Technology for Teaching and Learning: Module 1

Module 1: Introduction to Technology for Teaching and Learning

• The module introduces technology for teaching and learning, describing terminologies in educational technology, roles, policies, safety issues, relevance and appropriateness in technology use.
• Students hopefully appreciate technology's importance as an instructional material.

Module 1 Objectives

• Identify basic concepts in understanding ICT in education.
• Explain the roles of ICT in teaching and learning.
• Discuss national ICT laws, policies, and regulations that affect classroom practices.
• Identify ICT laws, policies, and regulations in teaching-learning.
• Integrate ICT laws, policies, and regulations into teaching learning activities design and implementation to promote learner achievement and safety.
• Reflect on technology use in facilitating and improving teaching and learning, considering relevance and appropriateness.

Basic Terminologies

• Technology has rapidly changed the world, creating new learning environments and teaching methods.
• Technology includes processes and products used in applying knowledge, from pencils and paper to the latest electronic gadgets.
• ICT Literacy involves using digital technology and communication tools to access, manage, evaluate, create, and communicate information in a knowledge society.
• Educational technology includes both non-digital (flip charts, pictures, models) and digital (hardware, software, connections) tools in teaching and learning.
• Digital Literacy refers to the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share and create content using information technologies and the Internet.
• Digital Learning occurs with the use of technology, involving a wide range of practices, including blended or virtual learning, which can be online or offline.
• On-line digital tools require an internet connection such as Skype for telecommunications.
• Off-line digital tools can be used without internet access.
• Instructional technology involves the design, development, utilization, management and evaluation of learning processes and resources.
• Software includes program control instructions and accompanying documentation, as well as audio-visual materials.
• Multimedia: the sequential or simultaneous use of different media formats in a presentation.
• Internet is a global network connecting millions of computers for communication.
• World Wide Web (WWW) is a graphical environment on computer networks for accessing and maintaining documents, enabling information sharing over the internet.
• Web access: the ability for learners to access the Internet during lessons to utilize available educational resources.
• Webquest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format using web-based information, created with various programs including word processing with website links.
• Productivity tools are software for personal, professional, or classroom use, for word processing, grade and record keeping, web page production or presentation.
• Technology Tool: An instrument for doing work; aids accomplishment of goals using technology such as spreadsheets, design tools, discussion tools, email, handheld devices and more.

Online Tools

• Blog, an online journal with information from teachers and students, used for communication, instruction, or both.
• WIKI, an editable website allowing students to collaboratively create and post written work or digital files.
• Flipped Classroom: involves using web resources as homework or out of class activity for initial lesson instruction.
• Podcast, a video or audio clip about a single topic, used to retrieve and disseminate information.
• Google Apps, cloud-based teaching tools stored in Google server, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Sites, and Google Docs.
• Vlog is a video blog.
• Facebook, is a popular social networking site for presenting information;
• VOIP (voice over internet protocol) is hardware and software that enables internet telephone calls.

Roles of ICT in teaching and learning

• Technology as a tutor supports teaching another person or technology.
• Technology acts as a tool that facilitates and lightens a teacher's workload.
• Technology makes learning easy and effective and teachers can utilize similar tools for learning.

ICT for Teachers and Teaching

• Technology provides great support as the teacher is the facilitator of learning.
• Technology has modernized the teaching-learning environment/ process.
• Technology improves learning and opens up new fields in education for researches.

Supporting learners in learning

• Teachers need to understand that subject matter/ content is a means of achieving learning outcomes.
• There are three categories of knowledge, Declarative (what, who, when, where), Structural (facts assembled/attained), & Procedural (action/ doing).

Technology enhances learners' social communication skills

• This involves transmittal via 3 communication patterns: Point to point, one to many outboard and many to many
• Social interaction involves questioning and challenging each other to gain a common understanding.

Technology Upgrades Learners' Higher Order Thinking Skills

• Critical thinking is the ability to interpret, explain, analyze, evaluate, infer, and self-regulate.
• Creativity is being able to think flexibly, originally, and elaborately.
• Seven Creative Strategies: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify/Magnify/Minify, Put to another use, eliminate, and reverse.

ICT policies in education

• Oxford English Dictionary defined "policy" as a guiding course of action adopted by a government, party, ruler, or statesman.
• ICT Policies are guidelines and principles for ICT use in telecommunications, broadcasting, and the Internet.
• Information, telecommunication, and networking technologies are modern innovations that have increased communication reach and speed.
• The ICT for Education (ICT4E) program supports ICT use in education, including infrastructure access, learning technologies and is a program under the DICT.
• The program applications to education teaching includes Masterplans for all levels, Content and application development, PheDNET, eSkwela, eQuality program, Digital Media Arts Program, and Strategic plan.

Issues in internet and internet policy

• Some Issues on ICT and internet policy and regulations Access, Civil liberties,Freedom of expression, Right to privacy, Right to communicate and Intellectual property rights.
• Issue No. 1, Freedom of Expression and Censorship: The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights gives everyone the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Practices violate these provisions of internet use.
• Issue No. 2, Privacy and Security: Many commercial websites have privacy policies.
• Issue No. 3, Surveillance and Data Retention: Enhances surveillance through the storage and use of data from communication systems.
• Issue No. 4, E- Pollutants: E-waste (generated by ICT, Terminal equipment (PCs, laptops), broadcasting (television and radiosets), Telelphony) harms the environment if left unchecked.

Risks on ICT/e-networking

• Effects and influence on learners will be unavoidable.
• Safeguarding students is a primordial role for parents/teachers in the use of digital technologies.
• There is possible exposure to inappropriate content, cyber-bullying, lifestyle, privacy, health, addiction, or online identity.

Minor Misuse of ICT

• Copying information without citation.
• Downloading irrelevant materials.
• Sharing/disclosing login information.
• Phones turned on during class/unauthorized filming.

Relevance and Appropriateness in the Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning

• Instructional materials help teachers make their presentations concrete, effective,and inspiring.
• Teaching materials lay out the classroom process.
• General Principles in Selecting Instructional Materials are familiarity with content, appropriateness for students, objectivity, local production for relevance and it's learning contribution.
• Importance of Instructional Materials includes increased teacher effectiveness, clarifying the subject matter, motivating the learner, and teacher creativity.
• Principles in Selecting Instructional Media includes appropriateness, authenticity, affordability, interest and organization/balance.

Using Technology in the Classroom

• Guidelines: Alignment, Accessibility, Assessment, Reinforcement
• Electronic Mail: Understand appropriate communication standards; no inappropriate or personal content.
• Internet Activity: Understand following guidelines (Senate Bill 230/701 KAR) will prohibit visiting inappropriate websites/downloading protected content.
• Technology: The following must be understood by employees and students: use technology for work and learning only.