Teaching with Technology

Can social network like facebook improves educational system?

In this era of modern civilization, we are no longer deprived from utilizing technological means to raise our standard of living. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become a typical term used to describe all kinds of technical based method in exploiting, transferring and storing data and also support communication by means of audio-visual system. This innovative management system has been actively implemented in many different kinds of profession fields as well as extensive societal technology in attempt to aid communication and information gathering globally. The significant and beneficial role of ICT has been extensively acknowledged and employed by business sector and in recent educational system.

Education system have been constantly progress in terms of teaching and learning technique in the effort to align with the age of ICT which consequently provide learners with systematic and innovative approach in learning conveniently and furthermore enhance learner’s active learning experience. Recently, technological equipments have been practically utilized in both schools and other higher institutions. Teachers are encouraged to utilize these materials to aid both teaching and learning and thus raise the educational standards. Some of the general materials equipped in a classroom are LCD projector, Overhead Projector (OHP), computers, internet connections and even an interactive smart board which have been recently implemented in some high-schools in Brunei.

In Science education, practical training and comprehending theoretical concept are basically the significant procedures to achieve science knowledge. ICT offers different range of tools to support both teaching and learning situation. Often we may discover that most teachers recently exercise LCD projector when conducting a lesson as preference. Science teachers likewise, preferred to use projector as an innovative and intelligent device that are beneficial to let students experienced the ideology of science in a more realistic and stimulating approach. Conveniently, computer classroom do provide teachers with computer, unlike a typical classroom and science laboratories which thus required related teachers to bring their own laptop. A teacher generally would prepare a PowerPoint presentation related to the topic that will be taught on his/her next lesson. Unlike old teaching methodology, this so-called “lesson plan” is equipped with interesting related pictures, simulating videos, and even realistic animation which require advanced software to play it. These applications are readily available in the internet where teachers can just download it for free or burn from a CD-rom which contains these exclusive applications. Animations were thought to help pupils to visualize difficult concepts or to understand the mechanics of processes especially if a practical is not easy to see or follow, or not available for demonstrating. This prepared PowerPoint presentation can thus be presented by connecting it with the LCD projector itself in a way for all students in the particular class to view. These ready-made presentation slides helps teachers to maintain the lesson's pace and also the student's concentration in class as teachers don't have to waste much time writing on the board and not facing the students.

In this multimedia era, modern generations are frequently exposed to ICT and they tend to accommodate and appreciate these technological environments without any hesitancy. Thus teachers are necessary to develop these ICT skills and become ICT’s literate to teach their subject and to support their wider professional role. These trained teachers can therefore cope with any novel applications available and thus to be implemented in teaching method. Recently teachers have been using email to virtually give assignments to students. Likewise, students are expected to send their works to their respective teachers. Applications like LMS (Learning Management System) provide teachers to create their own “virtual respective classes” to assist them to contact or even set a forum for student’s discussion exercise. Some government schools in Brunei have been provided with interactive smart board to exclusively help teaching more interesting and innovative.