Third  ICT  Reflection

In spite of numerous obstacles for both teacher and students, none could remain ideal with continuous closure of the  school rather, I believe everyone has tried out various means in reaching our learners who are in far flung places. So, online teaching is the powerful tool to access the learning progress and the problem of the students. Moreover, it enables teachers to maintain the academic link with their students and guide them with their lessons     

     On 27^th October 2020, I taught class PP, on the reader, Is this a Takin?. To teach this lesson, this time I opted to video tutorial, as it might seem monotonous in my teaching and it might sense lame excuses if don’t even try it once. The readers visiting my blogs might feel that I am not trying to make video lesson or might think that the lessons learnt is not being put into practices although I have hindrances in sending the video lessons. Moreover, in SIM volume IV, the remaining three activities are all readers. So, I have to make video lessons and this time I made a short video using camtasia, so that the learners can read the text well. The lesson is kept for a week as they need to read and carry out the activities after reading. Things were not as easy as I thought but with the encouragements and guidance from my friends I could somehow manage to make and sent it in the We-Chat forum. The phrase frequently stated by our tutor during the residential course,” Go and explore”, had a greatest impact on me in making the video lesson. At first, I made video for seven minutes but it couldn’t be uploaded in We-Chat as it was lengthy, once again I made shorter video for two minutes forty three seconds and this time it was a success. It was my first ever success in making such video and all the credits goes to our tutor and friends who have really encourage me although it was short. Never the less, with remaining four pages, I sent it in voice messages through We-Chat so as to have win- win situation for teacher, learners and parents.

       After sending the video, I inquired them in We-chat regarding the video lesson and the parents were positive with it and I had to convince them since the remaining activities need model reading for class PP. The students were very much excited to watch the video. One of the girls even voiced out to have such videos in future too which was plus point for me. Some even sent me their reading in We-Chat adding a plus point with the lesson.

As said, with every advantage, there are numerous disadvantages encountered. True to this statement, I too faced  lots  of challenges in regard to video. As stated in my earlier two reflections that most parents being illiterate cause major problem with the flow of lesson. Poor net connectivity and the learners residing in far flung places are other hindrances.

Although there are countless challenges in regard to online teaching but we cannot just rely on social platforms rather finding other alternatives to overcome those obstacles have become crucial to us. So, I went door to door teaching, making sure that everyone is reached out. Further, I have requested parents to download the videos early in the morning or late night as shared by some of the parents as mentioned in my second blog.

As we all know that this pandemic is not going to leave us, the primary classes still closed yet we have to move forward. With lifting of lock-down, it is bite lively at my working place so I am going for door to door visit to check their learning and giving guidance, when we have chance. So I am taking advantage of these as we might never know what might happen next.

To conclude my reflection, I would like to whole heartily thank our tutor for enriching us. With your given knowledge, I really tried my best with online teaching lesson and hereafter I will give my heart and soul to integrate ICT in my lesson in future. I could succeed due to your generous support and you being very particular with this module. If you were lenient, I could not have been successful in regard to online teaching and have lots of chaos with my teaching. I too would like to thank all of my friends who have helped me in regards to ICT integration with my teaching. Once again kadrenche tutor for really shaping me to fit in this 21^st century world.

Yangkey Lhamo

(Student ID- 06170394)

                Video Lesson      

Works of the students

 

2nd  ICT Reflection

 On 16^th September 2020, I taught class PP, on the topic, ”likes and dislikes”, in continuation with the previous lesson by asking the question through We-chat as a revision and some through calls who are not access to We-chat. There was a small passage where by they have to carry out an activity after comprehending the passage. Since 90% of parents are illiterate, I felt the need of making a small video tutorial from the SIM booklet volume IV lesson I, self checking activity, so they could view and follow accordingly.   

This time, with lots of hopes, I happened to inform parents before about sending video lesson through We-chat. But they insisted me not to send video lesson as they cannot download it due to very poor net connectivity and it hinders them from sending their children’s works on time. Still then, feeling the need, I recorded in mobile and sent it the forum. Yet parents were not able to access. So I had to send voice message as usual.  The lesson had to prolong for a week and some even took more than a week. The submission of works of the students was also kept as per their conveniences. This time also I could not make video tutorial.  It is a big challenge faced in a place where the net connectivity is so poor and when parents are all farmers. All of the lessons need to be sent in voice messages only. So I have realized that if the pandemic continues, the students especially the primary, might have low foundation and their learning might declined as found during first home visit.

With the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, everything has come as an opportunity to everyone especially with the teaching and learning members. Given the opportunity, children these days are much more advanced than us and they can access to every means and I have learnt quite a lot from my students. Some of my students are very active in sending me video and audio clips with most of the lessons. This time, I got few videos from one of the girls through We-chat which was very encouraging although few grammar error occurred which was instantly corrected.

However, for future improvement, I thought of assigning task in the evening as shared by some of the parents.(Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM)as they are available only at these hours and I am going to visit them for the second time so that every one is kept in touch, especially with the non respondent children.  

As we all know that this pandemic is not going to leave us, like wise we are to never leave our students whatever the situation arises. With this fight, we got to rather work harder than before, so that our dreams as teachers to keep every students on track is fulfilled and get  fully satisfied by trying out with different means to cater our lessons even if we cannot teach through making video lessons.

Following are some of the work samples.

Yangkey Lhamo ( Reflection on online Teaching)

ICT Reflection

In the 21^st century, ICT is seen as an utmost tool to support teachers in creating more “Learner-Centric” learning environment. ICT integration has greater impact in challenging learner’s understanding and thinking either through whole class discussion and individual / small group work which results in reinforcing of traditional pedagogical practices. The integration of ICT has been widely used by the educationist in delivering concept and letting the learners search information and get abreast with latest information. In connection to this, it was in fact a blessing in disguise with the closure of school due to COVID-19 pandemic as everything became learner centered where they got the opportunity to explore and learn individually through social medias like Goggle classroom, Wechat and messengers.

 

With announcement of closing of schools in the country due to COVID 19, I felt that lessons  I learnt from ICT, was an appropriate means to cater lessons to students.The most appropriate mode of teaching through social media was wechat as the parents in remote were more comfortable in using Wechat. It made me and the learners much comfortable with teaching and learning. I felt, children were enjoying the platform as they were able to respond freely and they were so excited to learn for the first time in such a forum. They even asked me if they are allowed to sing. It clearly indicated that they were enjoying the use of Wechat. The activities assigned to students of class PP were to write lower case letters as given in SIM book.As to supplement,they were guided to goggle on internet on same topic. Some of them even submitted the video clips and audios.

 

Some of the challenges encountered were; I had tough time in sending the video clips on letter formation and sounds due to poor internet network. As students and parents couldn’t download videos on time, feedbacks could not be provided on time. Submission of their works due to poor network coverage and availability of net package data was another reason where the flow of lessons failed. Since parents have to engage mostly on farm works, they couldn’t help their child to participate the online teaching on regular basis. As parents are farmers, medium of instructions was very challenging too.

 

So, as to reach the students through such medias, we must be well equipped with ICT knowledge. Moreover, it is even better if parents are also equally competent in ICT knowledge. However, exploring the internet, I could overcome my short falls. I even gained lots of experiences in editing, posting, texting, cropping and filling the colors. Had I not tried this time, I am pretty sure that I would not have learned anything. I felt, the lesson would had been even more effective if I had made a video tutorial. Hereafter, I am confident in creating video lesson in teaching. Therefore,  the aim of this module EDN 419 is achieved and what I have learnt is fully applied.

Videos Lesson on letter formation,rhymes and sounds

Work samples and videos from students through Wechat

  

   

ICT integration in the classroom

ICT is one of the economic development pillars to gain national competitive advantage. It can improve the quality of human life because it can be used as a learning and education media, the mass communication media in promoting and campaigning practical and important issues, such as the health and social area.