Reasons on why integrating ICTs into children's learning
Based on the teaching context that has been provided in the previous page, it can be known that the teachers do integrate ICTs into children's learning. However, they do not make use of what the ICTs tools available in the school to integrate into children's learning whereby they only use PowerPoint presentation as teaching aid in certain teachings. Therefore, these pages are created to allow teachers to SEE & AWARE the impact that the ICTs can enhance children's learning in classroom such as stimulating children's curiosity, enhancing children's understanding on Mathematics concepts and fostering children's interaction with one another.
Reason 1
A minority group of people views mathematics as interesting, easy and enjoyable subject. Cornelius (1982) mentions that Mathematics has been regarded and described as the three ‘d’s’- dull, difficult and disliked by most adults. It seems that early educators today must start imparting the fun and enjoyable image of Mathematics to the children at very young age.
But how teachers can make learning mathematics FUN and ENJOYABLE?
Besides having hands-on activities such as board games for children to be engaged in; educators can actually integrate ICTs into Mathematics so that children’s interest can be triggered up. According to Oldknow, Taylor and Tetlow (2010), through integrating ICTs in learning, children’s attention will be engaged desirably which motivates them in learning a particular concept. Apart from that, using ICTs in delivering a concept or message, it can also stimulate children’s curiosity. According to Luongo-Orlando (2010), the power of curiosity lead children to use their minds to wonder, their hands to experiment and their words to share ideas.
For example, based on the context, teachers often use PowerPoint slides to introduce a certain concepts as a visual aid in classroom. With the use of simple words or sentences and colourful images within the slideshow, it definitely can grab children’s attention. After getting their attention, it stimulates their curiosity in wanting to know what on the next slide which keep them concentrating and focusing on the lesson. It also motivates them to get involved in the learning process, such as the activity in the slide, “How to determine how many basketballs there are in a tray without counting it by ones?” This simple activity enables all children to engage in discussion. In conclusion, integrating ICTs into children’s learning do bring a huge impact.
Below is the example of the PowerPoint Slideshow made by a teacher on the Concept of Tens.
But how teachers can make learning mathematics FUN and ENJOYABLE?
Besides having hands-on activities such as board games for children to be engaged in; educators can actually integrate ICTs into Mathematics so that children’s interest can be triggered up. According to Oldknow, Taylor and Tetlow (2010), through integrating ICTs in learning, children’s attention will be engaged desirably which motivates them in learning a particular concept. Apart from that, using ICTs in delivering a concept or message, it can also stimulate children’s curiosity. According to Luongo-Orlando (2010), the power of curiosity lead children to use their minds to wonder, their hands to experiment and their words to share ideas.
For example, based on the context, teachers often use PowerPoint slides to introduce a certain concepts as a visual aid in classroom. With the use of simple words or sentences and colourful images within the slideshow, it definitely can grab children’s attention. After getting their attention, it stimulates their curiosity in wanting to know what on the next slide which keep them concentrating and focusing on the lesson. It also motivates them to get involved in the learning process, such as the activity in the slide, “How to determine how many basketballs there are in a tray without counting it by ones?” This simple activity enables all children to engage in discussion. In conclusion, integrating ICTs into children’s learning do bring a huge impact.
Below is the example of the PowerPoint Slideshow made by a teacher on the Concept of Tens.
Example of suggested ICT in stead of PowerPoint Slides
PREZI
Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software that opens up a new world between whiteboards and slides. The zoomable canvas makes it fun to explore ideas and the connections between them.
In stead of using PowerPoint slides, teachers can use PREZI to integrate into children's learning as it is visually captivating presentations that lead the children down a path of discovery.
PREZI
Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software that opens up a new world between whiteboards and slides. The zoomable canvas makes it fun to explore ideas and the connections between them.
In stead of using PowerPoint slides, teachers can use PREZI to integrate into children's learning as it is visually captivating presentations that lead the children down a path of discovery.