Have you
succeeded in planning for your students to be actively engaged?
The ASSURE model has helped me to successfully plan for
the activities that will engage my students. The activities indicated in the
'utilize materials' section require the learner to be actively involved in
problem identification, problem solving and creation of final product. The activities
emphasize the importance of researching, networking, collaboration and sharing
ideas in the learning process. In what ways will they be involved in activities you have not previously tried in your classes?
In my class I have always had the students to read the text aloud and once in a while view the video of the text using a VCR and TV. This has always allowed for general comments and various view points from all corners of the class about different aspects of the play ranging from the plot, costumes, characters, events, themes, stage use and directions, and relevance of the play to contemporary society. Once in a while they have been engaged in role playing too. The role play has always been done in smaller groups to help them to identify with the characters and try to understand their actions or why they behave the way they do and this has been a very valuable tool in enhancing their views and perceptions of the characters. They have also had to work in smaller groups on a task assigned to them and this has always promoted sharing of ideas.
What I have not tried in class before is using technology to teach a lesson; or even getting the learners to search the web for information let alone using PowerPoint for presentations. Our classes are designed in a way that there are no computers and no sockets to tap into the power in case a teacher wanted to use technology to teach. Activities such as searching the World Wide Web for information on a task that has been given to them will be an interesting new thing to them. Children like to work with machines. Putting them in groups to search the web, collect information from the sites given to them, writing out the reports together and preparing presentations to be done using PowerPoint; are things they have not been subjected to before.
Is it an effective way of planning a technology-enhanced lesson?
I should think so. I really think it is an effective way because it allows the teacher to organize a lesson that provides for room for sharing for the learners as a group and as a class. The teacher in a way is promoting collaboration among the learners. It also caters for getting the learners to learn to work together and assist each other in the group to use the technology tools available to get deeper understanding of the concepts or skills. Furthermore, it helps the teacher to have focus and have systematic handling of the lesson. In addition to that, it is good for disrupting the usual and boring order of classroom sitting and lesson planning; and introducing an aspect of excitement and change. Planning for the students to carry out their researches, identifying the websites for them to visit eases the teacher's work as well as the students' role in the whole learning process. The idea of them getting the opportunity to use the projector and make presentations using PowerPoint is sure to fascinate them and they are likely to concentrate on accomplishing the tasks. The mere thought of interacting with the machine and carry out a hands-on exercise, already capture more than enough interest for the lesson. It is enough motivation in itself.
How would you change the process to make it more effective?
Allowing the students to search other Sites that they come across that are related to the study topic. Limiting them to the sites given them may not yield the desired results 100%, but giving them a chance to navigate through the links they come across might motivate them to learn about other essential things related to the subject or topic under study. The nature of the timetable may however not allow for this to happen.
