meaningful learning. I think that these dimensions will assist me in developing lessons which uses ICT meaningfully.
Q - My questions are similar to my comment under W - some teachers can make lessons lively without the use of ICT, hence is there still a real need to use it? Since PPTs and showing films are not considered ICT (they are one-way form of communication), throughout my ESE i did not see any teachers using ICT, hence my question is how prevalent is the use of ICT in schools at this moment?
* Q: What QUESTIONS I still have
Thanks for sharing the ST article. This is exactly why I want all of you to blog. There are things that happen daily that are relevant to the ICT course that we can learn from!
ReplyDeleteI have two responses. First, we should not be using technology for its own sake. I think this iPhone move makes sense from the "convenience" point of view because various technologies have converged to one device. If the learning experiences push students to think, then the iPhones are used judiciously.
Second, my response to your query about whether writing will be history is that our methods of recording what is important to us will invariably change. Look at it this way: How many of us still need to milk our own cows or harvest our own food? We use technology to do that.
We now read differently so we will write differently. But different does not mean bad or inferior.
Dr Tan
I agree with Prof Tan. Neither do we milk our own cows nor do we harvest our own food. As times changed and new technologies came about, we changed too and have incorporated these into our lives. Can you imagine how backward we would be if we were still clinging on to traditional methods?? We have to constantly improve and upgrade ourselves to keep up with the fast progressing world.
ReplyDeleteThus, it is essential that we start using such technologies in school and equip the young generation with necessary and relevant ICT skills. No doubt this would excite them to a large extent (once they get over the pain of learning how to operate the devices), this would serve to be an important life skill for them in the future.
If you were to look through the classified section, you would realize that most jobs require some level of IT knowledge. This would become even more prevalent in the future. Hence, I think it is important to equip the students with these skills from a young age so that they do not have much trouble with it later.
But, I don't think writing will be history in the future either...
ashreena :)