My experience using google classroom

Due to the corona pandemic, I heard a lot about Google classroom and saw my brother and sister using Google classroom as their online learning platform where they submit their work and read the materials uploaded by their teacher. Most of the time I helped them uploading their work and reading the materials uploaded by their teacher so I was familiarized with Google classroom as a student.

So I used to wonder how teachers upload videos, assignments, and quiz in Google classroom.

After learning how to create and access Google classroom, I came to know that Google classroom is a platform where students and teachers can work collaboratively to construct knowledge, skills, and concepts enhance their learning.

my google classroom

 I created Google classroom for Social Studies to class VI students with the help from our tutor.  During that, I came across interesting features of Google classroom such as a stream, people, classwork, and grade. I learned how to provide an announcement, assign quizzes, assignments, and reading material on Google classroom. 

the task that I uploaded

As an educator in the future, I will encourage the use of Google classroom in learning apart from the usual class. Instead of providing assignments in the classroom, I will use Google classroom to assign them with the assignment and assign an online quiz along with relevant reading material. Through these, students get exposure to many ideas and knowledge other than the textbook.

     My promotional video on the overview of google classroom

Reflection on situating tool

 From the discussion, I learned that 'situating tools' is the application 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.

Graph Calc

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.

map view

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.

Street View of Paro College of Education

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.

PhET simulation

ICT as co-constructive tool

Reflection on Co-constructive tool

After going through co-constructive tools, I  found the integration of a co-constructive tool vital in teaching and learning as it provides a platform to work cooperatively to construct share meaning and knowledge, enhance the collaborative learning environment, communicate database, text, and graphics,   and enhance the high-level cognitive process. moreover, it provides an opportunity to build a good relationship between peers and teachers for effective communication and learning. In co-construction, it involves more than two people to work collaboratively online using various tools.  some of the examples of the co-constructive tool include electronic board, google docs, discussion forum, and blog.

we can integrate the co-constructive tool in our teaching and learning by making groups and letting them share their ideas and knowledge on a particular topic as we did in ICT modules, developing ICT integrated lesson plans using google docs.  Through the use of google docs, students will be able to communicate and edit each other work and as well as construct the shared knowledge from the discussion. Further, they can get immediate feedback from the teacher to improve their work.

From the Google docs assignment, I learned how to make ICT integrated lesson plans. I learned some features of google docs such as chat forum, comment forum, how to attach files, and how to invite friends.  after knowing about such a feature I learned how to comment and co-edit the work as soon as my friend share the work. With the comment section, I found myself giving more supplement and feedback and also a contribution to the discussion. Through the use of google docs, we can improve our assignment as it allows us to interact and collaborate online thus enhancing our learning environment. After knowing the benefit of google docs, I used google docs with my friends while writing an action research report.

Following are the evidence of our discussion while designing ICT integrated lesson plan on google docs

Preparing lesson plans using Google Docs in a group of three.

Comment and Discussion on a lesson plan

ICT- integrated lesson plan

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wytLRG2nnY0V32O-YnSb6y2U-S2rbzQa13jE2oADgDs/edit

writing action research report using Google docs.

Reflection on camtasia video tutorial

Using Camtasia for the first time was nerve-wracking experiences especially at a time where we cannot meet our tutor face to face for any help or support. Nevertheless, with the help of video uploaded by our tutor  I learned a lot about using the Camtasia App. 
To make a video lesson using Camtasia App,  firstly I downloaded the Camtasia software from vle which was uploaded by our tutor and installed it.  After that, I made a PowerPoint presentation on the topic  "Sound Travelling". The making of the presentation was challenging as I had to insert video and animation that could meaningfully complement my lesson and help children to understand better. Moreover,  to do the recording in Camtasia an effective and well-organized presentation is essential as it is from the presentation that the learners are going to learn. 
Presentation on sound traveling:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13HgeDwlitt7owWhrZyBeaNyPLLqk3xZv/edit#slide=id.p14
Once the presentation was made,  I recorded the voice narration and video using Camtasia App.  I learned that to record the presentation we can either use add-in option from the slide tab in the PowerPoint presentation or can use screen recording in Camtasia.  From the two,  I use the add-in option from the slide tab to record my voice narration and video. 

Screen recording of Camtasia 

Add-Ins option in slide tab

using Add-Ins  option to record my presentation

After recording the video, I used Camtasia App and did the necessary edition and manipulation.  There I learned how to import images and videos,  how to add text,  background music, transition, how to delete the unwanted video to come up with video lessons. 

multiple features of Camtasia

Editing video using Camtasia App

Once the video was made, as per our tutor instructions I uploaded the video on Facebook. with the comment given by my friends I motivated.

comments provided by my friends on my video tutorial

After using a Camtasia App for my video lesson,  I found that Camtasia was one of the most effective educational video tutorial apps for educators to impart the content and skills creatively and interestingly. 
So as a teacher I will surely use this application to enhance my teaching and learning with my future students because it is going to help Me in delivering my lesson with ease. Not only that I can use my video lesson during my absence to teach the student with the help of other teachers.  Moreover, video lesson is never going to bore our lesson as it has the right amount of text and images sometimes video as well as cater the individual difference in learning. 
It was fun using Camtasia App to make the video tutorial and I felt happy as I could come up with my own video tutorial using Camtasia. 

 My  video tutorial-sound traveling

Constructive tool

ICT as a Constructive Tool reflection

Constructive tools are the applications that help learners manipulate information, visualize one’s understanding and construct one’s own knowledge. The constructive tools include electronic bulletin boards, MS publisher, social networking sites and simulation.

The learning theory emphasizes constructive tools is constructivism theory. Constructivism is an approach to learning that holds that people actively construct or make their own meaning through experience. We can integrate the constructive tool to teach and communicate as well as it enables the learner to comprehend the concept easily. There are advantages of using constructive tools such as it enables the learners to become creative thinkers where they can create their own knowledge, the learner can retain the information for a longer period.

Out of many constructive tools, I learned how to make simulations using PowerPoint presentations during ICT class.  While designing I learned how to include videos, pictures, and text in one slide.  I have designed a simulated advertisement to attract visitors using the PowerPoint presentation program based on my locality.

  Simulation on my locality:

ICT as communicative tool reflection

Communication is an essential part of every aspect of our entire life.  It plays a vital role in creating understanding and establishing relationships. Further, it plays a significant role in teaching and learning as it helps to transmit knowledge from teachers to students apart from the sharing of other ideas, thought, and opinions. Thus ICT serves as a communication tool and offers teachers a means to improve communication and interaction among students, teachers, and parents.

In this 21^st century, I think the use of communication tools has become an essential part of our life.  Starting from a young age to the elder, they use communication tools to interact and socialize. As a teacher, we need to have good communication skill to interact with the students.  If we don’t have good communication skills we cannot teach or share the ideas effectively with the students.  

Most of us are aware of communication tool such as we chat, Facebook, email, Skype but we were not aware of the blog. During ICT sessions we learned about creating a blog.  A blog is an online journal or informational website displaying information in the reverse chronological order with the latest posts appearing first. The content of the blog typically includes text, pictures, videos, and even scans from the old physical offline diaries or journals.  I also learned that the integration of blogs in education provides opportunities for students to take more control of their learning, promotes discussion among students, and encourages the use of the internet and web among students and teachers.

Based on the video and step given by our tutor I learned to create a blog.  then I learned how to insert video, presentation, and link in the blog. In the blog, I posted the reflection and the information related to the five ICT tools such as images, text, and video.

Blog address: tashiictintegrationathome.blogspot.com

writing reflection in a blog 

My blog  post 

We can integrate communicative tools in our teaching and learning in the form of learning tasks and assignments. Integrating communicative tools for teaching and learning is not just the use of those tools as additional support for learning but instead the use of those tools as the primary mode of teaching and learning.  Some of the common examples of integrating communicative tools are the use of PowerPoint presentations and letting students write a reflective understanding of it, doing a videoconference with our students to teach a concept and then asking questions to help them reflect on their learning, uploading learning task online to help students learn better,  using VLE for open discussions, exchanging academic videos, pictures, and texts via mail or WeChat or VLE and letting students use applications such as Camtasia for making video lessons.

Use of communication tools in teaching and learning

After the arrival of coronavirus in Bhutan on 6th march, the schools and the colleges in the country remained closed.  During this time the use of communication tools in teaching and learning became important. The teacher was asked to teach the students online. So to teach online, different communication tools such as WeChat, Vle, Google classroom, zoom,  and skype was used to interact, share information with the students, and to keep track of the lesson.

 Through the use of these tools, we can discuss, share, and ask our doubts as to if we are in a real classroom. Moreover, we get the opportunity to interact with our tutor frequently compare to the real classroom.

Out of many communication tools, I was familiar with google meet, vle forum, WeChat, and email as we were taught the lesson using these tools through video conferencing, video, and audio.  During our online classes so far, the above-mentioned tools have helped us understand new knowledge and concepts better. These virtual tools are a good substitute for face to face interaction, especially at a time like this where we cannot have access to face to face teaching and learning. I feel comfortable and convenient to learn through these communicative tools because they add excitement to our lesson and we show extra interest in learning too.

The following picture shows how we have use communication tools in our teaching and learning:

video conferencing

Wechat discussion 

vle discussion