Constructive tool- Camtesia

The uses of technology in education system create effective teaching for teachers and enhance students' learning. Camtesia is a fantastic tool that can be used to record content of any length. It helps to create short informative videos or longer lectures as needed. Camtesia also allows to make quick edits, ensuring the best video quality for students. before I joined the college, I have no idea about how to use camtesia studio. However in first year, we used it during documentary film in module 'Child Development' with the help of few friends. During that time we recorded video and used camtesia for edition. Nevertheless, in this semester we used it to make video tutorial.

                                                  Documentary film on child development

We were assigned with ten minutes video tutorial whereby our module tutor gave us the topic. i was given topic on 'Using Probability Language' for grade three( mathematics). I was anxious about how to go about creating a video tutorial and was bit worried as well.  Then I tried to record in laptop using those features learnt through watching guided video on camtesia that sir has uploaded. It was quite impressive as all I need to have is power point presentation on ' Using Probability Language'. However it was bit challenging for me to record screen while presenting. I was bother by Webcam and I could not explain smoothly, I did several rehearsal before actual recording.


After trying several times, I saved all short videos whether it was good or bad and edited using features in camtesia. Still then I could not get rid of keyboard sounds( which was produced while changing slides) which was bit distracted. Finally, I am done with making video tutorial uploaded below. The final video was made to upload in face- book group created by module tutorial where we were make to comment each others video.It did not went as perfectly as I expected but I tried my best. Gradually as we can see that our education strategies are developing through advancement of technology, it is very must for us to prepared for such video tutorial in future.

                                                 Video tutorial on Using Probability Language


Therefore, camtesia is one of the software that is used to edit videos and publish it. It contains different features which help us to modify our video clips to make it more effective and attractive. First, we can just record short clips and join all small scenes using camtesia. Thus,as a teacher I can use this as teaching-learning materials. Moreover, using videos can do away with monotonous classroom teaching and motivate learning.

Constructive Tools

                using constructive tools will make students self-motivated and more accountable

Digital learning is replacing traditional education methods more and more each day. with how rapidly classrooms are changing, it is best to forget methods you may remember from when we were in school and start thinking about newer teaching and learning techniques based on digital learning tools and technologies.  The inclusion of digital learning in the classroom can vary from simply using tablets instead of paper. Children also develop positive feelings of accomplishment from mastering new knowledge and skills using digitized learning tools giving them the confidence they need to learn even more new things.

     desktop publishing

So, constructive tools are the application that help learners to manipulate information, visualize one's understanding and construct own knowledge. Constructive tools such as Microsoft word or powerpoint has a strong  impact in educational environment and it is widely used in most organizations.It is based on constructive approach to teaching and learning which emphasizes on construction of knowledge base on our own understanding. It means learners are makers of meaning and knowledge.

The constructive characteristic describes learner- centered instructions that allows students to use technology tools to connect new information to their prior knowledge. Students use technology tools to connect new information to their prior knowledge rather than passively receiving information. It constitute a shift from teacher to learner centered whereby learners explore on their own to construct knowledge based on their pre-existing knowledge.

                                                       Blogs

 For example, designing PowerPoint simulation about my village in order to attract tourist was difficult for me at the beginning. Though I have been using PowerPoint for presentation, it was not enough for designing simulation. However, the basic knowledge on preparing PowerPoint presentation helped me to design and exploring many new features of Powerpoint add new knowledge on my existing knowledge.
So, I felt that was one of the effective teaching and learning materials for both teachers and students if it is appropriately incorporated with content.
         

      simulation about my village in order to attract tourist.

Two types of ICT as communicative tools

In previous post I have posted a gest about communicative tools. In this I will talk more about ICT as synchronous and asynchronous communicative tools.
Synchronous communication refers to communication that happens in real time and requires an immediate response. It includes face to face conversation,zoom and Google Meetup call. It also includes simultaneous messaging when everyone is using the same technology online at the same time.
For example, we discuss on chat forum created by ICT sir during his period. Thought we do not see and hear voice, we response and get feedback immediate from lecture and peers. So it's synchronous.

Besides its advantages,there are few drawbacks of synchronous;
    Since there are multiple threads of discussion, it's difficult to follow. To prevent the multiple threads of discussion, we as  teachers have to let students to focus on one thread as our ICT sir did. We can give brief introduction to the topic that are suppose to discuss before the discussion starts.

   Another major drawback is due to slow connection it distract the flow of discussion and students lose interest in it. Further when there are many sides of discussion, it's difficult for teachers and students to focus and keep track.


Asynchronous communication refers to communication that does not happen in real time and participants can send a response whenever they want. The time delay between the asynchronous message and it's response could be any where from minutes to weeks, but the basis is that the communication does not have to be " live".
So when we do have have to be " live " to response, we get feedback or necessary clarification late and it minimize the frequency of visiting discussion site like VLE, blogs. Moreover it is additional task to check VLE, blogs and other discussion sites.

ICT as communicative tools

The speed and automatic functions of ICT allow a teacher to demonstrate, explore and clarify aspects of the teaching method which enable the students learn more effectively. Today I will share my own understanding on ICT as communicative tools which are second tools.

Communicative tools are systems that allow easy communication among teachers and students or among students outside the classroom.  Examples include e-mail, electronic bulletin boards, chat, blog, teleconference and electronic whiteboard. These examples can be classified into two categories.

1.      Synchronous communicative tools

2.      Asynchronous communicative tools

Chat or videos conference falls under synchronous tools as it enable real time communication.

                                       4 PCC  discussing in video conference during ECCD class

E-mail, blog, we chat and electronic whiteboard is asynchronous tools where people are not live but exchange messages.

we chat used for discussion of learning task

                                     Using university mail to among lectures and students

Welcome to the 21st century teaching and learning

There is no going back. We live in a connected, wired world. Students need to be taught how to engage those connections, collaborate and communicate globally in a fluent and skillful way. So ICT make significant contribution to teaching and learning across the entire subject. ICT consists of various tools and systems that can be exploited by capable and creative teachers to improve teaching and learning situations. It enables the teacher to teach less and students to learn more which lets to increase in learning rate.

So in this part I will talk about ICT as Informative tools.

Informative tools are applications that provide large amounts of information in various formats such as text, graphics, sound or video. It is regarded as passive repository of information which caters to all individual differences. Examples include television, radio and internet. Among many examples, internet is a huge electronic database and it is consider as the most significant ICT tools.

We use ICT as references, virtual tutor and virtual textbook in the process of learning.  We analyze and synthesize the collected information from different sources. Then we reorganize the information in meaningful and easy way to understand. Hence it helps us to construct our own meaning and knowledge which will be our lifelong learning. Moreover, it helps us to develop information search skills, enhance critical thinking and develop the skills in evaluate resources on the internet.

Therefore, ICT as informative tools provide vast amount of information in various format for learners to organize, reorganize, expand and collapse.