Diana Ghazali's reflection of Session 1

Through my experiences as a student in Yio Chu Kang Secondary and Millennia Institute,
the teachers of my cohort mainly uses basic presentation tools, such as the projection units or Microsoft PowerPoint slides. At that time, besides the basic use of computer desktops to work on our research, we had courses such as 3d animation and robotics where we deal with technology in other means through design and computing soft wares. However, we do not really communicate with each other or the teachers through any communication device. Everything was being done 'old school'. Project work and group were discussions were being done through meet ups and information has to be passed manually, not digitally.

When I went to Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, I was exposed to even more tools of information and communication where we are all easily accessible through the comforts of our homes. I also gained skills far beyond the traditional idea of creating art, and I felt I have gained far more than anything I could have ever expected through out the three years. Being a 'noob' before, now I can safely say I know at least more than enough, to keep up with the changing world, and I am not afraid to even learn more to enhance the learning of our future generation through ICT.

During my school experience in Chung Cheng High, I was not as fortunate as my other classmates who has been posted to schools where ICT is used frequently. For example, in Maris Stella High, every student have to have a macbook, and every teacher will be provided with one. Information and communication was easily accessible anywhere, anytime. Where as in Chung cheng, I was not even able to put my PowerPoint slides and flash animations in my macbook that I have gruellingly made due to not updated pc laptops or faulty projection, and the only computer lab there was unavailable due to certain events that was going on there at that time.

Though fortunate were my classes was of 15-20 students - which I was able to get them to group around me and to teach them through my own macbook, it somewhat saddened me when they were very impressed even having an actual macbook there. Traditional art materials were in itself very, very limited. So it was very difficult for me to find any ways of teaching traditional or even digital art. Cameras, when proposed for, were given only two.

I feel that I have yet to be exposed into a school (besides nafa, nie and polytechnics) where ICT is fully utilized. However I very much do wish to learn every possible ways of encouraging and providing my students with effective learning through the use of ICTs.



What I already know:
Besides design and animation soft wares, blogs, livejournals, basic presentation soft wares, networking sites, I have learned through our first session, the use of WIKI and MindMeister.

What I wish to learn:
I wish to learn to fully utilize the use of ICTs to engage my students in meaningful learning.

What I learned this week:
The importance and effectiveness of ICT, wiki and MindMeister.

What questions do I still have:
How can I encourage students or fellow colleagues to effectively use ICT in their teaching/learning.