Compare and contrast blogs, LMS and Facebook

Advantages of using blogs

– interactive and allowing visitors to leave comment

– can add widget (eg. edutainment) to communicate with visitors thus, give constructive feedback

– design interesting and personalize layout to attract visitors

– no ID needed

– much faster than emailing or writing

– easy to link files or documents

– make education more informal

– help learners improve writing competences

Advantages of using LMS

– centralized learning environment to ensure consistency

– tracking and reporting for enhanced performance

– immediate capabilities evaluation

– continuous product and service proficiency for employees who interact with customers and clients

– regulatory and legal compliance

– parents can track down activities of their children

– can use offline mode

Advantages of using Facebook

– easy to be a member of facebook (user friendly)

– can create special group

– can tag photo and members (easy to upload photos)

– can post links to videos and websites

– easy to access

– members can see notifications from other members when they log in

– can play educational games and try to improve each other through competitions

– have chatbox for students to discuss subject matter

– it is free and anyone can use

– can update status anytime. Students can post useful information on their status.

– have inbox for private messages (just like emails)

– can post urgent messages in closed group so that every member get the notifications

Proposal for a 2013 science-technology laboratory

1. The laboratory should be next door to a special room which is computerized so that the students can enter their data in the computer immediately.

2. The laboratory is also equipped with projector so that the teacher can show the students the instructions or results on the screen.

3. The computers in the special room can also be used to access the internet to find information and also to upload information into the students’ blog or lms as soon as they have done their experiments.

4. Future science-technology laboratory should have a sophisticated alarm system. This alarm will be activated automatically if the sensors sense any unsafe condition in the laboratory.

5. This laboratory should also be equipped with proper disposal of waste and used chemicals. This means this laboratory should have a sophisticated bins that can destroy dangerous waste chemicals.

6. This laboratory should have internet access all the time so that the students can do their work.

Science Teaching and Technology

How is ICT used in schools for teaching science?

 

Traditional teaching methods versus advanced teaching methods

 

Last time teachers used to teach using traditional teaching methods such as chalk and talk or simply copying notes from the textbooks. Of course, these traditional methods are not good enough for teaching science since there are many colourful pictures need to be shown to the students.

Therefore, nowadays teachers prefer to use power point presentation to create interesting lessons. With the use of power point presentation, teachers can insert colourful pictures that would be used to explain the topics taught. Teachers can also insert some animations on their slides.

Teachers sometimes use video show to demonstrate certain dangerous practical activities that could not be done in the laboratory. Video show could help the teachers to explain their lessons better when the students watch the processes that could not be explained simply just by talking.

With advanced technology around us, students are allowed to work on their own as well as with their peers to find information from the internet. Students are no longer dependent on their teachers for answers. Students can design their own experiments by finding resources from the internet. Teachers can now act as facilitator.

　

How can ICT be used for teaching science?

 

Using learning management system and blogs for teaching science

 

Teachers can create their own learning management system to get the students involve in the discussions about certain science topics posted by the teachers or their friends. This way the students can interact actively with the teachers and friends whenever and wherever they want.

Teachers can also teach their students to create their own blogs so that they can share with their friends the information that they have found from the internet.