13th week : The Final Product !!!

 26th Oct 2010. The presentation of the final project starts with our group. This is our site and this is the Homepage where users are at first landed before they attempt to explore more.

Click the link to view the site : https://sites.google.com/site/glowar88/home

We included picasa web slideshow to make the homepage more welcoming for children and some comic strips are integrated in the slides to give the ideas for the kids when the first landed at the page. Thus, images and comic strips assist a lot in explaining the ideas of global warming to children. I thought this is very effective and this works out best in teaching of science, especially something that relates a lot in concepts and current issues.

These are some of other pages from the site:

EXPLORE MORE !!!

The second presentation of the day: THE SOLAR SYSTEM (year 6)

THE SOLAR SYSTEM : they are using a GOOGLE SITES too.

The team members (from left) : Halimah, Adhwa, Umar, Anuar.

Advantages of using wikis.

Some advantages of using GOOGLE SITES are:

1) it is free 

2) fast and easy to edit

3) no programming or database skills used

4) no software installation required

5) Completely integrated with Googleadds

6) many options to customise

7) it is easy to organise as compared to blog

The third presentation of the day: Animal extinction (Year 6)

From left: Faiz, Izzati, Mahalingam, Woo.

The advantages of using Blog.

A vodcast by Chris.

Prof alerts us on the difference of podcast and vodcast. Podcast consists of just audio, whereas vodcast consists of video (image) and audio. Thus, their video which has been uploaded to YouTube is actually a vodcast. Good attempt for all the group members !!!

Last, but not least : THE PHASES OF MOON (year 6)

This group uses a blog to explain on the phases of moon. Their blog is interesting, just that they took some materials with some other language. Perhaps, they can contextualise the video to meet with the Malaysian students who learn Science in English. Thus, both groups which did on the solar system manipulated the animation and videos to explain something abstract and far to reach, our universe. Thus, it makes their attempt of integrating technology works well.

Group members (from left): Fatin, Syafiq, Dominic (back), Nazwan, Amirul

Their Storyboard.

My opinions on the use of GOOGLE SITES as a platform to enhance teaching and learning of science: 

1) Integrating technology in teaching and learning will certainly enhance the students' excitement and enhance their participation. 

2) This particular platform is actually provides ideas for teachers to improve their teaching on certain concepts that can be hardly explain using verbal explanation. For example, it is not that easy to make students visualise the planets orbiting in our solar system. Thus, animation and videos really assist science teachers to show to students about the phenomena takes place. 

3) But, still technology has its limitation. It needs an internet connection and thus using an online tool, perhaps remains a dream for teachers who are posted to places where there is no internet connection. Thus, to play safe, I would choose to occupy videos saved in cds and tapes. Even though, these sound a little bit outdated, but it will come in handy anytime at anywhere. 

4) It is good to say that technology is an aid. BUT, science as usual needs hands on activities to improve lots of scientific skills. So, it is good to integrate technology, but teachers should never overuse or be too dependent on it as science demands students to master the scientific skills which requires them to be involved in hands on activities. Thus, still we must have the activities in normal science lab to teach students about the basic concepts, such as measuring and handling apparatus as science is all about practicality and applications.

 Before and after the introduction to ADDIE model. What have I learnt?

Before this, I thought designing and producing a material is just an attempt of varying our materials for teaching Science. I don't even think that producing a material needs a great planning and consideration. Thus, there is so much elements that contradict with the objectives of the lesson. And there is also no limitation and the exact focus.

ADDIE model has provided me an idea how to plan a good lesson. 

A good lesson must start with a good instructional planning. The earliest phase of the ADDIE model requires us to analyse and come out with a concept map. This shows that an analysis task phase assist the teachers to analyse the content ideas, limitation and the focus of the materials.

The second phase of ADDIE model: the Design Phase is the phase where we design and visualise how the material will be represented. 

The third phase of ADDIE model is the Development phase where the materials are developed and produced as a solid product. 

These phases that I went through made me realise that a good planning will increase the quality of the instructional materials produced by the end of the day. Quality, here means:

(a) how the materials appeal and work effectively for the target learners. 

(b) the content of the materials is appropriate for the target audience. 

(c) the materials s represented in a manner that enhance the motivation of the target audience. For example, the visuals inside the materials look appealing and interesting to capture the attention of the primary school students.

(d) the materials cover the learning objectives and the aimed goals. 

(e) the materials are designed to assist learning, not just spoon feeding. There must be an integration of effective activities to stimulate students' curiosity and enhance learning at the same time. 

On the whole, this is a fruitful knowledge and I will now know how to produce a quality product as a future teacher.

And the lecture for the semester ends...We are to attend for our exam set on 22nd of November. Thank you very much, Prof. I should say this...You impressed us a lot in the way you taught us. Thank you for the knowledge and values integrated in the lecture, we'll remember all and make use of it in our future career. Thank you, Prof. Hope to be your students again in the future....