investigating the use of ICT in collaborative learning

It has been observed that ICTs can and do play a number of roles in education. These included important changes like rethinking teaching practice (Flecknoe, 2002; McCormick and Scrimshaw, 2001); developing the kind of graduates and citizens required in an information society (Department of Education South Africa, 2001) and improving educational outcomes especially, as Wagner (2001) and Garrison and Anderson (2003) observed, in terms of enhancing pass rates and improving the quality of teaching and learning. The study deals about collaborative learning, Collaborative learning promotes learner –centred approaches to education as oppose to teacher-centre approach. Learner-centred approach view the teacher and learner as learning from one another. Because collaborative learning is learner-centred, it keeps learners active in that learners are given an opportunity to help each other and they are given responsibility or ownership of class objectives and the learning process (Brooks and Brooks, 1993). From the above view, learner-centeredness therefore offers more than a normal or traditional classroom situation The role of ICT in collaborative learning ICT has an important role to play in promoting collaborative learning. ICT enhances avenues for collaboration among learners, among learners and teachers, family members and the school communities (Bialobrzeska and Cohen, 2005). Collaborative learning has numerous benefits. According to Johnson et al. (1981), Dansereau (1983), Slavin (1987) and Sharan (1990), collaborative learning has the potential to improve learners’ learning and to revitalize school teaching My study will investigate the use of ICT in collaborative learning through awarenet as a social network. In awarenet learners interact with one another individually and also work in groups, locally and also across the globe. It has a potential to bring learners all over the world together in collaborative learning.

By: Funeka Jacob on November 13th 2012 09:41 [0 comments]

depressive work situations

I know it is not good to complain rather one should deal with the matter. What can then one do when you see the situation and you try to bring suggestions for the matter to be sorted out but all your attempts are in vain or fall to deaf ears?

All that I am trying to say is that you wake up early in the morning , eager to work at school or you open school from short September school holidays you again so refreshed eager to work, when you come to school photocopy machines are not working in such a big school like Mary Waters I mean that is frustrating and lead to depression. At our school we've got some few copy machines but the ones that are suppose to be used by the teachers are always not working.

There are many depressive issues many of us are still faced with overcrowded classes where you end up have to mark about +- 200 scripts and you still have to do other school work I mean no leisure time that is why some of us end up abusing alcohol but I do not encourage that. Teaching profession for some of us is a slave work I will never encourage my child to opt for it. No incentive, nothing that encourages teachers, to make things worse we are faced with learners that can do whatever they feel like doing, few have respect for the adults.

It is not like in the olden days, these are few things that I have mentioned there are a lot. Its depressing.

By: Funeka Jacob on October 11th 2012 02:29 [2 comments]

my first blog

 I am still worried guys about racism which still exist around us, the reason is that it mostly affect the children we are dealing with. For an example In the issue of my profession, I strongly believe that if teachers can be treated with respect and dignity by everyone, as in the olden days, learners also will follow suit and treat teachers with respect

If we can respect each other  and treat others as we wish to be treated Wow!!! How great can we live. Good results to our schools because we will be working together as team. Dept of educ to support the schools by all that is required for learning and teaching. This needs leaders and managers that have goals and visions. Now what do you think?


By: Funeka Jacob on February 21st 2012 02:56 [8 comments]