Enhanced School Experience
Preparatory Task For ICT For Meaningful Learning
Specific Observations
My observation was at Greenridge Secondary School, From Each His Best. The class observed was Secondary 3E4. The students were doing an experiment involving the use of data loggers. There was a trained external facilitator to demonstrate the use of the data logger.
Class profile
(a) Demographics
Class 3E4 – Express Stream
Size | Male | Female | ||
43 | 27 | 16 | ||
Malay Pupils | Chinese Pupils | Indian Pupils | ||
11 | 27 | 4 | ||
b) Academics
(i) Subject Combination offered
English, Elementary Mathematics, Mother Tongue, Higher Mother Tongue, Sc(Phy/Chem), Hist/SS, Lit/SS, Geog/SS, Art, Design and Technology and Food and Nutrition.
(ii) Academic ability
Most students pass their English and mathematics. However the class is more inclined towards the humanities rather then the sciences.
Subject
The data-logger instrument was used to teach reaction kinetics in chemistry and to calculate the value of acceleration due to gravity in physics.
How ICT was used for Teaching and Learning in the lesson
Venue: Chemistry Lab 2
Date: 24th & 25th May 2011
Duration: 1h 45mins
Introduction ~ 15 to 20 mins
The instructor demonstrated the use of the data-logger in a step-by-step fashion.
He taught the students how to switch on the data-logger, where to remove the stylus and how to configure the data-logger for the sensors and to record and save their results. Power point slides, together with videos were used to instruct the students
Experiment ~ 2 x 35 mins
The students followed the instructions as given in the worksheet to set-up the apparatus and carried out the experiments. The teachers were walking around to facilitate and to ensure that the students were following procedure.
Students connected the data loggers to the different sensors for each experiment, they had to interpret the data on the data logger and draw the experimental conclusion from it. They were keen on using the device, it reminded them of an “iPhone”.
Conclusion ~ 10 mins
Students were to told to clear up their benches
To view the worksheets please click on the following links:
- http://pragzicteducation.blogspot.com/2011/08/spa-worksheet-chemistry-using-data.html
- http://pragzicteducation.blogspot.com/2011/08/spa-worksheet-physics-using-data-logger.html
(II) General Observation
Teachers feel that the usage of computers during lessons breaks the monotony of the whiteboard/powerpoint slides method of teaching. Students are naturally excited and develop interest in the topic whilst learning on the computer. They believe that it promotes self-directed learning in the disciplined student.
Prem - I don't quite know what is this thing called data logger. Is it a scientific term? My IT knowledge is not that good i must admit. But i am quite impressed with your presentation of information. Very professional and good use of examples as well...
ReplyDeleteHow can using a data logger facilitate self-learning in science subjects? From your description of the class, it seems that much of the demonstration is still done by the instructor. It seems that it only helped the students to measure and record observations more accurately and quickly. But I do agree that, apart from helping with measurements, students can better see the pattern that the experiments are trying to show them and hence self-discover the concepts behind it.
ReplyDeleteHi Prem and Zhi Li, thanks for your comments :)
ReplyDeletePrem: the data logger records information at intervals, like increasing and decreasing temperature with respect to time, or things like light sensitivity.
Zhi Li: You're right :) they are learning the applications and operation of the instrument. They are supposed to collect data, analyze that data and then intepret it. Self-learning does not really happen that much, I doubt it even happened, because they had not much of an opportunity to explore the data logger on their own. The objective of the lesson was for them to collect data from the instrument, :) but they had to have prior knowledge about kinetics and gravity before commencing the experiment :)
Prem and Zhi Li, I hope I was clear :) haha :) if not let me know, I'll try and clarify again :)
Hi, I think the data logger itself is a IT gadget. ICT include using software and hardware. So I would classify the lesson as one using ICT since students are learning how to work like a scientist with IT equipment. Maybe in the future, they will be research scentists and use many such equipment to create data as their finding, or they develop better equipments than this data logger. :)
ReplyDelete