Essential question Week 5

How can tools be used to increase understanding?

As a teacher I believe that understanding can be improved by making the subject matter more interesting and meaningful for the students.  This can be achieved by technology and its tools. 

Blogger:

When students write blogs about a topic which was taught the writing process motivates them to think.  When students think, they are able to realize what they understood out of a class and what they did not.  This will help them to concentrate on the areas where they need more help and better understand the topic.  Also , a student might also can also get a better idea about a certain topic by reading other student blog when the blog is written in a more simpler way .  

Google presentations:

Google presentations provides an environment for the students to collaborate and do the work together.  This will assist students to ask questions to each other and answers can be obtained thereby improving the understanding process.  

Glogster:

When students do their own posters about a particular topic, they are being given the opportunity to explore the topic by themselves and find links, videos, images about the topic.  By creating the poster by themselves, they can learn the concepts or topics themselves visually. 

Animoto:

By providing short videos during class lectures, the visual understanding of the topic can be established. This helps them to grasp the topics which are hard to understand through imagination. 

Skype:

Skype promotes online learning .  Through webcams students and teachers can view each other and one on one attention can be provided to the students by teachers which help the student to clarify all their questions on time. 

Prezi:

It act as a great tool where students can create their own short presentations. As this involves, images, videos, and other information gathered by the student, it improves their learning process by self learning the ideas and concepts online through internet. 

Podcasts:

When a teacher records and publishes his/her podcast online it is available for the students all the time.  Even if the student did not pay full attention in class, he or she can always come home and listen to the podcast again and again.  Repetition of concepts through podcast will help students to memorize and understand the topics in a better way. 

Webquest:

Webquest is a great activity where students are forced to think, apply and learn.  As this involves activities students will definitely have passion to perform it and understanding of the subject matter will be achieved indirectly.  

Twitter:

Twitter is a great area where students can find friends who are interested in the same topics as taught in class.  By following them, they an find great articles where they can find information about the latest developments and applications in the area of interest. 

Thus, understanding can definitely be improved by the proper use of technology and its tools.

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