Elements of Structuralism In Software/Materials

Elements of structuralism - does it include what Warschaeur (1999) refers to as "...the incumbent areas to teach ... the skills necessary for ...tasks. This includes the pragmatics of ... for effective presentation of material."? However, the elements of structuralism should not be overwhelming such that the entire lesson requires students to give certain expected responses to tasks or questions. A task that does not include a 2-way exchange of knowledge between teacher and students to negotiate meaning as well as give students opportunities to explore and fill information gaps may be counter-productive and not result in effective learning.

Pizza-Ordering Listening Activity and the likes of it

The pizza-ordering listening activity made me realise how ICT can serve merely as a mode of delivery for lesson content. The activity did not involve pupil interaction. Though it was intended to test listening skills, I realise how artificial the teaching-learning context can become when the student is not given a role to be actively-involved in the pizza-ordering activity. This does not give the student the opportunity to be responsible for his learning. This activity brings to mind how powerpoint presentations can likewise make students passive recipients of knowledge. Though the colour and animation effects in the slides may make the lesson more attractive, yet the information on the slides can be easily presented in handouts. In fact for most of such powerpoint presentations, teachers print handouts with lines at the side of slides for additional notes. In this instance, the computer is surely a mode of disseminating knowledge to students.

Net-Generation Kids

Hi everyone,

Quite some time since my last blog where I may have painted a not so impressive image of students ( don't know if my lot of students can be classified as kids of the net-generation!!!) This however applies to the few restless ones because majority of them are very attentive in ICT-fused lessons even if it begins with my powerpt slides (considered quite basic and ordinary these days) and then guided research based on my digital templates and finally followed by presentation and class discussion+tr. explanations.
The MAE 812 lessons have made me realise that I have not thought of students being resources themselves. Many of them being tech-savvy can be made to apply these skills and knowledge to produce ICT lessons such as podcasting (hope the software/ system required in available in the comp. lab in my college). Just wondering since it involves recording a script, how can we provide the environment considering the noise created... don't know how it is done actually.

Christina