Introduction to Blog

Some educators use computers as simply for the sake of what the curriculum demands them to teach “babysitting” not considering ICT integrated means that it adds value to the learning activities and quality of the lesson. Integration of technology in schools must enhance teaching and learning of the learners. So, when our ICT sir, presented that the blog is the most powerful discussion board where I can share my writing and get feedback from friends. Blogging is a sort of journalism and small group discussions, tools that provide lots of useful information. My position as a student I was thinking about that this topic can be used best to integrate ICT into the classroom learning because this discussion board can provide learners with lots of new concepts to learn.

I had interest in creating this kind of discussion forum from before itself and wanted to create one where I can write my thoughts and share it with my friends. But, rarely did I have time to learn how to create, so relied on until someone forced me to create one, which encouraged me to explore more and write more now. Some information provided in those posts was repeated. However, the way each of us has noted down was different and I could have a good conversation with my friends where we do not need face to face meeting. To some of them, it will be wastage of their precious time.
Thus, this interesting topic forced me to reflect on the benefits of using this discussion board —how communication skills are effective. So, I went through some of the blogger's posts and found the talk board helpful, as it ensured that I decoded information and can participate in the discussion as and when I have free time.

Given below are the steps to create a blog if you are interested in creating one like I do.


1.Firstly, click on the Google chrome

2.Then type blogger.com
3.After that, click on the blogger where next "create blog" dialogue box will be shown.
4.Next type your blogs name you want to keep
5.And then you choose which template to use and then click on create option
6.When you click on "create blog" dialogue box, this page will appear so you can start to write from here. And when you finish writing, you can publish. Given below is the video tutorial of creating blog.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adph68NG-5I

 After creating this blog I found that blogging requires a different level of thinking and writing than a personal journal, or even one shared with a teacher. Blogging makes our thoughts to come out. It takes our idea in our head to the open space for discussion, interaction, and feedback. The use of this discussion made me interact with others and I found writing in the blog as most important as this made me realize that when I write here, I can reflect on how much I have learnt about the particular topic and was I able to use it properly and efficiently.

The following one page is the example of my posts on the blog.

Hence, it is not enough for us to participate in an experience; the learning and development that indicate change and growth happen when we are engaged in reflection and meaning-making processes. We can find our voice and write about what we feel. Therefore, I suggest all my friends to use this informative discussion forum and learn to reflect on what you know.

Collaborative Learning Experience

My reflection is based on the Virtual Learning Environment(VLE) discussion forum where I can share and write my doubts anytime anywhere. Through this forum, I can even help others on their doubt and I can get help from others as well. When I came here for the first time, I never knew about such kind of forum where we can get help from others when we have doubts. Here, I can look for my course for the semester and check for announcements. I can also get information on available libraries, online journals, my semester results, etc.

From the topics that were covered in the particular module if we are unclear on any topic, we can participate in the discussion forum about various experiences and reinforced the information. VLE is a platform where it can solve a  similar problem for many students. Many students cannot ask their doubt in the class because they lack confidence but using online discussion helps them. If we have such online forum where we can use technology in the learning environment to facilitate group interactions it is the most effective way of learning. The use of such online discussion can solve a small doubt of many students who have not got the current knowledge and understanding.

Whenever I have doubt I post my problem in the discussion forum and if my friends are online they give me an instant response that gives me an opportunity to know my peers interest in the particular subject. The task here becomes a positive learning experience which is very active, involving and understanding. So, I must say that learning mostly takes place from the facilities of the software that is available to us. We all put our ideas together to find the best outcome. By working in this environment we could cover more topics and get the task done quicker pace than doing it individually which needs help by sharing resources and ideas. 

Giving students individual responsibilities gives a lively and energetic vibe to the classroom learning. Here, we become dependent on each other and the responses given by our friends can widen and influence our knowledge.
Thus, through the use of a VLE discussion forum, it helped me a lot to learn. Online learning can always have its advantages and disadvantages but technology is there as a tool for learning which is combined with the different teaching methods. It is the way the students respond, review and reflect which serves as a key aspect of learning in the different module.

Access to Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint meets the flexibility in use of principle since it provides a variety of choices with contrasting themes of PowerPoint. This technology is equitable in use since it can be used for variety of reasons. It can be used for presentations, for lessons plans, speeches, projects, a visual representation, portfolios, and much more. After attending FIT 101 in first year, I have not only improved lots of skill on making presentation but I also gained confidence to present content. In the classes we have learnt how to make PowerPoint presentation, under that we have learnt about the use of standard font size, color combination between back ground and the font color, adding graphics, design templates and also adding animation too.

 During my first year, before I started making PowerPoint presentation on a story ’’ The Nightingale and the rose’’, I really didn’t know the amount of work that would go into a presentation. I thought I could put together a presentation in 20 minutes and look over it once and be ready to present it. It was my first PowerPoint presentation to be made in my life, because back then in school, I didn’t get chance to prepare this type of presentation instead we wrote in chart papers and on top I was an economic student. I now know that this isn’t realistic if you want to make a good presentation. I had made lots of presentation during my three and half year stay in college which made me improve my presentations as well as made it more effective using visual aids, videos, and slide containing only small bullet points than putting up all the explanations.

After joining Paro College of Education, the knowledge on use of Microsoft  PowerPoint Presentation was very useful to me with regards of designing effective PowerPoint Presentation and delivery too. When I was in my teaching practice at Zilukha Middle Secondary School, Thimphu, I have seen many teachers using Microsoft PowerPoint for teaching and learning. They have separate room as Audio Visual classroom where they make their presentation and it is found to be effective for learners as well as for teachers. Since some teachers do not know how to make effective PowerPoint Presentation, I was much help to those teachers in making the presentation slides and what are the things that are necessary to be included in the presentation. And likewise I also used PowerPoint Presentation in classroom teaching and learning where students are found to learn effectively and keenly unlike in normal teaching and learning classrooms.

I learnt that slides do not always have to be flashy and colorful. Too many graphics and color can distract the students. The key to success is to make certain your slide show is a visual aid and not a visual distraction. Another distraction can be too much content on one slide. It should be not more than six lines per slide and not more than seven lines per sentence.

Given below is the link that you can refer to design an Effective PowerPoint Presentation in your daily life.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=O-9vNXDfAoA

Use of information and communication technology (ICT)

Information and communication technology is useful. Its an application of modern technology to interact and share information among people in all fields and develop science through technology. As one of the ICT function is to help people develop education, it is good for educators to develop their knowledge and transfer it to the people. Moreover, through ICT, the work on the job fields can be done more effectively. As a teacher or an instructor, he/she can develop material and the way of teaching to the students by elaborating the element of the subject in order to make materials easily received by the students. So far, ICT gives easiness to run teaching learning process.

Nowadays, the youth are widely exposed to technologies due to its great discovery to almost everything. At first, I have no idea what is the purpose of ICT to us, but as the lessons goes along, I have realized many things like the use of technology to every one of us. there are much opportunity given to us, such as enhancing our knowledge and capacity by learning the use of ICT including the concept, ideas and its role.The application of ICT is when we focus on activities, which we manage and answered the tasks given by the teachers, its is easier for us to learn by our self because I, personally, can now accomplish works and duties with my initiative to learn  without the assistance of the teachers, which we acquire the skills and knowledge of learning it.

Furthermore, I become more aware on the issues going on in our society through the use of Social Media.Through social media, a lot of people  share and spread widely occurrence on the problems of the world. ICT not only focus in the awareness of their issue yet the awareness of advertisement and announcement of certain notice. Technology has been incorporated in the classroom to make the learning as a child centered. Where child will explore the information based on the topics through video tutorial and YouTube.

Based on what I have learnt on ICT, I would probably apply the skills everyday because as we know, computers and technology is everywhere and anywhere. Ahead of these experience, my knowledge and capacity on handling ICT will be  used during my last three months stay in college, because this would be a great help in making full of research and paper works, preparing blog, research design, project proposal, and many more. With the help of ICT, it guides us to accomplish our works and tasks immediately. The effectiveness of ICT in classroom can encourage collaboration, where students can practice collaboration skills by getting involved indifferent online activities.