ICT as Mind-Tools

It's recommended to use ICT as mindtools- selecting the appropriate programs that aids our thinking as a teacher which will reflected positively to our students-cognitive tools.

The students learn from computers or teachers but knowledge will be in their minds if they think meaningful ways. The mindtools will allow that way of thinking and enhance them visualize.

Using visual thinking the students will batter understand the lesson and it allowed students abstract the ideas in their mind in mind mapping way and focus on the idea in different aspects. Using mapping and images let the student to visuals and construct their knowledge in logical way. In addition they can correlate the knowledge and analyze it easily.

I had try one of mindtools software in TCDEIT514 which was Inspiration 9 - for downloading: http://www.inspiration.com/

 it's easy to use and fast because it continue everything we need images, linking tools, exporting into MS word, create presentation and convert the mind map into outline view.

Creating mind map using inspiration 9 in TCDEIT514 class

Exporting the mind map to word process "Inspiration 9"

This video is a description of this tool:

In addition, they offer another programs for kids "kidspiration" which kids can used to visualize their thinking it is easy interface and the children will like it. Therefore, I will try these tools in some of my lessons if I need.

There is many ways to teach in this tools and I had found this video that I like the way that the teacher to teach using this tool:

In addition for more illustration of program:

There are many mind tools programs that we can benefit from for example:

1 - MS Visio (which I was use it before knowing Inspiration 9)

2- FreeMind

WebQuest

Nowadays schools in Kingdom of Bahrain are connected to internet which help to improve the educational process and online learning activities create an interactive learning environment.

WebQuest is a learning activity assist students to interact with resources over Internet, its inquiry oriented activity that involve higher levels of thinking, motivate and challenges students. It is project-based approach which the students can cooperate to work on groups to accomplish a project.

WebQuest is simple to create and it's consisting of five important steps:

To understand these steps I had gone through many WebQuest websites and I had chosen one of them to illustrate each step:

The  WebQuest website is the following:  http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=119120

Step1: Introduction:

In the webQuest the teacher provides background information about the topic and motivated students.

Step2: Task

To provide a description of activities and what and students will have to accomplish at the end.

As the website that I had mention the teacher provide them a ready  attached files to read about computer hardware and based on it students will identify the devices and write two paragraphs and have to complete a puzzle. The last task is to make a video presentation, and then uploaded it to the WebQuest. Clarify what the things must done individual and what must be in group.

Step 3: Process:

Specify everything in task section more clearly and accurate. 

Also. providing assistance (worksheets, data gathering tools, hints, etc)-Provide resources that students will be using –web links will form the main resources.

Step4: Evaluation

To decide how students will be assessed or using Rubrics.

Step5: Conclusion

To summarize the experience that the students was gained from this activity and challenging the students to act upon what they have achieved. Also, how can benefit from this webQuest in there learning process.

ICT facilitate the learning by explorer web information, WebQuest is a learning activities that allow the student to explore knowledge, invite creativity and problem-solving in spite of it is not used to teach factual information.

Useful WebQuest links:

http://www.zunal.com/

http://webquest.org/index.php

http://webquest.org/index.php

http://www.aacps.org/AACPS/boe/INSTR/CURR/COMED/HSwebquest.htm

http://www.techtrekers.com/webquests/

http://www.teachersfirst.com/webquest.htm

Masooma Yusuf