Report on Teaching using Virtual Manipulative for Year5 and Year 4

At the end of both lessons I was able to identify and acknowledge pupils with high ability in Year 5 and Year 4. In Year 5 class, there are only two pupils that I can categorised as high ability pupils. These pupils grasp a pattern how to solve the activity and able to visualise the idea and used algorithm to find the answers. I noticed that the rest of the class just got the answer by chance that they only click on by adding and pouring the water continuously but when asked how they got the answer, the pupils can not explain and just try the activity over again.

In Year 4 class, there are five pupils that I can categorised as high ability pupils. These pupils took less time than the Year 5 pupils to be able to grasp a pattern how to solve the activity but did not visualise using algorithm. The high ability pupils grab the pattern from the beginning of the lesson and when asked to work in group they were able to solve more than ten activities without help. When I asked how they got the answer, they could easily explained. I found the same problem with the rest of the class as the Year 5 pupils.

Report on Teaching using Virtual Manipulative for Year 5 and Year 4

After explaning I asked pupils to go to the front to try out the activity individually and get helped from the rest of the friends, if they got stuck with the problem. I only help them when needed. Later when pupils have shown that they were able to handle the activity , I asked them to work in pairs to try out the activity. The Year 5 pupils took a longer time to acquire the skills to solve the problems compared to Year 4 pupils.

Report on Teaching using Virtual Manipulative for Year 5 and Year 4

The lesson started at 8am - 9am for Year 5 and 10am - 10.50am for Year 4, duration of 50 - 60 minutes and consists of 17 pupils; 10 boys and 7 girls for Year 5 and 21 pupils; 13 girls and 8 boys for Year 4. I began the lesson by demonstrated how to find capacity of a bottle by pouring water in big bottle using small bottle. I asked pupils to count how many times we have to fill in the water inside the big bottle using the small bottle. This is just set induction to help pupils make sense about capacity of water.

Next I used IWB to explain the activity that the pupils going to try and link to the website http://nvlm.usu.edu/en/nav/category_g_2_t_4.html. I explained the activity slowly then ask pupils to try to solve the activity together.

School Visit - Teaching using Virtual Manipulative

Last two weeks, I went to Sekolah Rendah Pantai Berakas to teach a lesson on 'Capacity of Water'. I have conducted the lesson on two classes; Year 5 and Yr 4. The purpose of the lesson is to identify pupils with high ability that could grasp the idea and able to solve the activity. I have use the Virtual manipulative that can be accessed at the website http://nlvm.usu.edu/ed/nav/category_g_2_t_4.html.

I have prepared saperate lesson plan for Year 5 and Year 4 but both consisted the same content. I conducted the lesson for Year 5 pupils first then Year 4. The lessons were carried out at the computer lab so that teacher use the IWB (Interactive Whiteboard) for teaching and pupils' activity purposes and pupils can get easy access to the website. Here, I attached the lesson plan for reference.

In Class Assignment - Using MsExcel

http://www.scribd.com/doc/19248706/BuyingSelling-ActivityExcel

The use of ICT by Teachers in School

Last week, I went to my former school at Sekolah Rendah HMJM Kiulap. I had interviewed most of the teachers about the importance of ICT in School and how teachers use ICT in teaching.

Based on the interview, almost all teachers agreed about the importance of ICT as one teacher spoke out that "Today we are in the ICT era, technology is in our daily lives so pupils must be exposed to these technologies to be at par with others with no choice". I am impressed with the teacher's statement which implies positive attitudes towards changes in teaching and learning styles with out any hesitation, despite her 16 years of teaching experience.

Some of the teachers who has more than 20 years of teaching experience have difficulties in using ICT as an aid for teaching. They are more comfortable using the hand-made teaching aids and resources. But some of the teachers would seek help from their expert colleagues to get resources from websites or use ICT, well at least they had showed effort in adapting to the changes and be updated to the technologies.

Overall, I respect the teachers that they are strongly committed and taking the challenge positively as to use ICT in teaching and learning processes to the maximum. Most of them mentioned that "ICT must be included in teaching as being emphasise in the SPN 21". The new SPN 21 encourages teachers to use ICT in teaching and get pupils to practice and familiar with the technology (ICT) as early as Pre-School to Year 6. " As starting this year, Pre-School has given one period to go to Computer lab to familiarise with the technology" said the ICT teacher.

ICT has many benefits to teachers and the school itself. It helps teachers to get resources easily, helps teachers to do their job easily and more efficiently, save time in preparing lesson plan, worksheets for pupils as well as helps them in teaching effectively. ICT helps schools to achieve its goal to produce quality teachers and pupils.

ICT in Teaching and Learning

ICT is not only refer as using a computer or producing worksheets for pupils' activities. It has a very wide meaning especially in teaching and learning processes. ICT includes the ability of teachers and pupils to use the resources that can be retrieved from ICT for teaching and learning purposes. This includes the use of other forms of technologies such as IWB, OHP, Projector, Computer Software (e.g. excel, PowerPoint) and many more.

ICT enhances teaching and add colours in learning process. It helps teachers and pupils "explore Es of learning environment" (retrieved 15th August 09, from http://eduscapes.com/tap/tap100.html)

• Excite
• Enhance
• Engage
• Experiment
• Exchange
• Explore

"Today, ICT is an integral part of our everyday lives. Children especially have an intuitive grasp of how technology works. They love to use it to play and to learn.

It is no surprise, then, that ICT in the classroom has been linked with positive improvements in attainment and motivation". (retrieved 15th August, 09, from http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/)

The benefits and advantages of computers in the classroom are many and varied:

• ICT helps motivate and engage children
• ICT helps prepare children for the world of work
• ICT opens up new opportunities in teaching and learning
• ICT helps schools to maximise ALL their resources
• ICT is flexible