Week 6

This week’s class, we have been given a chance to engage ourselves in Micro Computer Based Laboratory (MBL). MBL is one of the strategies in Designing Application Tools.

This is very new to me because I have never experience it before. My group and I, we have chosen an activity from the topic Electricity. We use Voltage Current Sensor in order to conduct the experiment.
There are a few steps that we followed while conducting the experiment. The details are in below;

Voltage Current Sensor
1. The sensor is being plugged in to the computer.
2. EZscreen or DataStudio is selected from the window or programme files.
3. The voltage leads is being connected to one battery. The red lead is connected to the positive of the battery while the black lead to the negative.
4. Choose “Table” from the list of items in Datastudio.
5. Click “Start”
6. The voltage and ampere of the battery is displayed on the screen.
7. The data is being recorded on a piece of paper.
8. Step 3 to 7 is being repeated with 2 and then 3 batteries.

After engaging ourselves with MBL, I can say that it is very user friendly, practical and it gives me enjoyful experience engaging myself with the tools. Is this strategy (MBL) suitable to be used in primary Science classroom? Every strategy, there are pros and cons.
This strategy is suitable to be used but only for Level 2 students. This is because it is user-friendly and safe to use especially when an experiment requires dangerous substance like acids and bases. The data collected is very fast and accurate. The data can also be converted to graph and table by just a click. This is very convenient for students to see the whole picture and concept of an experiment fast. However, teacher need to be well-trained so that each function of DataStudio can be used to the fullest.

On the other hand, this strategy also has its lack. This is because Pasco (e.g. Voltage Current Sensor) can’t be used for all experiments. Moreover, basic process skills cannot be integrated or acquired as students will not get the chance to learn how to use certain basic apparatus like thermometer and ammeter.

There are a few advantages and disadvantages that my group and I have discovered.

ADVANTAGES

User friendly Uses computer solely.
Manipulative skills can be acquired.
Data achieve is very precise.
Saves time in collecting and tabulating the data.

DISADVANTAGES

If there is no electricity it cannot be used anymore

Students cannot acquire science process skills. This is because all the data are ready and students do not need to measure.

It can only engage with some lab apparatus such as battery, bulb and beakers.

The cost is also very high. Not all the students can have their own unit of Voltage Current Sensor and use it simultaneously.

All in all, we have gain new experience and new exposure. Hope that one day, we can let our students to experience this strategy.

Week 5

This week's lecture is about Strategies in Designing Application Tools.

There are 7 strategies;

1) MBL- Micro Computer based laboratory
2)Drill and practice
3) Tutorials
4) Stimulation
5) Problem-solving
6) Information retreival
7) Education games

Now, we will look into the strategies one by one.

1) MBL-computer-based laboratory - utilizes a computer, a data collection interface, electronic probes, and graphing software, allowing students to collect, graph, and analyze data in real-time. This real-time atmosphere allows students to attend to and process important details in each experiment.

2) Drill and Practice - is a structured, repetitive review of previously learned concepts to a predetermined level of mastery.

3) Tutorials - Interactive class taught by a tutor to students at university or college, individually or in small groups; Of or pertaining to a tutor; belonging to, or exercised by, a tutor

4) Simulations - The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system.

5) Problem-solving - is a mental process and is part of the larger problem process that includes problem finding and problem shaping.

6) Educational Games - are games that have been specifically designed to teach people about a certain subject, expand concepts, reinforce development, understand an historical event or culture, or assist them in learning a skill as they play.

There are so much things that teacher needs to consider in planning and conducting a lesson. All in all, the lesson should suits with the different types of learners so that all the pupils will get the knowledge transmitted to them as well as to have enjoyful learning experience.

Week 4

The class started with the discussion about the learning theories. There are two main branches of learning theories which are behaviorist and constructivist.

Behaviorist focus on the change of behavior and the emphasis is on the product. According to behaviorist, they believe that stimulus should be given to the students because stimulus will produce reaction. The repeated reaction will then create long-term behavior.

On the other hand, constructivist believes that learning is a process, connecting the prior knowledge to the new experience gained from the environment. Learning is viewed as an active process where the learners are actively constructing mental models and theories of the world around them. The knowledge is constructed through logical organization, interaction among learners/teachers and from the integration of prior and new knowledge.

Week 3

The second class. Dr. Rohaida gave the explanation on Brief History of The Use of Technology, computers and some common terminologies that we could d find when we use computer such as CPU, RAM, Bytes, CD-ROM, FTP.

Then, we are asked to prepare power point presentation about Artificial Intelligence ans Virtual Reality in groups.

Artificial Intelligence & Virtual Reality in science education.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

AI usually defined as the science of making computers do things that require intelligence when done by humans. It also the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it.It has had some success in limited, or simplified, domains. AI research is highly technical and specialized, deeply divided into subfields that often fail to communicate with each other. AI is applied in distance learning.


What is Virtual Reality (VR)?

VR is an artificial environment that is created with software and presented to the user in such a way that the user suspends belief and accepts it as a real environment. Virtual reality is primarily experienced through two of the five senses: sight and sound. The simplest form of virtual reality is a 3-D image.

Virtual reality can be divided into:

• The simulation of a real environment for training and education.

• The development of an imagined environment for a game or interactive story.

Popular products for creating virtual reality effects on personal computers include Bryce, Extreme 3D, Ray Dream Studio, trueSpace, 3D Studio MAX, and Visual Reality. VR has the potential to provide alternative forms of learning that can support different types of learners, such as visually oriented learners.

Week 2

This is the first time I entered PMEY3104 class. The course title is Integration of Technology in Primary Science.
During the class, we were brief about our subject and also were given our assignment. We need to find a journal that related to the integration of ICT in Science Education.

We were also introduced to the use of ICT in Science classroom. Our lecturer,Dr. Rohaida told us that we need to create a blog. Every week, we have to post a reflection in our blog. The reflection will help us to have better understanding of the lecture.
During the class, we have discussed on the use of technology in Science education. The big question is, “Why use Technology?”. Basically, there are several reasons why technology has been used and integrated in Science subject. We learned about technology that is used in classroom such as lcd, ohp, television, projector etc. These technologies are used widely in education field as they are tools that can help teachers to be able to transmit the knowledge effectively. Besides, the use of technology can enhance the students’ interest in the teaching and learning process. Technology in the classroom can enhance learning. It help the students to become capable users, information seekers, problem solvers and decision-makers.
Prof also led us on discussion whether it is best to teach science and technology as a separate subject or integrate both subjects together. In my opinion, it is best to integrate both subjects. It is because Science and Technology comes hand in hand. What I mean is technology is invented from the knowledge of Science and thus it makes science scope to become wider and broader. In teaching and learning Science, Technology is a tool that enables teachers to make the transition from a traditional classroom to one where technology is an imbedded and integral part of teaching and learning. Thus, the integration of Technology in Science classroom will help to enhance the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process.
Then, we were divided into groups. Each group need to do research on a topic given and my group got the topic OHP – Overhead Projector.
The Overhead Projector, or “OHP” is one of the most frequently used tools in education field. An overhead projector is a variant of slide projector that is used to display images to an audience. There are several steps that should be followed in using the OHP.

Instructions:
1. Situate the overhead projector on a low table that is 2 to 3 feet off the floor. Make sure the overhead projector is plugged into a reliable power source.
2. Place an overhead transparency on top of the flat glass surface of the projector. Transparencies can be written on directly with a wet erase overhead pen. Alternatively, a transparency can be fed into a laser printer, and information from programs such as spreadsheets and databases can be directly printed on the transparency.
3. Turn on the overhead projector. Most machines have a large, circular button on the front for this purpose, but on/off switch locations can vary.
4. Angle the mirror at the top of the projection arm until the image is properly aligned onto a blank wall or drop-down projection screen.
5. Move the table holding the overhead projector forward or backward (if necessary) until the projection image approximates the size of the projection screen or blank wall space.
6. Turn the circular knob at the top of the projector arm until the projected image comes into focus.
7. Press the on/off button again when finished with your presentation. Allow the overhead projector to completely cool down before using it again.
The use of OHP is usually under the control of the teacher. This means that it is by default an instrument of teacher-centred instruction. This is not necessarily a disadvantage of using the OHP. This is because the teachers can develop its use as a tool of session management. Switching it on, for example, is likely to send the message, "Now get ready for some input from me", and can be used to curtail discussions which are veering off the point. Similarly, switching it off when a discussion starts is a way of acknowledging that the class group is making the running.
OHP allows presentation of a series of images in sequence. The timing and ordering is controlled by the teacher. Thus, teacher an manage the class easily. Teacher should not put in too much information on any one OHT. This will create confusion among the students. OHP is a visual medium. Thus, it requires attention from the students. Teacher should make sure that the students are paying their attention during the input transmit session. In order to check their understanding, teacher can post questions to them. Besides, teacher can also include mind maps or any kind of graphic representation in the OHT so that it can attract students’ attention.
All in all, the use of technology in Science classroom will enhance the students learning. Thus, teacher should update themselves with the ICT knowledge and technology skills so that they can exploit them during teaching and learning process.