REPLACEMENT CLASS (29 JULY 2010)

Today is the second day I attend the class of PMEY3104 Integration of Technology in Primary Science Teaching. The class is held at level 3, Block A, Multimedia Lab. Before Professor Dr.Rohaida Mohd. Saat start the lesson, she discuss and conform about the date due all the assignments for this subject. The details are in the following table.

ASSIGNMENT	TITLE	DATE DUE
1	Blogging for course reflection (5%)	ON-GOING
2	Critical review of a journal article (Individual work, 15%)	24 AUGUST 2010
3	Retrieved and Management of information (group work,15%)	28 SEPTEMBER 2010
4	Development of simple instructional materials (group work, 25%)	19 OCKTOBER 2010

Professor also reminds us about the Blog. She asked us to post our URL Blog at Spectrum with full name and matrix no. This will help her to check our progress of Blog. At the moment, there are only few of us posted the URL of Blog. So friends, please don’t forget to post by this week!

Professor Dr.Rohaida Mohd. Saat also show us a sample of research article. The title, authors and summary of the sample is in the following box

Educational Studies, Vol. 27, No. 1, 2001 TITLE: Using Video Analysis or Data loggers During Practical Work in First Year Physics AUTHORS: SUSAN RODRIGUES Department of Science and Mathematics Education, Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 Australia JON PEARCE & MICHELLE LIVETT School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 Australia SUMMARY: Information communication technologies are rapidly finding a niche in practical work in science laboratories in both schools and tertiary institutions. This paper reports on a project investigating students’ learning processes when video analysis and data logging practical work were used in a Ž first-year undergraduate physics course. Student volunteers were group interviewed. Preliminary Ž findings suggest that students were motivated by the tasks and perceived that the tasks helped them understand their physics concepts. The manual movement of the cart and the freeze-frame element of the video analysis were viewed positively by the students. Further analysis indicates that students used elements of the video analysis and data logging practical work to reinforce already existing ideas rather than challenge the robustness of their existing ideas. SOURCE: http://spectrum.um.edu.my/main/file.php/8797/Example_of_journal_article/paper_on_data_loggers.pdf

Professor further explains that this research article reports on a project investigating students’ learning processes when video analysis and data logging practical work were used in a first-year undergraduate physics course. I never heard video analysis or data loggers before. According to Professor, it is an effective tool to collect data efficiently, simple, safe, and fast compare to traditional equipment. She also reminds us to find a research article for our coming assignment-CRITICAL REVIEW OF A JOURNAL ARTICLE (INDIVIDUAL work) (15%).

Nex Professor Dr.Rohaida Mohd. Saat starts the lesson entitled Brief History of the use of Technology. The summary of the slides are in the following table.

Brief History of the use of Technology
SLIDE	SUMMARY/KEY IDEAS
1	Brief history of the use of technology in 1468 till 20th.
2	Computers (Hardware)
3	Computers (Software)
4	Common Terminologies
5	Common Terminologies

The power point you can check at:http://spectrum.um.edu.my/main/course/view.php?id=8797

I gather a lot of information regarding computers. At first I get to know how technology at early year has developed tremendously till 20^th century era where humans are able to create:

Artificial Intelligence

Virtual Reality

Moreover, I also learn about the specific name for components /things related to hardware and software of computers. This ultimately helps me to differentiate between hardware and software even more clearly. In addition I also learn about common terminologies in computer like CPU, Bit, Bytes, etc.

There are 3 terminologies that new for me which are FTP, Browser cookie and RSS.

TERMINOLOGY	FUNCTION
FTP	File Transfer Protocol; transfers file from computers to webservers; need FTP program
Browser cookie	packet of information sent by a server to a World Wide Web browser and then sent back by the browser, used for user authentication, user tracking, and maintaining user-specific information
RSS	a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works-such as blog entries

After the lesson ends, Professor Dr.Rohaida Mohd Saat asks us to gather information about Artificial Intelligence & Virtual Reality in science education. We have to work in a group and there are four groups in total. We also need to simplify the information and put it in a power point presentation. We only given about 30 minutes to complete this task.

My group (Group 2) which consist of me myself Nizam,Marhani,Nazrul,Rafidah and Hafizzudin manage to get the information and make the power point about Artificial Intelligence. After 30 minutes we are the first group to present information about artificial intelligence. It is followed by Group 1, Group 3 and Group 4.

Frankly speaking, I never come across the terminology of Artificial Intelligence or Virtual Reality. However, I learn and gather new information about it through the presentation session.

In conclusion, today’s lesson is interesting as I gather new information and details about the use of technology. This information has successfully broadened my mind about the discovery of human being in technology that makes our life easy and wonderful!

I LOVE TECHNOLOGY!

WEEK 1 (20 JULY 2010)

Today is the first day for me to attend the class of PMEY3104 Integration of Technology in Primary Science Teaching. The class is at Computer Lab. Professor Dr.Rohaida Mohd. Saat introduce herself to us and told us that she is the lecturer for this particular subject. At first, she told us clearly what the learning outcomes for this course are. On the completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the evolution of technology example OHP, slide projector, video, TV etc.

2. Develop knowledge to manage suitable technology to be used in primary science teaching.

3. Evaluate science coursework and other digital resources in the teaching and learning of primarY science.

4. Evaluate web-sites suitable in the teaching and learning of science among young learners.

5. Design simple web-based Science teaching and learning materials.

From this discussion of learning outcomes, I get a clear view of what is expected for me to do in this course. Consequently, I become aware that the learning outcomes of this course require us to be knowledgeable and skillful in technology that can be integrated in teaching science.

Moreover, she also asked us to open SPECTRUM and click for this subject. Then, she directs our attention to open the course pro-forma of the course and Course Information for current semester/term. This site details information about this course, specific topics that we are going to learn, references and etc. Professor Dr.Rohaida Mohd. Saat also briefly told us about our assignments. She directs our attention to look for assignment 1.

Assignment 1 (15%) CRITICAL REVIEW OF A JOURNAL ARTICLE (INDIVIDUAL work) Select an article from any science education journals (e.g Journal of Research in Science Education, etc that involves the integration of ICT in science education. Summarize the article and make a critique on the ICT integration. The article you choose must not overlap with other students.

She briefly told us about this assignment and asked us to search for article that suitable for this assignment. Once this briefing session is over, she starts off the lesson with PowerPoint. There are 3 slides.

In the first slide of PowerPoint, Professor Dr.Rohaida Mohd. Saat discuss with us the definition of technology and how to integrate it in teaching. From this discussion, I realize that, there are many ways on how teacher can integrate technology in teaching science. As I reflect, I recall when I was in School Experience Program last semester at SK Bandar Tun Razak 2. I noticed that the science teachers in this school using PowerPoint in eliciting science concepts effectively. Moreover, they also using a lot of animation that I find interesting and fun! In short, the discussion gives me a clear view the connection of technology and education specifically in science subject.

In the second and third slides of PowerPoint, we discuss about the reasons of using technology in teaching science. In this discussion, I realize that technology in teaching science can enhance motivation of pupils in learning science. For example, the use of smart board as it is more engaging rather than ‘talk and chalk ‘method. Moreover, I also realize significant of practicality of integrating technology as it serves as a unique instructional capabilities in:

ü Linking to information resources

ü Helping students to visualize problems and solutions

ü Tracking learner progress

ü Linking to learning tools

Moreover, we also have been introducing to early technologies in science education which are OHP, TV, video and the use of slide projectors. To discuss this matter in details, Professor Dr.Rohaida Mohd. Saat divides us into 4 groups. So, each group is assigned one technology item.The items of technologies are OHP, Visualizer, The television and The Video Player.

OHP

Visualizer

htt (http://www.wolfvision.com/wolf/prof_2757.html)

The Television

1. The Video Player

From this discussion make me more alert and know in details the use and effectiveness of each items. In addition, I am able to compare and contrast each of the items. For example, compare to OHP, the quality produce by Visualizer is far better. Thus, Visualizer can help pupils to see object more clearly. However, visualizer is more expensive compare to OHP.

In conclusion, today's lesson make me a better view and expectation of what we are going to learn through out this semester. Moreover, I am aware the practicality of technology which can be integrate in teaching science so that we can enhance for learning!