Session 3 Online Collaboration- Information and Sources

       We met like anxious students ready to learn at the beginning of the school year. There were enough teachers to form three groups of two. We worked individually and in pairs. Then we grouped together  and had an open discussion using think-pair-share technique. Our discussions ranged from defining I.C.T. in the school context to the newest technologies available and how we can guide our students into making good decisions when using the Internet as a tool for learning. We all exchanged ideas.

       One activity we did required us to participate in a discussion about reliable and unreliable information and sources found on line. We found a mind mapping software and did a collaborative session on brainstorming. The site is known as Mindmeister. It was awesome! The features allowed us to edit the page simultaneously. There is also a chat feature that facilitated ongoing communication while we added our ideas to the mind map. We could also assign tasks for members of our group. There is also a monitoring device that helps us as teachers to see who contributed to the page or tasks and the dates.
       Following that we used the information in a table format on the SMART board to evaluate whether the sources were reliable, maybe reliable and not reliable. That was an interactive activity. This activity is one that I would like to use in my classroom.
I think ICT as an excellent information resource. It consists of sources that we may use to help our students to access, evaluate, synthesize and create. It provides resources that I can utilize in my classroom to help students to understand authentic sources as well as those that are misleading. The most powerful lesson I can take back with me today is the fact that we need to teach our students how to search for, evaluate and synthesize Internet resources.
       After collaborating with my colleagues, I realize that collaborating online is a necessary tool and avenue that teachers should utilize to enable sharing of ideas. I think overall, the brainstorming went well. The session was engaging and the activities can be practised in our classrooms. Our students will be excited to participate in learning activities.

How can ICT make us more productive?

       I believe in using technology as a tool to enhance productivity. Using technology in the classroom has benefits that will outweigh the absence of technology.
Using PPT via slideshare has the potential to reach students because of the various modes of learning it caters to. Students can see as well as hear or interact with the information being presented.

       Today at the session I learned how to create a pivot table using Microsoft Excel. I asked the question: How can I apply this to my classroom? It was interesting the various ways that were suggested. I thought of using it with older students as a tool to analyse their research data. I also thought of using it to analyse my students' test data for further evaluations.

       I think having each student with access to a computer will make teaching and learning more productive. For example in writing and going through the writing process, one could easily draft, write, edit, revise and publish a writing piece without the stress of writing and rewriting and then publishing.
I think equipping classrooms will help us to use ICT to make us more productive.
Attached is a copy of the Excel document I created. Have a look. The data is meaningless but the process was a learning one for me.