Reflection on Google Docs

As a part of learning how to use ICT as co-constructive tool, we were divided into groups of three members, and were required to create a ICT integrated lesson plan on various topics of our own choice. We were ask to design lesson plan using Google docs.

What is Google Docs?

It is a free, web-based application that let us to create, share and manage documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users.

So far, we had been discussing our lesson plan of class V maths, on the topic Area and Perimeter in Google docs , one of the biggest benefits of it is the ability to collaborate. When one of our member changes to the word on lesson plan, other can see those changes in real time and respond to them immediately. We can work on the same doc, so there's no need to email updates back and forth, comparing and consolidating individual work. I personally am contended with the kind of work that we did. We get to learn about a topic from different perspective which reinforces learning and interest to learn about the particular topic. Discussing through docs was fun and easy because as we can get new ideas and knowledge after communicating in the comment box. It was all about the team work and depends upon how well we corporate with our members.     Not only that i learned some features of google docs such as chat forum( where we can chat with our friends),   comment forum , got to attach files and how to invite friends.  I found google doc very effective as it allows us to interact and collaborate online thus enhancing our learning environment.            

What are Co-constructive tool?

What are co-constructive Tools?

After going through co-constructive tool,I found integration of co-constructive tool vital in teaching and learning as it provide platform to work collaboratively .  Co-constructive tools are also supporting students' construction of some tangible projects as a manifestation of their construction. However, these tools differ from Constructive tools in that students work collaboratively with them to construct a shared understanding, rather than working independently to construct some sort of personal knowledge. We can integrate the co-constructive tool in our teaching and learning by involving students in learning; by making groups and letting them share their ideas and knowledge on a particular topic as we did in our ICT class. 

Examples of such tools include electronic whiteboarding where students may post their notice to a shared electronic whiteboard or document conferencing where students can co-edit the same document from different places through a network.

Examples:       

ü  Google docs (docs.google.com)

ü  electronic whiteboard,

ü  Blogs and wikis

ü  discussion forum on portals (pce.edu.bt)

The importance of Co-constructive tools

ü  Co-edit

ü  Communicate database, texts & graphics

ü  Enhance collaborative learning environment:

ü  high-level cognitive processes – explanation, problem-finding, problem solving

ü  active & intentional learning

ü  identifying & developing expertise

                                               

Benefits of Camtasia

Benefits of camtasia

Camtasia is not just a simple screen recorder. It’s actually a great deal more than that;

·         WE can edit and customize your videos using Camtasia

·         It can import media from just about anywhere and create stunning interactive content.

·         The videos produced using Camtasia are smoother and it provides a visually appealing look to any of your videos.

·         It consists of a TechSmith fuse which allows users to send all sorts of media directly to the Camtasia bin.

·         It’s integrated with Google drive to allow you to upload your videos without a hitch and in turn also allow you to import videos in your desktop from Google docs. This ensures a smooth workflow and improved productivity.

·         It can record high quality videos in the shortest time possible. Another great thing about Camtasia is that there is no time limit to any video which is recorded. This makes it easier for people who often have to develop tutorials which are varied in duration.

·         You don’t have to be a professional to use Camtasia. It allows just about anyone to create stunning videos using its green screen effect and remove or add different colors.

·         It is very easy to arrange videos, audios and images on an unlimited number of tracks. You just need to get creative and you yourself would be surprised by the kind of videos you can produce using Camtasia.

·         It compromises of pre-installed music tracks, images and videos. This way you don’t have to look for relevant material or waste time. In fact you could simply make use of their already available interesting content and develop powerful presentations.

·         Interesting visual effects like cursor effects, shadows, coloring objects and borders allow you to customize your videos and make them look more professional.

what is Camtasia?

Today I am going to talk about my experience of using Camtasia. I haven’t used Camtasia in my previous years and didn’t hear the name forget about using it. Till now I have been using window movie maker to edit videos. In this module, ICT in teaching and learning, I was taken through how to use Camtasia which was completely a new knowledge to me. I came to know that through Camtasia, I can record video and edit video using Camtasia features. Some of the features that aren’t there in the windows movie maker are there in the Camtasia.

Camtasia  (formerly Camtasia Studio) is a software suite, created and published by TechSmith, for creating video tutorials and presentations directly via screencast, or via a direct recording plug-in to Microsoft PowerPoint. The screen area to be recorded can be chosen freely, and audio or other multimedia recordings may be recorded at the same time or added separately from any other source and integrated in the Camtasia component of the product. Both versions of Camtasia started as enhanced screen capture programs and have evolved to integrate screen capture and post-processing tools targeted at the educational and information multimedia development marketplace.

Camtasia consists of two major components:

·         Camtasia Recorder - a separate tool for capturing screen audio and video

·         Camtasia editor 

After using Camtasia studio, the differences I found is that Movie Maker has lack of effects. There are few pre-selected effects that we can apply to clips, such as giving a film old age looks or fading the clip in or out, but for the most part we are limited. Another limitation is the ability to save as different file types, where as in Camtasia we can capture video from our laptop screen. And it is very handy if we want to do some sort of video tutorial on our computer as it gives space to record the screen. Camtasia also creates and handles various file types such as animated GIF, Abode Flash, Window Media types, and MP3 audio.

How did I learn to use Camtasia?

We were given an assignment to make video tutorial. Therefore, I explored how to use camtasia from the given video tutorial in VLE.  I watched the video samples several times to understand how to go with camtasia. The lesson samples that sir uploaded  was very effective and it boots my confidence on using camtasia. I also watched relevant videos from YouTube to get more ideas. After learning and exploring, I practiced it in my laptop but it was not easy to applied my knowledge practically, so i seek help from my friends, who already had the knowledge about the camtasia.
I found that Camtasia is one of the most effective educational app for learners and the educators to impart the knowledge. This application help us to enhance both learning and teaching in a creative and interesting way. After uploading the video we were asked to comment on our friends video. It was another helpful ideas to improve ourselves. We can take their feedback and we can also give our our views on our friends video lesson. I personally found it very helpful as we could view our friends comment and we can learn and improve our video lesson. 
https://vle.pce.edu.bt/mod/resource/view.php?id=60049

 

Constructive tool

                                                                  ICT as a Constructive Tools

Constructive tool is a general purpose tool that can be used to manipulate information, construct their own knowledge or visualize students understanding. Constructive tools are general-purpose tools that can be used for manipulating information, constructing one’s own knowledge or visualizing one’s understanding.  The term ‘constructive’ stems from the fact that these tools enable students to produce a certain tangible product for a given instructional purpose. 

Constructivist approach to teaching and learning emphasis:

ü  students' need to construct their own understanding

ü  learners are the markers of meaning and knowledge

ü  learning is more effective when a student is actively engaged

ü  all knowledge is personal and exits in mind

ü  foster critical thinking and creates motivated and independent learners

ü  it constitute a shift from teacher to learner centered pedagogy

ü  technology triggers constructivist learning by helping learner to adopt explore and practice.

Examples of Constructive tools 

•   electronic bulletin boards/ moodle
•  DPT/in-designs/MS publisher
•  Multimedia authoring tools
•   social networking sites(blogs/Facebook/twitter
•  simulation

Out of many constructive tools, i am familiar with moodle, MS publisher, twitter and Facebook as we are more in touched with this media.

We were taught how ICT acts as constructive tool and as an activity we were asked to produce video using simulation. I designed one page simulated advertisement about my village, Pemagatshel.The learning was very effective as we got to be creative, got to play with our ideas and it provides deep understanding of a given concepts. Simulation are traditionally defined as programs, which simulate real-life environment.
 https://vle.pce.edu.bt/mod/assign/view.php?id=60043