UserPage:Shaguftah

Assignment 3 – Project Proposal


Context
In my actual teaching environment, the lessons are taught in a traditional classroom-based environment where evidently, there is the face-to-face interaction with the pupils (age 12-18 years).

Normally, each teacher has to prepare his own weekly and daily plan so as to have a better control over the topics that will be covered, as well as the different ways in which the student will be evaluated (e.g. asking questions, small classroom activities, practice exercises in past exam papers).

However, apart from the above teaching methods, nothing much is being done to better motivate the pupils who are generally:
• not very interactive in class
• day dreaming in class
• try to hide at the back of their friends
• need additional support to study
• are slow learners


My Own Context

I teach computer studies and prepare students for the Cambridge O level and A level exams – I have to restrict myself to a specific syllabus and plan my work accordingly. In both grades, the pupils should carry out a Coursework and in addition to this, they should also go through a written exam to assess the theories that they have learnt.

The problem
The students have to submit a project at the end of the year. The requirements for the project is to develop a software application to solve a business problem.

Consequently, they have to learn a new programming language. This is the most problematic task as the pupils tend to rely a lot on my support – most of them find it difficult to learn programming. Moreover, my students do not have much time to practice programming tasks in the lab as the syllabus is really bulky.

Though I provide the students with additional handouts and ebooks on programming, they still encounter difficulties.They usually get stuck and I am forced to debug the program for them. Debugging is really a stressful task particular when the deadlines are near.

Use of emerging technologies to solve the problem
I think that hybrid teaching will be appropriate as an additional support for the students. I will also be able to help them with their difficulties after school hours. Consequently, I favor the use of web 2.0 related technologies which will be used in the following ways:

• Use of Blogs
Blogs will be used to extend discussions outside normal school hours. Each student will be able to give his ideas. Consequently, I will give feedback to the students and the latter can also criticize each other. Thus, the students will form a peer network to develop their knowledge and everything that they include in the blog will be available to the other viewers.

I will also share important links and other resources like how to’s to the students who will also be able to share important web resources as well.

One example is the choice of project title, each student can make a sort of background study and post their proposed project titles. They will be able to discuss with their peers and I will moderate and comment so on their work.


• Wikis
A wiki is a type of free on-line writing space that allows users to add, modify and update its pages. I will set questions and students will be able to post their answers or work in groups to solve a particular problem. It will be similar to knowledge garden, where students will also be able to write their names next to their respective answers.


• Podcasting
Podcasts can be enhanced through the use of images, video as well as links to web site content. Broadcasting over the internet offers students and teachers access to a worldwide audience, with authentic feedback from around the world.
I think that I will use podcasting during the holidays and revision periods where students are normally at home.

Here is a Mind Map to illustration the problems that I face and how I intend to solve them:

Assignment 2 - Progress Report

1.0 Link to my 'facilitated' page

Effective Learning and the Virtual Learning Environment

2.0 My contribution to the other pages

• Educators’ ICT skills and knowledge needs

• Integration of mobile devices to support learning

• UserpageSipalot

• Selecting a Learning Management System

• Hints for using Microsoft Word

3.0 Strategy for facilitating the page

• I’ve tried my best to look for the most up-to-date topic and thus ending with “virtual learning environments”
• I expect that the other people from the knowledgeGarden community will indeed find my facilitated page interesting and that they will contribute much by responding to the questions I’ve asked and even by raising issues or adding hidden comments
• My workgroup will also collaborate intensively with me by sharing their ideas and opinions

I really want to make the others feel motivated to contribute to my page, therefore, I’ve included the following:

• Easy site navigation on my page
• Use of simple and easy to read English
• Use of headings and sub-headings to break my ideas
• Links to other websites for more information
• Use of a diagram to retain the user on the page
• Questions are found in boxes – these will be easily noticed and answered by the members

4.0 Problems I foresee

• The school holidays will soon be over – I’ll have to try my best to catch up with my studies as this semester, I’m doing another subject as well
• My husband will be abroad for around a month – we use to share ideas. So, I will have to manage by myself during his absence
• I also fear that my page can get distorted accidentally while friends are trying to edit it to include their own comments.

5.0 Anything else I believe is Important

• I will have to plan a time schedule for my study – of course, I’ll try my best to abide by it
• I must try to check my page regularly and provide the users with feedback so as to keep the page alive.