Week 7

"Knowledge should be based on observation and only then the world can restore a truer relationship between observing mind and the observed nature and scientific progress becomes possible. Knowledge should be for the benefit and application to man. The sequence of knowledge should be from observation to understand the practical application of it." - Francis Bacon

Mostly, we in Nepal have one computer for one class or we take students to language lab for practice of foreign language. The computers used here are multimedia computers. Multimedia is the use of more than one unique medium at a time. A medium is the way of communicating information such as speech or text. In contrast to a traditional classroom, at a more advanced level people use movies and television to combine multiple types of media (sound, video, animation, still graphics, and text) to create different types of message that inform or entertain in unique or meaningful way. Multimedia programs are described as interactive if they accept input from the user and enable the user to direct the flow of information or action in the programs.

Prize distribution at school 

We use multimedia programs in a wide variety of ways. Commonly we use CD-ROM based reference materials and tutorial and use the Internet to collaborate with students in other location. Students may receive hours of listening input at the computer with appropriate comprehension questions, easily controlled repetition and immediate playback. Speaking recognition technology allows students to control computer actions with speech input. Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary provide CD-ROM with accurate pronunciation of the words by native speaker. Reading can be enhanced by timing student’s reading, by creating jigsaw paragraph or jumbled texts. Students can go through the timed passage and answer the comprehension question in the space available. An important use of computer is as the means of creating ‘key-pal’ or ‘mouse-pal’, the e-mail equivalent of pen-pal. Getting students to write e-mails in English to other around the world can be extremely motivating. Similarly, beyond naked drills and exercise, teachers find that grammar and vocabulary games can be very motivating for learners in twos or three around one computer screen. For example, online Puzzle maker allows users to construct puzzles online based on their own word lists. Online version of games and sports are valuable for introducing or reviewing structures such as the imperative, conditionals and the passive voice. Web quest and Rubrics are helpful for teachers to take project works in a more organized manner.

This week, I learned about creating a useful wall for students. Here teacher can put any image, link, video etc. for students according to the subject matter learned. Students can go through it and even share their own links, videos, images etc useful to the class.

At last my project work is going on. I am enjoying the change in my class room.