Reforming the Educational System

Student centered learning and Inquiry based learning are terms that we get across when we attend workshops or training courses in the educational field.These topics were the key words in today's class.

As a teacher or actually a classical teacher who used to teach in a traditional way,I found it very difficult to shift from being the source of information and the decision maker to a facilitator and an advisor only.It took me quite a while to accept the fact that I have to change my teaching style to keep up with the challenge brought to me by the reformed educational system in the institution that I was a member in.

Fortunately, it ended up that what was a burden on my shoulders evolved to become a joy in my life. With time I discovered that these new methods of teaching are the best for me as teacher and a parent and for my students.

The advantages of these methods overweigh the disadvantges .I really hope that the educational systems all over the world will shift to these styles.

This is a broad topic that I would reflect on later.

For those who are unfamiliar with these learning styles check this page that gives a clear idea about Inquiry learning .

Blogs

Blog was the word that I heard, said and typed most today.Previously I had an idea about blogs and trekked into a couple but I had no clue how to create a blog.I learnt that others can comment on what is on the blog .What dragged my attention most was the benefits of using blogs as an educator.

As educators we all the time long to have parents aware of what is happening with their kids in school.Posting all the students' activities and work on the blog or even videos will solve our problem.Moreover we have a lot of information to share with our colleagues and most of the time we don't have the chance to do that, so blogs again are the solution.

To me now and after I learnt about blogs and what I have seen in a video played in today's lecture I think the advantages of using blogs overweigh the disadvantages.As a teacher and a parent I will recommend and encourage using blogs.

Give it a try and create your blog now.

Computers and Education

"Amazing" is the word that came to my mind when I discovered how practical and useful creating blogs is .Sharing ideas,thoughts and feelings which was hard or impossible years ago is easily achievable now by pressing some keys.

Being that simple and interesting, I would like to share with others my daily experience with my lecturer and classmates during the ICT course that made me more acquainted with blogs.

My first day in class was interesting and useful at the same time.The importance of computers in the educational process was reinforced and presented in a clear and organised way that shows the multi-role that a computer plays as a tool,a tutor or a tutee.In my career as a teacher I always considered the computer as a tool and a tutor and I encouraged my students to benefit from this fact in different ways as logging on to different tutorial sites .
Another way was using simulations to explain certain concepts in my subject field"Biology".
Frankly speaking I haven't used computers as tutees with my students because it is a hard task to a certain extent but I will try my best to do this in the near future.
On the other hand I learned more about PowerPoint program specifically how to use the Hyperlink function which I didn't master before.








These were few of the ideas that I thought about after yesterday's class and the rest will be posted later tonight.