Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

1. Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning Prepared by Elleine Rose A. Oliva, Ed.d

2. What is Technology in Education? • Technology is a tool for learning • Technology should be integrated across the curriculum • Computers belong in classrooms rather than laboratories • Classrooms should be connected to the Web • Teacher training should focus on curriculum integration as well as on skills

3. Why ICT in schools? • The social rationale proposes that computers are part of society and thus students need to understand how they work and what they can and cannot do. • The vocational rationale says that learning to use computers is important because it enhances employment opportunities. • The pedagogic rationale presumes that computers can improve teaching and learning, while • The catalytic rationale supposes computers as catalysts to enable desired change to take place in schools.

4. Why do we need a change? • Schools today are expected to meet the diverse needs of many learners. • The school curriculum has become compartmentalized into distinct disciplines that do not reflect the interconnectedness of human knowledge. • Traditional schooling primarily relies on words—written and oral—as a means of communication and learning. • Learning is not limited to schools. • Assessment is typically unidimensional.

5. The following chart describes that shift

6. The traditional learning environment is teacher-centered:

7. The new learning environment is learner-centered:

8. The roles of the teacher and learner change in the new learning environment.

9. Assessment in the new learning environments has an authentic context • Performance assessment • Portfolio assessment • Project-based assessment • Observation Assessment may be • Teacher assessment – teacher assesses learner’s work • Peer assessment – learners assess each other’s work • Self-assessment – learner assesses his/her own work

10. What are the characteristics of active, learner-centered learning? • Learners take responsibility and initiative for their own learning • Learners develop self-reflection and metacognitive skills • Learners engage in generative learning activities • Learning experiences are authentic, relevant, meaningful • Assessment requires learners to apply their knowledge in context • Learners have meaningful interactions with peers, teacher and others Grabinger & Dunlap, 2000

11. What is the role of technology in this new learning environment? • Technology becomes a tool for active learning • productivity tool • communication tool • research tool • problem-solving tool • The Web gives learners direct access to a huge library of information • The Web is hypermedia, not linear • The Web is multimedia, not just text • Learners can be authors and problem solvers, not just audience • Educational software encourages problem solving and critical thinking

12. Examples of project-based multimedia learning activities • Forest animals of Ohio - PowerPoint • Festivals of China - HyperStudio • Greek philosophers’ newsletter - Publisher • Children’s story book - Publisher • Math lessons for Ghana schools - PowerPoint

13. Examples of problem solving software • Concert Tour Entrepreneur – simulation of running a business as a band agent • Africa Inspirer – problem solving while learning geography of Africa • Great Ocean Rescue – science problem solving about oceans and environment • Oregon Trail – social studies simulation of westward expansion in 1800’s in USA • Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? – problem solving and logical thinking