In this post, I would like to share my sentiments about our lecture lab, which I would like to call as our classroom. My reflection would be on the factors of the class, the members and of course; the attitude of the class.
I have to admit I am not one of the focused ones in the class, but I do have my own style of giving attention to the lecture. I listen to every words and I participate in our many group work. But let’s face it, not even 60% of the class is as attentive as the 40%.
The question we would need to ask is... why?
From my own personal, might-be-a-little-one-dimensional view, I think it has many to do with the existence of technology in the class itself. An irony as that is exactly what we are trying to learn. Technology has a power over us. And in this aspect, I think it’s the power to distract that has been infected the students.
If you try to sneak behind the class, you will see on the glass of monitor in front of those 60% no.. 90% of the students is the face of – Friendster, Youtube, YM’s, Chats, Forums, Blogs and all those wonderfully entertaining amusement available so to us.
Now, I am not trying to blame the fact that the faculty had tried their best to give us all the best of facilities - all those computers to help with our studies and all. We needed them, especially for our subject as we need to use them all the time. I would like to blame our attitude instead.
We were pampered with scolding to focus our attentions, and so un-pampered with that much freedom and availability to technology as before. What I meant to say is that, we were never so used to having computers and internet in our lap when we are in classroom before. I would not call it as awe-struck or anything like that. We had had use that techno for as long as we had lived. But not in a classroom, where some (i beg your pardon) might find as a dreary place. We tend to succumb to the allure of technology, to make use of them to entertain us.
As a university undergraduates (the best in the country for that matter), we should have acted like one. Different from our college before, we can no longer depend on the lecturer to make us attentive. “Nobody cares for no one in universities” as what my sister always said. We need to look out for ourselves. If you don’t focus, you won’t be getting anything, and you are the one who loses. No one cares, but you should. What I’m trying to say is, we need to have the attitude where we should know to focus without being told to. To leave the distractions without being scold at. To participate without being forced to. I would like to blame it as this is our first time in university ground, and I hope that you might understand and would see us differently in coming semester. Time will teach us to be a better students. I cannot guarantee, but I can try.
Technology as the MAIN? I say NO! ... How to say YES?
Looking at my computer after months of facing the piercing screen 24 hours a day, in and out of the lecture class, I've found myself being bugged down with the I-HATE-COMPUTERS fever where i'm into a rebellious mode to the many technological things around me. Says who that the students would not feel the same about technology?
Sure, they'd go "Ahhhh!!!" "Woooww!!!" and "OHHHHH!!!" the very first months they are being introduced to the use of technology in their learning, especially for those who never saw one. Technology after all is an animated, interesting and full of everything thats fun and enjoyable.. not to mention beneficial and important (yes, i'm not denying it). But what about years after that? They would not be easily allured by the word - technology as they've once been as a child. There'd be time when people would like to run away from technology. WHY? Maybe its the effect that looking at the screen for such a long time is doing to our eyes. Maybe its the need of just something different. Maybe its the other factors... its not the technology itself... but how we use it?
How to make it as a YES?
Its my own theory... but still rational and logical in my opinion.
1. Take turns between the usage of technological-based materials and the traditional one. Made the students feel as if each lesson is a refreshing one.
2. Do not use only one type of software. Do more research for different and better softwares. Made the students aware that the technology made everything limitless and interesting to discover.
3. When using technological materials, manipulate the technology so that students will be able to participate fully. Not only to sit on their chairs, but to be able to move around, to do group discussions, to experiments with hands-on activities.
4. Don't let the computer teach. Made them as your assistance. Be the teacher that students are close with, animated with and able to laugh with. The computer is (though animated) too static in emotion, and dont have any sense of humour.
Interesting materials + boring teachers + repetitious lesson + continuous use = NO
Interesting materials + good teacher + varied lessons + continuous use, but with an equal use of traditional ways = YES
Sure, they'd go "Ahhhh!!!" "Woooww!!!" and "OHHHHH!!!" the very first months they are being introduced to the use of technology in their learning, especially for those who never saw one. Technology after all is an animated, interesting and full of everything thats fun and enjoyable.. not to mention beneficial and important (yes, i'm not denying it). But what about years after that? They would not be easily allured by the word - technology as they've once been as a child. There'd be time when people would like to run away from technology. WHY? Maybe its the effect that looking at the screen for such a long time is doing to our eyes. Maybe its the need of just something different. Maybe its the other factors... its not the technology itself... but how we use it?
How to make it as a YES?
Its my own theory... but still rational and logical in my opinion.
1. Take turns between the usage of technological-based materials and the traditional one. Made the students feel as if each lesson is a refreshing one.
2. Do not use only one type of software. Do more research for different and better softwares. Made the students aware that the technology made everything limitless and interesting to discover.
3. When using technological materials, manipulate the technology so that students will be able to participate fully. Not only to sit on their chairs, but to be able to move around, to do group discussions, to experiments with hands-on activities.
4. Don't let the computer teach. Made them as your assistance. Be the teacher that students are close with, animated with and able to laugh with. The computer is (though animated) too static in emotion, and dont have any sense of humour.
Interesting materials + boring teachers + repetitious lesson + continuous use = NO
Interesting materials + good teacher + varied lessons + continuous use, but with an equal use of traditional ways = YES
Smartboart ^^
Well, since we are going to learn and use more on smartboard, i think its the most suitable for me to start discussing on the smartboart - what it is and its uses ^^
When talk about smartboard, I already feel very much excited. WHY? Well, because we have already been introduced to smartboard, and i found the interactive tool to be very very interesting!
It is interesting for me in the sense that there are a lot of things that we can do that we cant in others. For example, smartboard can meke lessons and excercises even more fun just by using the animations and magic pen that the tool provided!
I found a site that shows just about how we can maximise our use of the smartboard:
http://library.uchc.edu/departm/cec/flash/sb_tutorial.swf
Wikipedia
The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is a product of SMART Technologies. It is a large, touch-controlled screen that works with a projector and a computer. The projector throws the computer’s desktop image onto the interactive whiteboard, which acts as both a monitor and an input device. Users can write on the interactive whiteboard in digital ink or use a finger to control computer applications by pointing, clicking and dragging, just as with a desktop mouse. Buttons launch a popup keyboard and a right-mouse-click menu for more input options. The interactive whiteboard is usually mounted on a wall or a floor stand and is used in face-to-face or virtual settings in education, business and government.
History
SMART introduced the first SMART Board interactive whiteboard in 1991.It was the first interactive whiteboard to provide touch control of computer applications and annotation over standard Microsoft Windows applications.
Technology
The SMART Board interactive whiteboard operates as part of a system that comprises the interactive whiteboard, a computer and a projector. The components are connected wirelessly, or via USB or serial cables. A projector connected to the computer projects the computer desktop image onto the interactive whiteboard. The interactive whiteboard accepts touch input from a finger or a pen tool, and the SMART Board driver converts contact with the interactive whiteboard into mouse clicks or digital ink. SMART Board interactive whiteboards are available as front-projection, rear-projection and flat-panel display (interactive whiteboards that fit over plasma or LCD display panels) models.
When talk about smartboard, I already feel very much excited. WHY? Well, because we have already been introduced to smartboard, and i found the interactive tool to be very very interesting!
It is interesting for me in the sense that there are a lot of things that we can do that we cant in others. For example, smartboard can meke lessons and excercises even more fun just by using the animations and magic pen that the tool provided!
I found a site that shows just about how we can maximise our use of the smartboard:
http://library.uchc.edu/departm/cec/flash/sb_tutorial.swf
Wikipedia
The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is a product of SMART Technologies. It is a large, touch-controlled screen that works with a projector and a computer. The projector throws the computer’s desktop image onto the interactive whiteboard, which acts as both a monitor and an input device. Users can write on the interactive whiteboard in digital ink or use a finger to control computer applications by pointing, clicking and dragging, just as with a desktop mouse. Buttons launch a popup keyboard and a right-mouse-click menu for more input options. The interactive whiteboard is usually mounted on a wall or a floor stand and is used in face-to-face or virtual settings in education, business and government.
History
SMART introduced the first SMART Board interactive whiteboard in 1991.It was the first interactive whiteboard to provide touch control of computer applications and annotation over standard Microsoft Windows applications.
Technology
The SMART Board interactive whiteboard operates as part of a system that comprises the interactive whiteboard, a computer and a projector. The components are connected wirelessly, or via USB or serial cables. A projector connected to the computer projects the computer desktop image onto the interactive whiteboard. The interactive whiteboard accepts touch input from a finger or a pen tool, and the SMART Board driver converts contact with the interactive whiteboard into mouse clicks or digital ink. SMART Board interactive whiteboards are available as front-projection, rear-projection and flat-panel display (interactive whiteboards that fit over plasma or LCD display panels) models.
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