Final thoughts

Our course is a combination of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).ICT provide ample opportunities for making learning in the future more relevant, inclusive, interesting and rewarding, amongst others.

I had previously a simple background for some of the topics I've read in course TCDEIT 514, such as the mind map and the Students centred learning but  there are other topics were new for me and  the first time that  I read  about it during the course such as the Web Quest.

 

I see that I have benefited a lot from the topics that I read, where it is at the present time, the teachers must change their strategies in the teaching that previously we always use traditional methods of teaching which is teacher centred and we use simple tools in teaching while now with the spread of technology quickly, we should use the technology very useful and effective with students. In addition, we must put the students in the center of teaching-learning process and cultivate their desire to learn, research and exploration. Furthermore, concept maps are helpful as a tool to gauge students understanding because they make the knowledge construction process visible by use new approaches such as inquiry –based learning and also we must diversify the educational programs to be fun, interesting and useful such as the Web Quest and Games.

In the end I think that all topics in the course TCDEIT 514 are very useful in the teaching-learning process here in Bahrain and we must as teachers in the BTC use these strategies and tools that are we read about in our schools and we must publish it between other teachers outside the BTC   to up the educational level of our students here in Bahrain. I also want to thank you Dr. Myint Swe Khine very much for giving us these useful topics which are somewhat new to me.

ICT as tutor - Tutorial, Dril l& Practices, Simulation, Games

Technology has been everywhere; especially; after the revolution of Information and communication in last decade. Therefore, ICT or Information and communication Technology plays an important role in our life in all majors. One of them is Education. ICT has changed the way of learning and teaching. Therefore, it’s been obvious that the change in life has affected the teaching styles. Teacher shouldn’t use the old methods in their classes because today students used to use computer as a main tool in their learning. Computers are used in the education of gifted children in three ways: in computer assisted instruction (including tutorials, games, and simulations), in developing thinking skills, and as tools for facilitating independent learning.

Tutorials to instruct students

 ( http://www.teach-ict.com/videohome.htm )
 

 Drill and Practice help consolidate learning

 (  http://manassas.k12.va.us/round/Technology/intermed1.htm )


 Simulation help understand complex situations
 ( http://www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimulatorx/flash/default.htm )

Games make learning fun

 ( http://www.primarygames.com/ )

computer as tutor, tutee and tools

I believe that computers are able to change education for the better.  The use of computers enables teachers to place more emphasis on important problem solving approaches rather than tedious rote learning.  Computers give both children and teachers more independence.  Collaborative learning, rather than competitive learning, can be stressed. Furthermore, the technology is placed in the hands of the pupils, where it is used as a learning tool rather than as a teaching tool. So, Teacher shouldn’t use the old methods in their classes because today students used to use computer as a main tool in their learning.

There are three basic ways of using computers in schools which can be used as a tutee in programming side like in IT courses that students learn how to build a program or a website therefore; it needs understanding of the programming language that will be used to build such a program, for example, C++, Java, XML.

In the other hand, computer works as a tutor and tutoring systems present subject material, to which the learner responds.  This type of material is programmed by specialists and includes drill and practice exercises and tutorials

Finally, computer works as tool that include software like word processing packages, spreadsheets, data bases, presentation software, desk top publishing .