Think
Another hectic week. We've received our very first assignment from our course coordinator, Dr. Siti Fatimah via the Yahoo! group account (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ge1155ipg2011/) We were given 10 subtopics in which each and one of us need to select one to discuss about. After much consideration, I've decided on Topic 3 (Thinking Skills & ICT). The reason behind me choosing over the topic is due to the fact that the topic itself seems familiar and comprehensible to me. I was not expecting anything and thought it would be an easy breeze for me. How was I to know that it was one of the most complex topic to write upon as the topic itself was very general yet vague.
Firstly, I tried to minimise my scope on the topic to focus on one main issue. I looked up the internet via the search engines and found an article (http://www.learnerstogether.net/role-of-ict-in-constructivist-teaching-of-thinking-skills/15) about "The Role of ICT in Constructivist Teaching of Thinking Skills". The article itself is strongly related to the topic I am about to pen into an essay, "The Integration of Thinking Skills into ICT". It is interesting and fascinating to know how thinking skills (Creative & critical thinking skills, information processing and etc) are incorporated into ICT learning itself. In fact, come to think of it, why are thinking skills necessary in ICT learning especially in this rapid era of modernisation and urbanisation.
Beforehand, I never knew that thinking skills could be inter-related with ICT learning. How was I to know that these elements are dependeent on one another. Although to others, the topic sounded as easy as a breeze, but the process of trying to pen an essay on the topic was actually quite excruciating. In fact, I faced several problems in trying to produce an essay in which could clear out the doubts about thinking skills and ICT among my fellow course mates.
Pair
As aforementioned, the topic being too vague and general posed as a problem for me. As I need to find a specific purpose to talk and write upon. Luckily, I have Rachel Chin as my pair in this assignment. An additional head for brainstorming is always so welcoming. In fact, before coming to a finite decision, we struggled a lot especially about the specific scope of the topic. We even went as far as asking opinions from other pairs concerning our topic which I think is pretty unnecessary. After much discussions, we finalised our decision and agreed on the topic, "The Integration of Thinking Skills in ICT". We explored on the four main thinking skills incorporated into ICT learning, namely creative and critical thinking skills, information processing and enquiry-based thinking skills. We tried to give explicit detail and even some examples of the use ICT tools in thinking skills to give a clear perspective upon the topic and avoid confusion among out course mates.
Yet, wouldn't it be ironic if I were not to know my topic explicitly? In fact, we tried to search as many materials as possible be it from the internet or library since either both of us has no prior knowledge regarding the topic, but to no avail. How strange isn't it, that something which sounded so easy and familiar would eventually cornered us up into a dead end. So we end up trying to brainstorm for ideas and points to be written in that review.
This assignment has cleared up many of my misconceptions about ICT learning. Previously, I used to underestimate the "power" of ICT abuse and thought it was probably a minor issue. Through this assignment, both me and Rachel have given some thoughts on the topic and decided to come clean about the priority of the application thinking skills in ICT learning. Take for example, critical thinking skills are a must criteria in internet surfing as there are high risk of scam and fraud cases in certain "trusted" websites. ICT users could be easily yet unknowingly deceived by these misleading websites.
Share
After several discussions, we decided to upload an article as mentioned above to give an overview about the topic (here). It is the nearest we could find that's related to the topic (The integration of thinking skills in ICT). Then, after a series of web surfing and information searching, we managed to come up with sufficient and reliable information sources to be included in the essay. The essay was uploaded on my Facebook group account (http://www.facebook.com/groups/aileena135735?) for sharing purposes. We also get to comment and ask questions regarding other topics which other pairs have posted up in their Facebook group account too. In fact, through this online discussion via Facebook as the medium for interaction, we are given the chance to learn more and study about the different perspectives from other group members regarding the assigned topics.
In short, I've learned bountiful through this assignment. It showed to me the importance of thinking skills in ICT learning. In fact, what we're doing now in this course subject (GE1155-Computer in Education) is part of the integration of thinking skills in ICT learning. Without thinking skills, we would be not able to even have this conversation. No online discussion, no sharing of information, no reflections posted on blogs, and the list goes on. Thus, we as ICT users should not underestimate the power of thinking skills in ICT learning. As ICT could be manipulated to harm and scam other users.
That's all for now!
Toodles...
See you next time! =)
Aileen Tiong Ling
A135735B. Ed TESL IPGKS - UKM
GGGE1155 Computer in Education
Faculty of Education
Telephone Num. : 013-5603522
Email Address(es) : aileenukm7@yahoo.com/ aileenanaukm7@gmail.com
Yahoo! Group Account : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/a135735aileentiong
Facebook Account : http://www.facebook.com/a135735aileentiong
Blog Address : http://aileena135735.blogspot.com
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