SMARTBOARD..Does it really SMART?

Yes,it is definitely SMART. Why? Because it allows interactive teaching and learning among the pupils. Thus, it indirectly creates a positive environment in the classroom as it managed to attract pupils' attention and encourage pupils' participation in the learning process. SMARTBOARD is really smart because teachers can save, print notes, collaborate on electronic documents, share information and run multimedia materials. In fact, there is a lot more teachers can do with SMARTBOARD to conduct creative and meaningful lessons to pupils.

Personally, in my opinion, SMARTBOARD is a wonderful tool for modern teaching and learning in future classrooms. It integrates with the use of technology. Thus, it exposes pupils with technology and it indirectly develops pupils' ICT skills which is good for the globalization in future.

Here is the link for readings:

http://www.ilstu.edu/~cmkahl/presentations/scil/01oh_elmo.ppt#270,14,Common Problems

Ways forward with ICT

This week's lecture was basically discussing about effective pedagogy using ICT in literacy and numeracy in primary school. Referring to the article entitled "Ways forward with ICT: Effective pedagogy using informations and technology in literacy and numeracy in primary school", it is clear that approprite use of ICT in classroom benifits both teachers and pupils. It assists pupils' literacy and numeracy development. In terms of numeracy development, teacher can teach number concept easily to pupils. Through the activities, it helps pupils to focus on the specific aspects of number being taught. For example, understanding two different types of decimal times. On the other hand, in terms of literacy, ICT can enhance pupils' reading and writing skills by presenting words and text visually and aurally.



However, the most important issue here is that the teacher should make the right decision on when, when not and how to use ICT effectively in their teaching and learning activities. Teachers should take into consideration of many factors in designing activities using technology. They must ensure that the activities and learning outcomes are alligned with the pedagogy. They also need to understand how the ICT will be used to meet specific objectives within subjects of curriculum to improve pupils' achievement. Besides that, teachers need to prepare themselves to overcome any circumstances of using ICT in their teaching and learning.


In addition, teachers need to equip themselves with the skills and knowledge of using ICT; for example, using computer and SmartBoard. They need to build their confidence of using the technology in classrooms as they should act as the model and function as 'the fountain of knowledge' to pupils. Teachers ought to help and support each other in using the technology to carry out their teaching and learning activities. Cooperation among teachers to learn and use the ICT in classroom is important so that the application of technology in teaching and learning will be effective and meaningful. Simultaneously,it exposes pupils with the use of ICT in the modern era.
So, as future teachers, we need to equip ourselves with the skills and knowledge of using ICT in classroom in order to ensure efficient and successful learning process among the pupils.

Thinking about thinking..

Last week was holiday..not a holiday, I supposed. I was still thinking about the topic that I wanted to choose for our SMARTBOARD assignment. Actually, my group had divided the fields of Science, Maths and English subject among ourselves and I'm doing the Maths with Kak Niza, one of my group members. Since I had no brothers or sisters studying in primary schools, I decided to borrow the Maths textbook from my neighbour in my hometown.
I was just trying to get some ideas of the activities or exercises that can be designed for certain topics.

Finally, I decided to choose Year 1 with the topic of 'WHOLE NUMBERS'and the Learning Area is 'Addition with the highest total of 10'.

The learning objective that I am planning to focus on is - understand addition as combining two groups of objects.

Whereas, the learning outcomes are -

i) find the total of two numbers.

ii)write number sentence for addition.

iii)state all possible pairs of numbers that total up to a given number.

DeSigNiNg AcTiViTiEs using SMARTBOARD

This is my new assignment in this course..'DESIGNING ACTIVITIES USING SMARTBOARD'. Luckily, Miss Chin showed us some examples of our senior's assignments about designing activities using SMARTBOARD. It gave us some ideas about the kind of activities that we can create using the interactive board. For example,matching, dragging and writing.Thank you Miss Chin.

Actually, our assignment requires us to work in group of fives or six and design activities for primary children using SMARTBOARD. Each group member has to choose one topic and design at least five screens/activities. The topic covers three main fields which are SCIENCE, MATHS and ENGLISH LANGUAGE. My group had discussed and we agreed to divide the field/subject that we would like to do. Kak Niza and I will design activities on Maths while Hafiz and Kumi will do Science whereas Dila and Kak Hidayah will do English Language.

Can't wait for the product!!To all my group members, GOOD LUCK!

Reflecting Video Assignment

Reflecting our experience that we gained while doing our video assignment, I realized that we actually developed our knowledge especially in using softwares such as movie maker, power director, total video converter. However, some of us managed to find other advanced softwares such as Xilsoft, Pencil 4.0, anime studio and Pinnache studio.

Besides that, we had developed new skills especially in photo editing, video editing and audio editing while doing this assignment which was something benificial for us as future teachers! =)

Plus, we also developed our soft skills such as communication, teamwork, creative and critical thinking skills (which I'm hoping I can develop more on this), leadership, responbility, norms and values, ethics, life long learning (since we are continuously learning using the softwares) and entrepreneurship.

All in all, this video assignment is not basically about doing the assignment, but it enhanced our skills and knowledge in using technology.

Links on SMARTBOARD

I came across some websites to get to know about SMARTBOARD and here are the links:

-->http://www.microagecs.com/av/smart/smart_software.asp

-->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartboard



Here are the links on the lesson activities using SMARTBOARD:
-->http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/SMARTIdeasActivities/

-->http://www1.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/SB/templates.htm

SMARTBOARD…SMART TEACHERS

Smartboard. It is not something new for me. I had attended a course on SMARTBOARD last year but unfortunately, I forgot some of the application on how to use it. I had even used it in IPIK when my group was the first group that was given the opportunity to use SMARTBOARD to present out topic =) . Luckily, we had no problem to fix the SMARTBOARD..but we had problem while using it during our presentation especially while writing words on it. This is because we didn’t press the pen on the SMARTBOARD.

Today’s lecture was delivered by Fenny Setiawan, the cute lady who conducted a course on SMARTBOARD to us last year. The first part of the lecture was about the usage and functions of SMARTBOARD and I could see some of us were dosing off. They must be burning the midnight oil doing the video assignment which had to be submitted today!

The second part of the lecture was continued with group activity where we were required to design activity using SMARTBOARD and present it to class. Unluckily, due to nick of time, only few groups were given chance to present their activity. .My group, WHITEBOARD, designed an activity teaching preposition, namely, ‘behind’, ‘under’, ‘on’, ‘beside’ and ‘between’. We used infinite clone on an object so that the teacher can ask pupils to put the object as requested by the teacher. Our tutor on that day, Fenny, commented that our activity was simple and interactive. Among those groups who had presented today, I like Afiq’s group. His activity is teaching the topic of places such as post office, hospital, etc. It was fun, interesting and very interactive. His group used the template that is already available in the SMARTBOARD. It is a game-like activity to fill in missing letters and I bet children will love it!

Personally, I find that SMARTBOARD can be explored to design more interactive teaching and learning activities for children. It is relevant and practical for teachers to use it for teaching and learning activities.

Local Links on ICT

I was introduced with these four local links on ICT which are:



1) http://www.eduwebtv.com/index7.php



2) http://www.cikgu.net.my/



3) http://www.tutor.com.my/tutor/etems/



4) http://www.moe.edu.my:8080/web/guest/home



I found that these links are very useful and relevant for us as future teachers. Teachers are able to update themselves with current issues in education. They can even discuss and share information among themselves about the education field.



About the video assignment, I was very grateful that the submission date of the assignment had been postponed to 6th August 2008. I had discussed with one of my group member to give some comments and reviews on my video as advised by our lecturer, Prof. Dr. Raja Maznah. I find it very helpful in producing the best product of the video. My friend gave me a good suggestion of editing the video. Thanks to you Adila. You've been really helpful. So, to all my friends all the best!!