The type of technologies to use

 Much depends on the skill level of the teacher and the students.  One thing for certain is that when you do not negate the Technology Quotient (TQ) of the students as the issue of Digital Divide is controlled to minimal level. Comparing the skills of students over the years the skill level increases down the age groups as each year goes by. The Technologies to use are broken into Traditional Learning Technologies (TLT) and Emerging Learning Technologies (ELT). 

The use of Traditional Learning Technologies (TLT)

Basic Hardware and Software requirements to include information processing systems- Desktop, laptop, tablets, smart phones, digital camera, mobile phone, interactive  smart boards, etc, every teacher has one and needs one, every class room needs interactive boards, each student needs tablet. 

1. Basic computer software

The use of word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook and the Apple or Linux equivalent can all be implemented to enhance the learning of the content covered in class. 1. A simple task of providing word documents on your intranet or network with questions for the students to download. 

2. Production of audio-visual aids to support understanding. 3. A sample task of using PowerPoint to prepare a lesion by the teacher as you will see on a topic in Introduction and Fundamentals of Computer for Junior Secondary School class 2 class works on computer science. The ICT skills they would learn with this simple activity would numerous such as being able to power the device, navigate the system to access the file and make copies. In addition they have answered questions relevant to the unit of work they are studying.

3. Subject specific software

The specific subject software such as Data Logging for Science, Mathematics software games, GIS for Geography, image manipulation software for Visual Art, special programs for Languages to name a few.   For example the ICT skills learnt by using image manipulation software will teach the students a lot about manipulating the size of images for which the network manager will be eternally grateful. In the process of doing this the will learn where to locate original files, create photo galleries, thumbnails and perhaps integrate them into web pages.

4. Web browsing software

Students know how to use different browsers but do they use all of the functions?  Browsing software is a very powerful instrument.  Knowledge management aside the management of bookmarks should be the first thing taught to students.  This way they can learn to navigate to where they need to be quickly and efficiently.  Once the have done this they can learn to make use of functions on the internet that can collate their needed data and store information they have and interacting by using for example My Space.     

Introduction

 

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is important in primary education because it enables kids to search for the information they need and to organize what they have found. As children progress through the school system, they become increasingly responsible for their own learning. Many believe that ICT needs to be better integrated into curriculum so all schools produce computer literate, independent learners.

    

In School Innovation: Pathway to the Knowledge Society there is an unequivocal statement of what teachers have to do:

“The integration of I.C.T. into all major social institutions and organisations means that the necessity to equip young people with the capacity to understand and utilise the potential of such environments is no longer an option, but is now an imperative”.

(Cuttance, 2001:73)  

This issue has been increasingly addressed by schools through out the world.  For a number of years schools have been approaching the integration of ICT with a commendable investment in hardware and software.  In more recent years it seems some schools have moved to another level with the investment in staff to facilitate ICT integration in schools.  This integration has taken a number of forms. Some teachers in schools have taken the initiative and use ICT in the classroom to enthuse their departmental members. 

Now the question becomes what can these integrators do to help teachers and students?  The first thing is to give ideas on how to use the facilities that you may have. Secondly, then some ideas on what traditional and emerging learning technologies can be use and how to use them in the classroom are two sold starting points.

  

How to use the technology you have

• Use the computer room in your school: Start using ICT in the classroom by booking the computer room or library computers if available in your school. 

• Manage the time table: Set aside double period per a week for practical classes in an ICT type room. 

• Plan your lesson:  get into the class room with strategic approach to the integration of ICT needs to be considered in your lesson- Integration of ICT directly related to class work. In this approach, designed activities directly related to what the topic your plan teaching is saying doing.

• Apply your personal gadgets: become little more adaptable and flexible in your approach employing various personal hardware tools like laptops, GSM phones, smart devices (Tablets), Software like PowerPoint, Movie Maker, One note, consider storage and battery capacity for areas where electricity supply is a problem.

Finally, it makes sense to consider the linking of ICT activities to class work just by working with the syllabus to get topics that could be brought together though an ICT activity related to the syllabus.