Computer Aided Teaching and Presentation Software

COMPUTER AIDED TEACHING (CAT)

                        Computer Aided Teaching (CAT) approach is a need of the hour in teaching learning sector. Computer Aided Teaching is:

·         an interactive strategy used in organizing teaching materials in a computer environment

·         Presenting these materials to the students in a user-friendly format

·         Promoting learning and detecting and remedying misconceptions of the students with the help of computer.

·         Computer Aided Teaching usually includes multimedia instructional formats, such as animation, video and simulation, and virtual learning environment such as Web Course Tools (Web CT) or Blackboard Learning System (BLS).

            Computer Aided Teaching (CAT) approach is highlighted in all current curriculum reforms around the world. Indian classrooms are also zeroing in on this approach.

            Computer Aided or assisted teaching simply means that teacher make uses the computer and allied systems to take classroom lessons. Teacher can use different soft wares for this purpose. Students learning can be facilitated with the CAT

Using Presentation Softwares in Classrooms

There have many presentation soft wares. Most popular among them is Power Point Presentation.

Linux Impress

                  Linux Impress, a part of the Apache Open Office, developed by Sun Microsystems, is an open source presentation program compatible similar to Microsoft PowerPoint. With this versatile application we can create a series of ‘slides’ that can contain text, images, audio, or even video. Open Office Impress shows can be presented manually, by clicking on the space bar to progress to the next slide. One can also create a stand-alone self -running ‘show’ with the application.

                It can export presentations to Adobe Flash (SWF) files allowing them to be played on any computer with the Flash player installed. It also includes the ability to create PDF files. A presentation consists of page(s) that can be seen on the computer screen as normal and with the use of a projector, can be seen on the wall or on an external screen. Normally, a laptop is used since it has good portability.

          Impress is like a SLIDE SHOW. One page after the other is projected. A page that is projected is called a SLIDE. The following can be included in a Slide.

1. Animation

2. 3-D graphics

3. Bullets and Numbered Lists

4. All the normal stuff that is in a word processor and in spreadsheets such as bold,  colours,  text alignment, borders, drawing, templates, etc. 

POWER POINT PRESENTATION

             PowerPoint was the first presentation software designed for Macintosh and Windows. Power Point was originally designed for the Apple Macintosh computer, developed by Dennis Austin and Robert Gaskins in 1987.

                  Power Point is an effective pedagogical tool in the classroom. It can be used in the classroom for initial teaching, for student projects, for practice and drilling, for games, for reviews, and for tests.

Benefits for teachers:

•      Teachers can use PowerPoint presentations to enhance the effectiveness of classroom instruction in many ways and in every subject area.

•      Teachers can modify lessons and use them over and over again. Therefore, teachers save time on handing out instructional material, writing on blackboard, repeated speech and so on.

•      PowerPoint can enrich the information in a lesson, and make the presentation more organized and flexible.

•      Main points can be emphasized by using graphics, animation and sound.

•      PowerPoint can be used for content review.

•      Rather than handing absentee students written notes of a lesson they missed, you can replay your lesson or presentation using a slide show. Absent students receive the same instruction as those who are present, so they do not fall behind.

•      Teachers can share lessons and presentations simply using a file-sharing system or flash drive. Teachers can share the workload of creating presentations.

 Creating Slides in the Power Point Creating Presentation

Any know how with computer can easily develop presentation in power point. It is not a difficult task. The following steps are suggested to develop a presentation.

Step 1: Launch the PowerPoint Program

Step 2: Choose a Design

Step 3: Create Title Page

Step 4: Add More Slides

Step 5: Add charts, pictures, graphs, etc.

Step 6: Add Transitions

Step 7: Changing the Order

Step 8: Play the Presentation

Importance of creating Slides in Presentation Softwares

                Slide Presentation Softwares such as the Open Office Impress and the PowerPoint;  has become an ingrained part of many instructional settings, particularly in large classes and in courses more geared toward information exchange than skill development. PowerPoint and the Impress can be highly effective tools to aid learning, but if not used carefully, may instead disengage students and actually hinder learning.

                 Potential benefits of using Presentation Softwares include:

•            Engaging multiple learning styles

•            Increasing visual impact

•            Improving audience focus

•            Providing annotations and highlights

•            Analyzing and synthesizing complexities

•            Enriching curriculum with inter disciplinary.  

•            Increasing spontaneity and interactivity

•            Increasing wonder

 Creating Animation in a Power Point Presentation           

            An Animation is the ability to move objects in a slide without your direct intervention during a presentation. Animation can be useful in making a presentation more dynamic, and help to emphasize points, but too much animation can be distracting. Do not let animation and sound take the focus away from what you are saying. Following are the steps to create an animation in the presentation:

STEP:1
Open Power point and create a new presentation. Make a blank slide and set the transition to advance after 1 second. Click Apply to all.

 STEP:2
Draw the first frame of your animation. This one is important - it is the frame that all of the other frames in this scene will be based on. Take your time with it.

STEP:3
Duplicate the slide, and make a very slight change in this slide for the progress of the animation. If you had a ball falling, make it go down one or two places.

STEP: 4

Do not duplicate the new slide and keep going. For things like gravity, make the motion stronger each time, eg: changing it more and more. The most catastrophic thing is to make things go too fast, so don't be afraid to take a lot of slides to do one thing - you can always delete them later.

 STEP: 5

Preview your presentation constantly; changing anything you think needs to be changed. Erase unneeded slides and such, add or delete details until your presentation is perfect

STEP: 6
Add in sounds and other details, then make a beginning and ending slide, maybe even an opening sequence.

Note on E-Content and Edubundu (brief)

E-CONTENT AND EDUBUNDU

E-content

E-content includes e Texts and digital learning resources. These could be digital textbooks, workbooks, articles, videos, or multimedia resource. Switching from traditional textbooks to digital course materials is a growing trend in school education and higher education.

 Why E-content?

E-content is the need of the hour. It promotes fast constitution of content matters. It can transact to any destination from a single source within s short time. E- content ensures:

·         Digital generation

·         Knowledge explosion

·         Multi Sensory Learning

The e-content promote direct experiences. It is supportive for self activity based learning. It is saying that an individual remember -
20% of what we HEAR

30% of what we SEE

50% of what we SEE and HEAR

80 % of what we SAY

90% of what we SAY and DO

E content helps to have SAY and Do.

Forms of E-content

·         Short Learning Objects (SLO) – Granules, 3-4 Minutes, New Way of Thinking about Learning Content

·         Modules- Larger and Independent; With Objectives, Experiences and Assessment; 25-30 Minutes of Multimedia

Repository of E-content in India- CEC – Consortium for Educational Communication

Website www.cec.nic.in

Parts of an e-content module

·         Objectives of the content

·         Summary of the content

·         Multimedia part- Audio / Video

·         Whole Text of the Video/ Audio content

·         Reference

·         Assignment

·         Downloads including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)  and Supporting materials

·         Links to a blog based on the E-content         

Major quadrants of E – content modules are:

1.      The e -text

2.      The PPT

3.      The FAQs or evaluator questions

4.      E resources

Steps in the development of E-content module

·         Identifying the area for e-content module development

·         Formulating the Objectives of the module

·         Writing the Summary of the content

·         Preparing a story board for the AV part

·         Shooting the necessary parts with the help of Video camera/ Camcorder or even high resolution Mobile Camera

·         Developing the Multimedia part (Audio / Video) by mixing (using appropriate Mixing software) the videos shot, videos downloaded (if any), Presentations on PowerPoint or Open Office Presentation Software and Music / background score etc. – For this help from Professionals can make the e-content better.

·         Giving adequate Reference- both Links to websites as well as Books/ Journals etc

·         Giving tasks Assignment and necessary Feedback

·         Providing links for Downloads including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)  and Supporting materials

·         Providing Links to a blog based on the E-content.

EDUBUNTU

Edubuntu is the Ubuntu based Free (Open resource) Operating system that incorporates many study resources and software that are helpful in the learning of content of school subjects. Ubuntu roughly means ‘human-ness’. Edubuntu (Ubuntu for education) provided by IT@school Kerala is customized for learning various subjects at the Primary and Secondary level in the schools of Kerala.

This preparation is done in collaboration with Sri. Arun M R, Assistant Professor, Ezhuthachan Training College, Manhapra, Palkkad

Notes on Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), M Learnin, Face Book/whatsAap as educational devices

Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)

Technological development reached to Indian school classrooms in 1960s. Now India widely uses the technological assistance for teaching and transaction. Technology is highly advanced from the good old OHP to the most advanced devices. Computer and allied components and internet become essential to the classroom teaching. The technology alone will not be worthy for a classroom. Effective uses of pedagogical principles through technological devices are the essential thing. We must redefine pedagogy to go on with the technology. This is the initial step of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge.

            Technological pedagogical content knowledge is essential to a social science teacher. Social science teacher can do active teaching with the techno-pedagogy. The following points can be traced out in this regard:

• The technological knowledge enhances teachers to teach effectively

The technology alone can’t work effectively in a classroom. TPACK blends the technology, content and pedagogy for progressive utilization. TPACK consists of 7 different knowledge areas. They are:

1.  Content Knowledge
2. Pedagogical Knowledge
3.  Technology Knowledge 
4. Pedagogical Content Knowledge
5.  Technological Content Knowledge
6.  Technological Pedagogical Knowledge
7.  Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge

TPACK is the interaction of three primary forms of knowledge: Content, Pedagogy  and Technology. The relationship between these three items can be illustrated as follows: (hyp to Wikipedia)

Technology knowledge

Technology knowledge refers to an understanding of the way that technologies are used in a specific content domain.  For example, for social science teachers, it is an understanding of the range of technologies that historians or economists or exerts in geography use in social science and allied subjects.  Within the context of technology integration in schools, it appears to most often refer to digital technologies such as laptops, the Internet, and software applications.

Content Knowledge

Content knowledge includes knowledge of concepts, theories, and conceptual frameworks as well as knowledge about accepted ways of developing knowledge. For example It is the knowledge in any areas of social science.

Pedagogical Knowledge

Pedagogical knowledge is the knowledge in pedagogy as a science of instruction. It includes general knowledge about how students learn, teaching approaches, methods of assessment and knowledge of different theories of learning.

Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Pedagogical content knowledge is knowledge about how to combine pedagogy and content effectively. This is knowledge about how to make a subject understandable to learners. PCK includes knowledge of what makes a subject difficult or easy to learn, as well as knowledge of common misconceptions and likely preconceptions students bring with them to the classroom

Technological Content Knowledge

Technological content knowledge refers to knowledge about how technology may be used to provide new ways of teaching content.  For example, digital animation makes it possible for students to conceptualize how electrons are shared between atoms when chemical compounds are formed

Technological Pedagogical Knowledge

Technological pedagogical knowledge refers to the affordances and constraints of technology as an enabler of different teaching approaches. For example online collaboration tools may facilitate social learning for geographically separated learners.

 Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Technological pedagogical content knowledge refers to the knowledge and understanding of the interplay between CK, PK and TK when using technology for teaching and learning. It includes an understanding of the complexity of relationships between students, teachers, content, practices and technologies

   M-learning

M learning stands for Mobile learning. Mobile is a handy device that can be used for effective learning too. It means learning using portable devices that allow the student to learn in different environments and while on the move instead of being restricted to a classroom setting or tied to a desk. It is a portable technology.

It is an Electronic Learning as a subset of Distance Learning.

• Mobile Learning is a Subset of E learning. It is very effective device to make use for e-learning. M learning have become extremely important words of the educational technological revolution. M learning is a whole boost of ideas and resources for the tech savvy teacher.

The Importance of mobile learning

M learning has the following importance:

•         It is important to bring new technology into the classroom.

•         Devices used are more lightweight than books and computers.

•         Mobile learning can be used to diversify the types of learning activities that students partake.

•         Mobile learning supports the learning process rather than being fundamental to its uses.

•         Mobile learning can be a useful add-on tool for students with special needs. However, for SMS and MMS this might be dependent on the students’ specific disabilities or difficulties involved.

•         Mobile learning can be used as a ‘hook’ to re-engage disaffected youth.

•         It is very effective for making use social media as an educational support

Other Merits

•         Relatively less expensive, as the cost of mobile devices are significantly less than Personal Computerss and laptops

•         Opportunities for multimedia content delivery and creation options

•         Continuous learning support for inidividual

•         No training costs

•         Potentially a more rewarding learning experience

•         New opportunities for traditional educational institutions

•         Provides Virtual learning environment

•         A virtual learning environment (VLE) is a Web-based policy for the digital aspects of courses of study within educational institutions. VLEs typically: allow participants to be organized into associates, groups and roles; present resources, activities and interactions within a course structure; provide for the different stages of assessment; report on participation; and have some level of integration with other institutional systems. 

Virtual learning: Student accessibility features

A virtual learning environment offers a learning system with many components, with added advantage of computer based learning and teaching space. One of the process to enhance the learning experience was the virtual resource room, which is student centered, works in a self paced format, and which encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning. In virtual mode, the materials are available in the form of computer aided learning program, lecture notes, special self-assessment module. Another mechanism for student to student interactions in a form of simple discussion forum is by using a novel link Cyber tutor. This allows the students with an email account to connect with course content and the staff with their doubts and related questions. The students are able to contact the staff without a face to face visit which saves the on campus time. The staff remains anonymous which allows for the several staff to act as a cyber tutor during the course. The student does not remain anonymous although their email address is cryptic enough to mask their identity. Students can discuss about the exams, lab reports, posters, lectures, and technical help with downloading materials. The evaluation of the use of Virtual resource room is done by surveys, focus groups and online feedback forms. The students have 24 hours of access to the learning material in a day which suits their varied life styles. They also find the learning materials to be very useful for many different reasons.

Virtual field trip: Virtual field trip simply means a field trip by using technological and internet resources.  It is the opportunity to explore and see places, things, and people not normally seen on a typical classroom day. During a classroom virtual field trip, students can explore places across the high seas, states across our country, and many nearby or far away people, places, and things. This is an opportunity to see and experience the world without ever leaving the classroom. Internet connection is the best need to have a virtual field trip. The virtual field trip has no cost effective to schools. It eliminates the costs of renting transportation, additional insurance coverage and the cost of chaperons.

Teachers can explore many virtual field trip options through websites of Discovery channel. A Malayalam channel by name SAFARI and the Sanjaram web site are also providing virtual fieldtrips. . There is a tremendous amount of information on the internet for planning virtual field trips.

Face book 

Face book is an online social networking service. The Facebook website was launched on February 4, 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg.

Uses of face book for a social science teacher

1. Ask for information collection: The crowd on Facebook gives information on various fields.

2.      Conduct and attend remote lectures: Using Facebook, you can tune into remote lectures and presentations from around the world.

3. Useful as Museums, social science lab, book bank  and more: Help your students follow along with local and international museums, art galleries, exhibits, and more for enriched learning on Facebook.
4. Firsthand research: Students can connect with family members for genealogy assignments, discuss issues with local celebrities and more through Facebook.

5.         Follow politicians/nations/events and etc: If your class is studying the current election, use Facebook to follow politicians on the local, state, and national scale. You can even ask students to interact with the candidates, posting questions and getting feedback.

6.         Public polling: Students can research and poll friends and family members by simply asking questions on Facebook.

Whatsapp

WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform, encrypted, instant messaging system for Smartphone. It uses the Internet to send text messages, documents, images, video, user location and audio messages to other users using mobile device with whats aap.

The underlying purpose of WhatsApp is to facilitate communication, and at its most basic level, education is nothing but communication. WhatsApp can provide a channel through which teachers can achieve faster and more seamless communication with their students. It can also increase the level of communication between students and create another venue for learning

Education Strategies for WhatsApp
whats aap is useful for:

1) Use the Group Chats feature to create learning and study groups

2) Create audio lessons that can be sent directly to students

3) Stay in contact with students outside the classroom

4) Send out problems or assignments to students even when they are not in class

5) Stay in contact with parents

6) Send videos to students

7) Send graphics such as pictures or charts directly to students

8) Send report cards directly to the parents’ phones

9) Facilitate real-time communication between students and teachers.

10) Facilitate real-time communication between teachers and parents.

11) Teachers can maintain communication with students.