How can you as a teacher use ICT to enhance your teaching

ICT can provide many new opportunities for teaching and learning in the classroom.
As a teacher the computer can be a great resource.
Word processors and imaging programmes can be used to creating handouts and slide shows which will aid your teaching.
Excel and access can be used for keeping records on each student that you teach, along with being used to teach subjects like maths and accounting.
Computers can also provides an ideal storage solution for the many resources that a teacher accumulates over time.
The Internet is a great resource for both students and teachers, it can provide an unending amount of information for projects for students and also can provide teachers with additional information that can be used both for preparation and during classes.
The Internet also provides e-mail and chat rooms which teachers can use to share new ideas and resources.
The Internet provides such systems as blogs and pod casts which student can use as a new an innovative way to do class assignments, share answers for revision and revise for exams.

ICT however does not just start and end with computers, there are many other ways ICT can be used in classrooms, Cd's, DVDs and animations can now all be used in the classroom to enhance the learning experience. With students becoming more and more advanced in the use of technology it is important that teachers begin to integrate technology into the classroom, it will provide a way of attracting and keeping students attention, and also an easy way to make learning more fun for all involved.

http://amandab.mypodcast.com/index.html

What are the differences between Behaviourism and Constructivism?

Behaviourism
Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states.[1]

Constructivism
Constructivism is a philosophy of learning founded on the premise that, by reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own understanding of the world we live in. Each of us generates our own "rules" and "mental models," which we use to make sense of our experiences. Learning, therefore, is simply the process of adjusting our mental models to accommodate new experiences.[2]

Differences

Disagree on the importance of memory, while behaviourism does not put much emphasis on the use of memory Constructivism holds it as a key element of the learning process

Disagree on the importance of individual differences, behaviourism does not take into account that everyone learns at different levels and speeds,, it also neglects the idea that we all have different motives, and interests that effect the way we learn.

Disagree on the importance of the role of cognition/thoughts.

Disagree on the importance of the effect of previous experiences

Behaviourists emphasise the Stimulus-Response bond

Footnotes
[1] http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm dated 08/10/07

[2] http://www.funderstanding.com/constructivism.cfm dated 08/10/07

Describe the three types of collaborative learning groups?

Formal learning groups

•Temporary clustering of students within a single class session
•Groups of 2 - 5
•Check on students' understanding of the material,
•Give students an opportunity to apply what they are learning
•Provide a change of pace

Informal learning groups

•Established to complete a specific task in a single class session or over several weeks.
•Eg: Lab experiment, report, project
•Group exists for duration of project

Study groups

•Long-term groups
•Exist for semester or longer
•Stable membership
•Group provides members with support, encouragement, and assistance in completing course requirements and assignments

Criticisms of behaviourism

Behavioural psychology, also known as behaviourism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviours are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states. E.g. Ivan Pavlov, was able to condition a dog to salivate by ring a bell 10 seconds before feeding this continued until every time the bell rang the dog would salivate, even if no food was presented.

Criticisms Of Behaviourism

• Behaviourism does not take into account all the ways in which we learn.
• Behaviourism does not take into account that learners all learn at different levels and speed.
• Behaviourism does not recognise that children are able to create new learning patterns that are not related to stimulus and response techniques.
• Behaviourism lacks the applicability to the more complex human behaviors of language and memory, these activities are not developed with behaviourist techniques.
• Behaviourism does not take into account that each person has different motivations, attitudes and emotions and therefore what motivates one person to learn may not motivate everyone,
  
  

What obstacles stop us from using ICT to teach

Reasons that stop us from using ICT in the classroom include:

• Limited knowledge of computers
• Lack of resources in schools
• Lack of time to prepare material
• Laziness
• Concerns on students abilities to relate to ICT as a learning methodology
• Concerns that students would abuse the facility
• External regulations on the use of websites in the classroom