Informative tool- Reflection after application

Was Hitler Gay? 

Adolf Hitler’s sexuality has long been a matter of historical and scholarly debate, as well as speculation and rumour. There is evidence that he had relationships with a number of women during his lifetime as well as evidence of his behavior against homosexuality. Although many claim that Adolf Hitler was homosexual, there is no valid evidence of homosexual encounter.


To find out about Hitler's sexuality, we have no option but resort to internet sources because these claims have been made only after Hitler’s death. Many authors and sources claim that Hitler was homosexual while many claim that he wasn’t. I were to prepare a PowerPoint presentation expressing my stand on matter, whether Hitler was gay or not. I checked out many sites on internet. At some point, I started believing that Hitler was indeed homosexual because some sites said so. But then again, information on some sites convinced me that Hitler wasn't homosexual. 

                                          

This simple task of preparing a presentation of just 10 slides took me into a very complicated task of thinking critically, making decisions carefully, and analyzing the contents that I read. All in all, through my experience, I feel that ICT as an informative tool can not only teach students the content but also ensure that they gain important skills that are essential in the latter part of their life. Therefore, in the future, I will definitely encourage students to use different applications and Software for their learning by ensuring that I guide them and keep them on the right track.

How do you know a source is reliable?

Whilst creating a PowerPoint presentation with information I have gathered regarding Hitler’s sexuality, I have learned that it is not easy to determine whether the information you are retrieving from internet is credible. To make my stand and my points credible, I have taken precautionary measures while looking up on internet for information. Here are some things we need to look out for to be on the safer side:

·         Author- If the material has an author it is an indication of a credible site. Moreover, if it includes his/her contact information, it is even more reliable.

·         Date and time- If the information available includes date and time, it allows the readers to decide whether the information is recent enough.

·         Domain- Domains like .edu are usually credible sources for information. Domain like .org has a motive to persuade rather than to educate.

·         Site design- A well designed site can be an indication of more reliable information.

·         Writing style- Information which has poor spelling and grammar are an indication that the site may not be reliable.

After gathering information about Hitler's sexuality I have learned that there are some credible sites which do not possess all the above qualities. We should rely more on sources like encyclopedia, Wikipedia, books, etc. We should always be careful with what we read because there’s so much material on the internet that finding the right information can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

“Not everything you read on internet is true or relevant.”

ICT as Informative Tool Reflection

ICT as Informative Tool Reflection

We were introduced to the first ICT tool that is Information tool. Through the content taught I have learned that ICT is used as an informative tool when we use it to gather information from various sources. Some examples of informative tools are:

• Radio
• Internet (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
• Television

Not many people use radio as a source of information anymore. The use of radio is in trend only in the remote places where is there no internet and television access. Now, people depend mostly on internet and television for information. 

As a teacher, we can integrate the information tool in the classroom by providing an information or reference for the students in the beginning or during or after the activity. In addition, we can let students analyze, synthesize and manipulate, and construct their own knowledge and meaning. 

One of the tool that I've used during my teaching practice in 2019 was Informative tool. Informative tools are applications that provide vast amount of information in various formats such as text, sound, graphics or video. During my teaching practice, I used videos, sounds and graphics to teach the content and made me realize that it can help a lot of students achieve their learning goals and also make my work load lighter and easier.

I have noticed that children get very excited to learn when ICT is used as an information tool and most of the students were engaged in the work provided. I used to made my students browse through some content in internet for the better references and made them write summary of what they have learnt through it. Moreover use of informative tool in a classroom will cater the needs of different learning styles and can enhance their academic performance and motivate a child to learn. Following are some of the reasons we use ICT as informative tool in teaching and learning:

• Students will learn to gather valid information 
• Students will be able to analyze information 
• Students will be able to improve their search skills 
• Learners will become critical thinkers

Caution! 

I have learned that in the 21st century, internet is considered the main source of virtual learning as it provides a great deal of information. However, in this digital information age, anyone can put anything on the internet. Although the advantage of internet is that we can learn and get information, we shouldn't believe and buy everything portrayed on internet. if we do not know how to gather information from genuine sources, we might end up getting misinformed.

ICT Integration

What is ICT integration? 

ICT integration can be explained in several ways. However, I really like how Williams explain ICT integration. According to Williams, integrating technology in teaching and learning is like cooking a meal for an important guest. It requires a careful selection of ingredients and thoughtful preparation which in teaching and learning is selection of instructional materials and lesson planning correspondingly. And, as all good chefs know, after you have finished cooking, you need to present your masterpieces (your lesson, that is) to your guests (your students) in a manner so as to level them well-fed (having the required skills and knowledge) and eager to come back for more.

Is using computers as merely “electronic babysitting' a true integration? 

There are 3 levels of integration:

1. Basic Level- Basic level of integration indicates only a basic level of integration like showing pictures of insects for better visuals. However, technology doesn't take the pivotal role.
2. Middle Level: Technology plays an important role providing both teacher and students with important materials and activities. At this level, technology supports more or less the traditional models of teaching. This is because teaching takes place using traditional method but incorporating technology to support learning. 
3. High Level: Technology is not just integrated, it becomes the central instructional tool for students. At this level, educational opportunities are more open and technology greatly enhances learning. 

For true integration to take place, I have learned that all teachers should aim for the high level of integration. Only then, it will not only add the maximum value to the learning activities but also solve instructional problems we face while teaching without technology integration.