1B-4 - 1 - Conclusions from discussion on ICT Integration in Developing Countries

As I reflected on the reading and activity the conclusions from the discussion on ICT integration in developing countries are a follows:

• Despite the challenges which developing countries are facing with continuous training of teachers and personnel such as lab technicians the integration of ICT can begin to take place.

• Forging partnerships with developed countries will enable developing countries like ours to obtain well needed resources – financial, human and technological resources needed to bridge the gap in the digital divide and to continue the process of integrating ICT in education.

• Even though Developing countries like Antigua and Barbuda might be limited in its financial resources, with the little that it has, it has begun laying the foundation for the integration of ICT in its schools’ curriculum. It is vigorously training its human resource (which is a great asset in this endeavor) some of whom are on par with those in developed countries. This human resource is and will be very creative with their limited facilities to incorporate ICT and eventually we will be able to rub shoulders in some way with developed countries.

 Bernard

1B-4 - 1 - Audit of my school’s ICT use (what we have and what we do with it)

        At my school there are two IT labs and one EDPM Lab. Both IT labs have approximately 36 computers each with Internet connection. There are about 20 computers in the E.D.P.M. lab but there is no internet connection.

 There are five computers with internet connection in the staff room however there is one printer which is not working.

 There are two computers with a printer and internet connection in the Secretary office and there is a computer with internet connection and printer in the Principal’s office. There is also a computer in the Deputy Principal’s office but it has no internet connection.  The office also has a modern high-tech photocopier.

The school library has two computers with internet connection and a printer.

In my department (Visual Arts) there is a computer with a printer but there is not internet connection.

In my school ICT is used in a number of ways.

1. Use of the Internet.  The internet is used by both teachers and students to engage in online research, gathering information and communicating with others. Teachers use the internet to gather resource material to support their teaching for example viewing and downloading lesson plans ideas, worksheets and information on a particular topic to be taught. They research what other teachers and experts are saying  in addition to what they know and the textbooks are saying. They also use the Internet to download images, video clips and audio clips to assist in their teaching. For example as a Visual Arts Teacher I could download a video from YouTube or give the students the link to see a vides about ‘how to use the Airbrush to create Grafitti”.

 Students on the other hand use the internet to email  on-going projects to teachers so that they can check them, make corrections and suggestions and send them back.(This is done to prevent wastage of ink and paper.)

2.  For research and Projects: Students at my school use the internet to gather information to complete their projects. They use word processing to put this information together for proper presentation. Teachers too use word processing to edit information, making notes and creating worksheets, test and quizzes.

3. Information Storage: At my school the computer is used to store information such as students’ attendance, grades and biographical data.  Grade sheets are prepared electronically using both Microsoft word and excel. The school uses the ABUSSTAR system which stores the biographical data, attendance and grades of all students.

4. As Educational Software: At my school the software ‘Mavis Beacon” is used as a drill and practice exercise to teach students how to type correctly using the keyboard.

5. As a means of Communication, emails are sent from the HOD to teachers in the department, to the principal and across departments. Also the technology is used to send text messages to each other.

6. In terms of computer literacy, Information Technology (IT) is taught as a subject and also Electronic Documentation and Processing Management (E.D.P.M.). Both subjects use applications such as word, spreadsheets and database along with powerpoint and movie maker to create documents.

2A-5 - 2 - Word processor as an administrative tool

It is interesting to note just how helpful word processor can be as an administrative tool.  First of all, the use of the medium as a storage facility. No more will I have to be joggling lots of paper around with information and no longer will I have to be doing lots of photocopying. With the template created I can easily put in the information, save the document and print after. If there is an error it is so easy to be corrected by going back to the document, hit the delete button and type in the correct information.  However one of the key operations is to constantly save your document.

Using word processor as an administrator will surely be making my work easier as a HOD and Level head.  As a matter of fact a number of ideas have begun to surface now that I have completed the first document for this activity. I can use this subject choice broadsheet template to also create a midterm and end of term grade broad sheet template. I also realize I can now create a template for lab fee receipts to give to students or even email them to parents using mail merge. Wow… this is exciting!!!

2A-5 – 1 – ICT and the roles of the Teacher

It is obvious that ICT offers a wide range of possibilities to assist teachers in their roles as educators, administrators, mediators  and citizenship role just to name a few.

  After reading the literature and executing the activity I realize that I have been using quite a few aspects of the technology to assist in my teaching and to make it more effective.  For example I have been using the WWW to gather updated information on various topics related to my subject area; I have been using Face Book, text messages and emails to interact with my students and teachers across the region and around the world on various aspects of teaching and learning and topics related to my subject area, sharing documents and images. 

In addition, I realize that there is still a vast amount of the technology which can be tapped into and that with the rapid change in technology, as a teacher I need to adapt to the constant change in technology if I am to survive and keep pace with the new methods and technologies of ICT. Also being engaged in this course has opened my eyes to new ways of how I can use IC T to interact with my colleagues and students not only in my school or country but globally.

In Antigua and Barbuda teachers are being encouraged to embrace and use ICT as an integral part of the curriculum and to use it to make the teaching and learning environment more of a learner centered environment driven by the use of the technology.

I am excited about all the possibilities that exist and hope that I will be able to implement some of the ideas put forward by my colleagues in this course/group.

Accomplishment

Wow this is biggest accomplishment for the day at the workshop.. I have made my own blog.