The END

This course plays a vital role for introducing uses of ICT s for education. For me it was so interesting, and it motivates me to study in detail about educational technology for future and to know more about instructional models. The blogging part was good for sharing ideas and to see some ones view on the particular topics which is good to view one idea in different way. Although it makes aloud because we had to post in every week and there is also a task for the same week which makes the things a bit hectic to catch up. In my case I followed everyone but only three people is following me which means it was not easy to be familiar with it. But I enjoy the whole course and I got a new and concrete knowledge Thank you to our instructor.

Instruction and Facilitation...theory...in teaching experiances

 I belief that teacher apply learning theory in his / teaching practice. It doesn’t mean that individuals are sticky to one theory which they prefer for their teaching practices. To me it is changeable according to the course that we teach and the situation.

But when an individual is teaching the same subject in the same situation the objective of the course is still the same, in this case there is one theory which goes with this specific subject.

For example, I was teaching in TVET collage so students are expected to create a new knowledge and skill based on their previous knowledge need to perform the tasks in different and their own way. As a teacher I believe learning is the process of constructing new knowledge, the reason why I reflects this view is because my learning context is about skill and technology. So to me constructivism theory is relevance in my teaching practice.

classemates presentation of learnning theories

The presentation section was more helpful. It was an overall summary for the learning theories. The expression and the way each student illustrate the concepts of each theory is something different than just reading and only discussing with in the class.

Even if the theory that I suppose to present I tried to goggle and put some significant information to the class. But when I see the other presenter I gain any new information and the focus will be different and I start to view in the other way, I belief this experiences are very helpful for all of us.

being a behaviourist in our lifes......

The way that we  deal with some actions and just waiting any response mark us the behaviorist.in our life’s, socially interaction, at schools there are some practices which are more applicable to behaviorism theory, though we never intended it.

The way we appreciate our students and children when they do something right and when the make us to feel happy. Our good promises for our children or family members which come after any deal is more like the positive reinforcement. There are so many instances in our day to day lives.

 

The relevance of investigating learning theories in the scope of this course

               Differentiating the learning theories is relevant for a teacher to be more effective in the teaching process. To apply the learning theories the teacher must recognise how those theories are going to help his/ her lesson. For example the good understanding of Behaviourism theory helps to know the behaviours of the student and lead to manage the classroom by understanding the bad and good behaviour of students also using some reinforcements to shape to the desired behaviour.
          In this course we looked at behaviourism, cognitivism, constructivism, connectivism and Distributed Cognition theories. Investigating and knowing the concepts of those theories is relevant to know how the theories are related and linked each other, also to differentiation among the latest and the oldest one as a teacher.

videos for learnning .

Learning using multimedia is more effective than talk and chalk method. The learner can understand more about the learning context when he watch and heard. Visual learning is the better way to recall any information or anything.

   In our situation for learning theories the videos are explained using an example which helps to identify the concepts and the useful experiments among the theories.

the first section....of the course

        According to my view I had enjoyed a lot from the first section. For me the chat section and the presentation was so use full and I benefit a lot from that.which are the best sections. Because it encourage us to read and goggle some new knowledge.when I prepare for presentation I goggle some web tools and get some thing new that I did not know before. also for the sake of the chat section I read the articles of social presence which implies that I read because I have to chat about  it unless I may not be aware of it.
              I have got bit difficult on the blogs the classmates not following each other and I was lost from the discussion room I was only posting on my blog web but finally I make it.
 Thanks

plagiarism and safe assign

 when I use a safe assign tools I was thinking about how plagiarism affects study. Accepting and knowing the Plagiarism policy can lead  students to develop and create their own work.in the other hand the learners will learn how to develop their own skill and knowledge than depending only on the other sources  even they can realise that how  using plagiarising  dominates and hide own thinking level also it exposed to lack of confidence.
 I was enjoying the safe assign tool and I found it as use full for both teachers and learners. for learners to see how their work is affected with the references that they use. and for teachers also helps to mark the students according to the percent of the work,which is their own idea for the task, and which is not.

my Job and My study ... apart.

        This is already the half way of our course on line for me to work and to study at the same time is not easy, it needs a very serious time management...to cope both.

   In my situation my job is not realted to my study at this moment , I am  not teaching...or not in any office, But doing business with my husband. The two things ( my Job and study) are apart each other.any ways I am  hoping that everything will end as I wish.

Social Presence in Online Classrooms

   The chat session was very help full, according  to reviewing or understanding  the reading. that lead us to construct our own understanding and share it, discuss it, present on line.

 I find it a bit difficult to follow each class mate and comment or respond for each of the ideas. some of us was just saying what was written in the reader straight, and some of us was trying modify it with our own views. but in any ways it was a path to share ideas and to feel free on raising own views and understanding about social presences.

   The on line discussions is quite different to face to face classroom discussion. In face to face class room discussion one can follow easily others conversation, but in on line some times two or more peoples post their chat at the same time and difficult to follow each of them.but it is an advantages for all no one can feel shy to say what they want to say.  In general it was a good experience for me.

negative and postive assesment experience

      I had negative experience that I couldn't forget and remind it even I am still wondering why the lecturer asses me like that.

         It was on one of my last year courses the teacher give as an assignment and it was our 'major assignment' for that course, also we had given a sample assignment that has done by one of the previous students.

          I really take time and I tried to do it well, I was hoping that I will get a good result because I did not have any serious difficulties on the question to respond it.

       But couldn’t get what I expect, all the feedbacks was focused on my spelling errors some grammatical things only. Finally I take one of my friends’ assignments and I look at it the things we focused on are all most the same, but the gap between our results is more than expecting. Then I conclude that the lecturer is marking based on 'who we are' rather than 'what we did', because the teacher knows that English is my second language and believes that I couldn't understand the whole idea unlike others.

    

   I like when the teachers assessed the students by considering the whole situation of the student, and at least consider more on the understanding of concepts and the objective of the course. 

Acessing course in the online environment...

    Using OTL for courses is something intersting and also can consider as the development  or any new progress of teaching/ learning method. it will help as to adapt new technologies easily and to use electronic teaching materials.

  Accessing the courses in the on line environment will help learners to achieve their goals easily than traditional way of teaching /learning method, in a sense that they will motivate to learn something in effective way because all feedback and necessary requirements are available on line.
  In my teaching situation the thing that I can mention is the economy effect because the country is not well developed and not easy to access the course on line, it will be difficult for learners to get and use  those technologies (computers) as a teaching material.

feeling good

I am Seblework, from Ethiopia. Before I start introducing myself, I want to say 'hello' all of my classmates and our presenter.I studied  my B ED in Manufacturing Technology at Adama University,which is located in Nazareth,Ethiopia.After I graduate my first degree I was teaching in Techincal collage my magior courses like ;-General mechanics, welding and hydrolics.But for very short time, even not for  a year.I came here on  2008 I stayed with two of my sisters. I was also doing some short courses at Wits since that time until I registered for this program.
    Reading books ,waching comedy movies, and listenigs gospel songs are my hobbies. I like to know and to be familer with the new technologies that is why I planned to continue my degree. At this movement I am not working I am just studing.
I hope you know me a little bit from my post,all of my classmates  are welcome to ask me a question , to send me suggestion or comment.