Reflection

__**Reflection**__

Teaching significance lies with the need for continuous investment in human capital to promote growth and increase well-being.

As I was creating this online activity I was thinking how technology was presented in the course that I am attending. How the affordances of each ICT tool encouraged or enhanced certain learning activities. How my lectures incorporated it in each task assigned to us. I have reflected how much I used technology in this course and what were the valuable lessons I have taken from it. We have used online meeting conference in particular Adobe Connect. Wonderful tool to use but I only realized that one requires a microphone to be able to speak and participate. It definitely opened my eyes to the potential use of different technologies in our classroom. From wikis, web-quest, mobile technology, audacity and among many others. What was also vital what was the underpinning learning theory for these ICT tools. Each group gained personal experience with one of the technologies to assess if it can be used as an adequate tool in an inquiry based classroom. The class as a whole learnt a lot about the technology and made the class comfortable using the technology through their presentation.

I was contemplating what is the role of technology in economics. The teaching method of economics was usually text book based. Unfortunately our school do not have a text book for economics for each learner. I have used technology mainly to write notes and create PowerPoint slides for my learners. This is the way I would usually conduct my lessons. Occasionally I would book the room that has the interactive whiteboard whereby I would play a video clip relating to the topic.

The intention was that the entire Grade 8 and 9 learners to be actively involve in the online activity. There are three teachers involve in both grades. The teachers were enthusiastic about the online activity and was prepared to take their learners into the computer lab. When the prototype was designed the teachers had to do the activity themselves before demonstrating it to the learners. Unfortunately it took about five days to teach the teachers how to use the touch pad of the laptop. They were not use to the apple lap top interface. They found it quite difficult at first to navigate. They felt despondent but want to help out a colleague and went through the process. Unfortunately, when the two colleagues took learners into the labs a little bit of chaos was created. The colleagues did not show learners, especially grade 8,step by step how to create Gmail accounts. Since all three of us are grade 12 teachers, the stress and strain to have revision classes as well as external moderation took priority and the online activity took a back seat. The two colleague feels strongly they would like to integrate technology in their classrooms but need a helping hand. They feel comfortable if there is someone to assist them within the classroom. Logistically and unfortunately our classes run at the same time. Another setback is that the apple lab is in great demand and teachers book these labs way in advance.

Nevertheless, we took about 40 learners who were prepared to stay after school to complete the activities. Learners were amazed at the online discussion that took place. Each participant had a different colour when discussing online. The significance of teaching with Google docs it takes the teacher out of the traditional role and makes them more a facilitator who showcases the learning material in order to leverage rich set of content. Learners researched content and collaborate with each other and therefore constructed new knowledge. It was observed that learners took responsibility of each others learning. Each group had its own dynamics and personalities and it was interesting to see how they worked out their issues with each other in an amicable manner. Learners were well discipline in the labs and explored the many features Google Docs had to offer. Each new discovery became a teachable moment. This particular group was highly motivated, dedicated and enthusiastic. Not many learners have access to computers at home but are in possession of a cellphone. Some were able to access the online activity on their phones. They found it difficult to navigate on the cellphone. Some of the learners did not have enough airtime to watch the YouTube video.

One thing that teachers must bear in mind is that technology comes with its limitations and we must aware of the affordances and limitations that each technology brings with. Technology can also be used to model phenomenon that is difficult to observe but we must remind our learners that it is not a substitute for the actual phenomenon itself.