Situating Tool

Situating Tool

I have learned that 'situating tools' are applications that helps learners to situate learning in an environment to experience the context of happening. it provides an avenue for learners to experience the real-life situation. The example of a situating tool includes simulation (fight, farming, surgery, environment, driving, History City, Sim City, play station), virtual reality, and CD-ROM.

There are many situating tools that we can use in our teaching and learning. out of many firstly I learned how to use Graph Calc application. Graph calc is an application that helps us in plotting graphs and finding a correlation between them. Under this, we did an activity where we plot 4 different types of linear equations and draw the correlation between the graph. After familiarizing myself with this application, I found this application very interesting, engaging, and applicable for the teacher in teaching the graphic concept to the learner. it helps learners think critically to draw the correlation between the graph as well as aid better understanding of the concept as it provides a platform for experiential learning. So as a teacher we can use graph calc to teach the concept of the graph as it will be easier for learners to find the pattern of the graph and provide a platform for active learning.

Another situating tool that I learned is a 'google map'.Google Maps is a web mapping service developed by Google. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets, real-time traffic conditions, and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bicycle, and air, or public transportation. As a teacher, we can use google map in subjects such as social studies and math to teach the concepts of the location of any place, time, distance and area instead of reading from the text. Moreover, it provides a 2D and 3D view of a place that we want which builds an exciting curiosity to explore more and provide real-life experience.

The last situating tool that I learned is on simulation. the simulation on different content helps the learner to comprehend the content better as it provides the learner hand on practices learning where the learner can change variable and do an experiment. After going through the PhET simulation, I found out that simulation allows me to feel the real experience of the environment. By using it, I can comprehend the concept easily because I have a choice to manipulate the variables. Also, when we manipulate the variables, it helps to boost the creativity and visualization skills as we need to focus on the simulation. So as a teacher if we integrate simulation in teaching and learning, it will help the learner in decision-making, boosts problem-solving skills, and manipulates the elements of the model.