ICT in Substitution class

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

6th reflection on the use of ICT in teaching and learning

               Kuenzang Dema

                       DEIIIB,06160385

               Use of ICT in Teaching and Learning

Ordinal Numbers, Class I

IT has always helped me teach better in the class. It has added creativity and motivation in my teaching and learning process. As teachers, IT can be integrated in our daily lessons in lot many ways. This time I used ICT in my substitution classes too.

On 28th October, I had the opportunity to substitute Ms. Asha Devi Rai’s class as she was on leave. I was pre informed about her leave so I thought why not try ICT lesson in her class and see the impact. It was a Math lesson on ordinal numbers. I downloaded a series of brightly coloured pictures on ordinal numbers. As always our children are fascinated with attractive colours. They are much interested in electronic gadgets. The students of 21st century learners catch faster if taught through these gadgets. So I took my laptop in the class. Instead of using chart paper, I displayed the pictures from my laptop. I let children look at it and say the ordinal numbers for the pictures. I also had worksheets downloaded in advance and made copies ready for the class. That helped me save time since I was to substitute for just one period.

It was a fun lesson for them. New teacher with different teaching method motivated to learn more. Children were interested to look at the laptop again and again. Some even shouted “cartoon movies, Madam”.  Classroom management was not a problem for me. 

I ended the lesson with the singing of a nursery rhyme. I played from my laptop and let them sing along. They had fun.

Students were as happy and satisfied as I was when I left their class. They wanted me to visit their class again which I took it as positive impact of ICT. 

After having taught the ordinal numbers, which was already introduce in their previous class by their subject teacher. So it wasn’t a tough topic for them. I provided them with a worksheet. I helped them read the instruction and understand what they were to do. Students then completed the worksheet individually. I found out that about 90% of the class could complete it on time and the rest few were asked to show me during the break time. All students could say ordinal numbers correctly.

IT is a great resource if used meaningfully. I hope to integrate more of IT in my future lessons too.

 

These are some of the worksheets I used for teaching the ordinal numbers.

Children singing a rhyme

Class III
Subject: Mathematics
Topic: Probability
Date: 15th October, 2019

Introduction of NAPE system in Bhutan replaced traditional way of teaching Mathematics by 21^st century pedagogy. This encouraged learning by doing. Implementation of new mathematics curriculum further enhanced the desired learning outcomes of teaching and learning. It gave our children opportunities to think both analytically and critically. Yet this very subject has been quiet unpopular amongst our learners today and the reasons being many. One of the most significant reasons I evaluate could be due to the lack of experience in teaching the subject in a fun and enjoyable way.

I wondered how I should introduce the topic- Probability in captivating manner. I browsed Internet and came across some very good lesson plans to introduce the topic. I replicated the lesson in our context and taught. It was fantastic! I also downloaded a video to supplement my teaching on the topic- probability. I found some very appropriate worksheets too. It saved a lot of my time and my lesson was a very effective one. I used the worksheet as a game to add spices to my lesson. After teaching the probability languages with examples, each team was given a worksheet with 15 Multiple-choice questions. I set the time limit so to finish my lesson on time. After finishing, we checked the answers and the team who scored the highest won. Teaching using games is one of the best strategies. I saw that children really had fun. It was learning through fun.

It made me feel grateful to ICT for making my workload lighter. Any kind of mathematical problems can be taught through games especially in the lower classes whose attention span is very short. It teaches them values like team spirit, taking turns, respecting each other’s views, cooperation, etc. 

I could not show them the video clip I downloaded for I ran out of time. I promised to show them in the next class. Children took more time in completing the activities especially the first activity where they were asked to write one probability statement for each probability word. I learned that I need to keep track of my timing in future.

Lesson on Decimal Tenths - Class III

Topic: Decimal Tenths

Class: III 

 September 26, 2019

Reflection 

Integrating technology into classroom instruction is not simply teaching basic computer skills and software programs in a separate computer class. Effective tech integration must deepen and enhance the learning process that caters the four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts. The Edutopia article (2007)

My lesson was on Decimal Tenths. I first recapitulated previous lesson by asking the following questions a) what is a fraction? b) What does 3 in three eighths tell you? c) What does 8 in three eights tell you?

I then asked if they have seen numbers like 2.8 , 0.5 , etc. so i introduced the word 'decimal'. after that I showed them another fraction with the denominator 10. Asked what each part meant.( Numerator tells the number of parts that's being discussed and the denominator tells the total number of parts a whole is divided into).  I further explained that a fraction with the denominator as 10, 100, 1000  is called the Fraction decimal. showed with examples on the chart.  I also explained the term 'decimal tenths fraction' that when a whole is divided in 10 equal parts and each part is one tenth. I told them that we would be dealing with fractions having only 10 as denominator. 

Next, children watched a short video clip on how to show numbers as decimal. I wanted them to learn the concept of showing numbers as decimals using the place value table.  They were instructed well to watch the video very carefully so that they are able to complete the worksheet later.

After they have finished watching the video clip, children worked in pairs to complete the  worksheet provided. As they worked in pairs, I went around and helped the needy ones.
In the follow up activity, we discussed the answer as a whole class activity and as we discussed the answer, students cross checked their answer. I let some of the pairs explain their answer to the class voluntarily.
 As a closure of the lesson I provided them with another worksheet to be done individually.

Most children were able to complete the worksheet which made me feel satisfied. I could achieve my lesson objectives too. As I walked around to monitor their work, I observed that peer teaching makes a lot of difference in making the concept clearer. I found some of the high achievers explaining the question to their partner who seems to perform low. Especially who are not able to approach me to clear their doubts. I also noticed some children making the low achiever friend do the writing. This boosted their confidence.

                               Teaching of Division Concept

Class III

BY

Kuenzang Dema

DE III B

Student Code: Pce06160385

Working with young minds never bores me for everyday is different, exciting, fun and yet challenging. Every time I take them outside classroom, they scream in excitement for they are My presentation was on Division- Mathematics, class III. I could present the information well and the class was very interactive. Since it was a new topic in class III, I made sure children understood the concept explicitly. Children felt free to ask me their doubts. 

3rd September, 2019, the topic of my lesson was Division. This time I used projector to teach my lesson. I kept everything ready in the audiovisual room beforehand as to save time and energy. I then called my children to the audiovisual room. Although technology is used to deliver the education, it is important to plan it out to be most effective. This can be labour intensive, the yields are proportionally higher as well.  

I let children participate in between the lesson by asking them questions and making them solve two questions. This kept my class active and interactive. When I finished my presentation, I took them back to their class and let them solve few questions individually from their textbook, on the topic taught as a follow activity. 

I must say that every time I integrate ICT in my teaching, theres is always a success story no matter how harsh the weather may be in Gelephu. I could see children drenched in sweat by the end of the lesson since the audiovisual room did not have air conditioner. Yet children seemed to enjoy the lesson and integration of ICT in teaching learning is something which children look forward to everyday.
In the seventeen years of my journey in teaching career, there wasn’t a moment where I haven’t felt rewarded. Further, seeing your students succeed, knowing that they are well prepared for the future is the greatest satisfaction a teacher can get.