“Group work is a form of cooperative learning. It aims to cater for individual differences; develop student’s knowledge, attitude, genetic skills such as communication skills, collaborative skills and critical thinking” (www.wikipedia.com)

               In terms of group working, it is true that when you collaborate with other people you gain better output. Many agreed to the saying, “two is better than one”. More minds to think and more hands to work make the load easier. What is nice about group work is the cooperation of each member. The spirit of never giving up is there. Working as a group, you gain more confidence of doing something because you know that you have back-ups, that who will help you create a better output. “Cooperation is possible when there is easiness, not heaviness. Easiness means being sincere and generous of spirit. Such liberty makes one worthy of receiving cooperation from everyone. If one has faith and confidence in others, in turn, builds faith and confidence in others. Such feelings produce a comfortable environment of empowerment, respect, support and togetherness” (Tulio, 2008, p. 224). Working together involves teamwork. As defined by Carnegie, “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. The fuel allows common people to attain common results (www.ask.com). It needs cooperation and unity to attain the certain goal. Each one should contribute and share what his ideas. As a team, everyone should agree and decide as one. However, sometimes we cannot avoid conflicts and misunderstanding. Moreover, the only thing we can do to avoid such argument is to respect individuals’ opinion. It should equally value everyone’s suggestion. As what Lombardi said, “the achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual” (www.about.com).

               In the making of our group task, we discussed first the main purpose of what e-learning community we will be doing. We had brainstorming and we shared different point of views. Then we divide the work so that each one should participate. Together we work hand-in-hand just to have a good product. As we go along, we decided to have Technology Express as an e-Learning Community. The content of this is all about expressing such emotions, ideas, talents, desire and experiences in life. The members will share their knowledge through posting comments and suggestions to every member’s queries. Through the help of the modern technologies, we are building learning community. Defining Learning Community, “Learning communities are developed where groups of people, linked geographically or by shared interest, collaborate and work in partnership to address their members’ learning needs. Learning communities facilitated through adult and community education are a powerful tool for social cohesion, community capacity building and social, cultural and economic development” (Department of Education, 2003, p. 12). To the definition, it explains that learning community is a great help to communicate with people who have different outlooks in life. There is an opportunity also to explore and socialize with people from the different walks of life and education can be more proficient and creative. Throughout the experience, I realized that it is good to have a group that would actively cooperate and I am thankful to have my team. Because with them, they would cheer you up. Even though we find it hard to design a web, still we did not surrender. In spite of the sacrifices, hardships and efforts, we are happy and proud to present our group work. “The best method of overcoming obstacles is the team method” (Powell, 2005).

               On the other hand, Educational Technology is a new method of educating learners using the modern technology. New way of teaching that enhances the ability and skills of each learner. The main purpose of this subject is to let the students experience a new kind of learning. Through Edtech, learning is fun and exciting. It helps individuals to express their thoughts, share their expertise, associate with different people, and collaborate with the team. In this subject, the teacher will just facilitate the students to learn by their own. Aside from that, you will experience what we call as learning community. Regarding my experiences in Educational Technology, I would say that it was fun, challenging yet the learning experiences will be unforgettable. According to John Locke (as cited in Tulio, 2008) “no man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience” (p. 80). Probably, the best part of it would be socializing and expressing my self; sharing the insights and ideas of one another and learning each other’s point of view. Moreover, this was the coolest and newest way of learning. I experienced a lot on engaging different sites like the Ning and Wiki that we have encountered. In addition, I am thankful to our teacher for the reason of sharing his great knowledge and powerful skills to all of us. I really appreciate his effort to teach us patiently. Because of Mr. Guevarra, many of us are now engaging to modern technology. As what I have noticed, the more we engage on the modern technologies we are updating and upgrading our selves. Unlike before, we are afraid to use the computer that is why not all of us are excellent in this field. However, this subject taught us to explore and to improve our skills.

               As a whole, educational technology helps me to collaborate with other people. The presence of cooperation helps me to move forward in doing the project. (As cited in Tulio, 2008) “The constant aim of cooperation is mutual benefit in human interactions; it is governed by the principle of mutual respect. The method can be simple as providing an explanation, giving love or support, or listening” (p. 225) It provides me new knowledge and it adds to my skills as well.  This time of globalization of education, teachers must enhance their skills in using the modern technologies. We are thankful for the reason that we are experiencing the advantages of having this technology in our lives. Technology helps in expanding learning opportunities to learner and computer will just an aid to enhance our learning not to replace teachers. As what Maria Montessori thought (as cited in Tulio, 2008), “education is a spontaneously carried out by the human individual and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences in the environment” (p. 97). Learning can be fun and exciting with the help of such unique teaching strategy.

Reference List:

Powell, Collin. (2005) Nuggets of Wisdom. Manila, Philippines.

Tulio, Doris D. (2008) Foundations of Education (p.80, 97, 224,225). (2^nd ed.). Philippines, National Bookstore, Inc.

Department of Education, 2003, p. 12. Retrieved from www.education.tas.gov.au/stateoflearning/issuespapers/aceissuespaper.doc

www.about.com

www.ask.com

www.wikipedia.com

New Life! more Exciting, more Fun!



me @ 18!

     I am so thankful that God has given me another year to live. Another life to be cherish and to make better than before. I am so glad that I have my family and my caring friends. It's nice to live a life full of love from God. Happiness that comes from within makes you more beautiful! =)
  

   

  

MEANINGFUL LEARNING

In meaningful learning students must be actively involved. In order for the students to be actively involve in each activity in school, they must participate and cooperate. Meaningful learning by definition, it is when a child learns and apply their knowledge in the practical life. It involves he acquisition of knowledge in a way that allows you to do something with it. And using computers enhances the ability of learners to achieve meaningful learning. 

"Meaningful learning occurs when complex ideas and information are combined with students’ own experiences and prior knowledge to form personal and unique understandings. Learning is meaningful when the student comprehends the relationship of what is being learned to other knowledge." 
(http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Instructional_Technology/Utilizing_Technology_for_Meaningful_Learning)
 

EdTech Experiences

So far, for how many times we've meet through online class we are all enjoying it! Thanks to our instructor which is Mr. Guevarra for helping us, making and molding us to become globally competitive learners. And honestly speaking, I am having fun to this matter because I've been experiencing a new learning strategy. Now I am learning to share thoughts and ideas to others unlike before. Through EdTech learning is more fun!

Learning that takes place in schools or school-like environments (formal education) or in the world at large; the transmission of the values and accumulated knowledge of a society. In developing cultures there is often little formal education; children learn from their environment and activities, and the adults around them act as teachers. In more complex societies, where there is more knowledge to be passed on, a more selective and efficient means of transmission — the school and teacher — becomes necessary. The content of formal education, its duration, and who receives it have varied widely from culture to culture and age to age, as has the philosophy of education. Some philosophers (e.g., John Locke) have seen individuals as blank slates onto which knowledge can be written. Others (e.g., Jean-Jacques Rousseau) have seen the innate human state as desirable in itself and therefore to be tampered with as little as possible, a view often taken in alternative education.

(http://www.answers.com/library/Britannica%20Concise%20Encyclopedia-cid-1506541)

My Personal Views on Learning Community

Goodman (1972) stated that:

Technology is that complex of human activities concerned with using the findings of science to solve the problems of human society. A technology is therefore a social activity involving people and ideas, methods and machines, dynamic structures, communications, values and tools; but always people. Its objective is to achieve an efficient and rational division of labour, subject to human control, between people and the support systems they evolve, to amplify human creativity, not to replace it (p. 204- 205).

The definition emphasizes that technology involves people that it is a set of human activities which uses a systematic principles to come up with more efficient and effective way of doing things. As we can see, the world we are living now is upgrading. Everyone uses different devices and gadgets in order to satisfy their needs and wants. Like fast communication among distant person, instant foods and drinks, high-tech devices and quick searching engines are just few of the advantages of technology. However, there are their disadvantages and even though we are experiencing the risk of this advancement, we are still enjoying and making the most of what it gives to us. In addition, modern life leads also to a high standard education. And I believe that there is more on learning through the use of technology. Learning can be more exciting, enjoyable and knowledgeable because of the different activities done online. Mitchell (1978) point out that “educational technology is an area of study or practice (with in education) concerned with all aspects of the organization of educational systems and procedures whereby resources are allocated to achieve specific and potentially replicable educational outcomes” (p. 206) Improvements and revisions of instructional materials were made to enhance the learning of every student. Nowadays, universities and colleges are making the teaching process and learning to be more creative and knowledgeable.

According to Robert Llewellyn (as cited in Orlich, 2004) the use of high-tech equipment in the classroom can be a helpful extrinsic motivator. It is said that children and adolescents view the use of personal computers and other peripheral equipment as a game or challenge. And that qualifies technology as an external motivator (p. 21-22). Through Educational Technology it helps individual to be taught and gain understanding about online stuff. With this kind of learning, new experience and new knowledge and ideas will be acquired. As days goes by, more advancement in training and teaching, the more education we will get. Innovative technologies like blogging, audio conferencing; instant messaging and other online communication were commonly used and most teenagers are engaging with these activities. There are lots of advantages that innovative technologies brought to us. Using different web sites help the students, teachers and workers in many ways. Like fast searching of reports, up-dating news, viewing social web sites, online selling and the most exciting is the online games. And everyone is interested with it.

Regarding on my experience on learning community through online class, I would say that it was the coolest and newest way of learning. As to the article Defining Learning Community, “learning community is any group of people connected by sharing common interest, purposes or goals which learns from its experiences and those of others in order to develop vibrant and socially cohesive environment while respecting a variety of perspectives through active promotion of lifelong learning to enhance the potential of all citizens that may create new knowledge” (Kilpatrick et al.,2002.).

To the definition alone, it explains that learning community is a great help to communicate and socialize people with different perspectives. Throughout the experience, I felt the excitement because it was my first time to have an e-learning. Probably, the best part of it would be socializing and expressing my self, sharing the insights and ideas of one another and learning each others point of view. The Gestalt Theory (as cited in Corpus & Lucas, 2007.) stresses that “learning is essentially experiencing, reacting, doing and understanding. It is an active process and is possible through self-activity. Learning is also transferable and it is a social process” (p. 133-135). And aside from that, I felt the eagerness to learn and discover more on the world’s of wonders. Even though I think this is a challenging one, still I’m trying my best to play a part of it. Besides, learning communities is somewhat like a teaching strategy of a professor or teacher and it is of course designed primarily for use in courses of instruction for those preparing to become elementary and secondary school teacher and professor in colleges and universities. It cannot be denied that today, all of education is encountering change, creating new challenges for teachers and students. Both groups must master the tools of the information age and prepare the unknown opportunities it offers. Teachers must respond to demands for greater professionalism and reform, and they must help an increasingly diverse mix of students prepare for life in an ever more global and competitive world. It should be noted however that teacher as leaders are essential decision makers and must master techniques that enhance greater student achievement.

In general, teachers and the use of innovative technologies will allow students to develop different skills and work independently. This time of globalization of education, teachers must enhance their skills in using the modern technologies. We are thankful for the reason that we are experiencing the advantages of having this technology in our lives. Technology helps in expanding learning opportunities to learner and computer will just an aid to enhance our learning not to replace teachers. Teachers can improve their skills and strategies, and learn to blend technical competence with artistic sensitivity as they change and grow as professionals. And that’s the reason why, learning community is fitting especially in the modern days where technology is in the heart of the world. Moreover, I believe that learning is not just through books and paper works but it is also through your personal experiences. You gain knowledge because you’ve tried and experienced it.

As what Maria Montessori learned from her observations, children learn best by being given the opportunity to discover and learn by manipulating objects. And she said that “education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences in the environment” (as cited in Tulio, 2008, p. 97). With Educational Technology, the opportunities to explore and socialize with people from the different walks of life will help learners too. Education can be more proficient and creative with the help of different technologies. And every learner must experience working on the different materials available in order to have an effective learning. The relationship of the external world, the mind and knowledge molds the learning and as a whole personality of a human being. This only explains that we must be able to experience that certain thing in order to appreciate its real beauty.

References:

Aquino, Gaudencio V. et al., (1998). Principles of Teaching and Educational Technology (204-205). Philippines, National Bookstore, Inc.

Corpus, Brenda Ph. D. Lucas, Maria Rita D. Ph. D. (2007). Facilitating Learning: A Metacognitive Process (p. 133-135). Lorimar Publishing. Quezon City, Manila.

Kilpatrick, Sue. Barrett, Margaret & Jones Tammy. Defining Learning Communities. Retrieved from www.aare.edu.au/03pap/jon03441.pdf

Ortich, Donald C. et al., (2004). Teaching Strategies: A Guide to Effective Instruction. (p. 21-22). (7^th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company. USA.

Tulio, Doris D. (2008) Foundations of Education (p.97). (2^nd ed.). Philippines, National Bookstore, Inc.

Legacy of P-NOY!

 

Teaching a special child for our case study..


This boy is an intelligent one because even if he never entered to a normal school.

Using technology like computers, laptop and other gadgets can make our daily lives more comfortable and more exciting. Through online chatting and research online, we can communicate other person even if they are far and can meet new friends. Not only that, because of this advance technology we discover new things and we learn more.