HANDS ON EXPERIENCE

Introduction

Educational system around the world is under increasing pressure to use the new Information and Communication Technologies to teach students the knowledge and skills they need in the 21st century. Through computers the use of multimedia has created novel modes of learning and greatly contributed to the restructuring of instructional environment in schools. The sophistication of multimedia technologies nowadays give a great challenge to educators in order to continuously play significant roles in the borderless globalization of information era. This challenge should not be regarded as a threat but should be accepted as a great reward to education world, which is able to produce an amazing result if the tools are used correctly and wisely.

Education is the starting point of every human development. Education is a light that shows mankind the right direction to surge. If education fails to inculcate self- discipline and commitment to achieve in the minds of student, it is not totally their fault.  The educators play an important role in making the learning process interesting and enjoyable. Learning process has to generate interest in the students and motivate them to stay back in the institution than to run away from it. Education should become a fun and thrill to them rather than burden and boredom. The purpose of education is not just making a student literate but adds rational thinking, knowledge ability, and self-sufficiency. In order to achieve this purpose, effective and innovative teaching and learning methods are vital. Today’s students are much more media-centric than previous generation ,that’s why the use of multimedia in classroom cannot be denied anymore.

If we want to continuously grab students attention, we must make them happy to learn and create an exciting learning environment, we need to follow the current and not against it. Most students are not only auditory or visual learners, but also multi-sensory learners. Multimedia has the ability to capture the attention of the learner because it addresses a variety of learning styles. Today’s students expect to use digital media devices in their daily lives, so these devices, or similar media technology, should be woven seamlessly into their classroom experiences.

MEANING

Hands-on experience means, knowledge or skill that someone gets from doing something rather than just reading about it or seeing it being done.

1)      COMPUTER

Computers have become the life line of young generation. The present generation students like to embrace all the things in the ambit of this modern technology. It looks as if technology had been with the children since birth, especially computers been an integral part of child’s life and personality.

A classroom computer can be defined as any electronic device that allows students to access the internet to research, create, and complete work. This means that a laptop or tablet can also be categorized as a classroom computer.

Role of Computers in Education

v  Teaching Learning process

·         Instructions:

o    Instructing the students using PowerPoint slides, Word documents or Web pages and using hyperlinks for better concept clarity.

o    Helps in improving pronunciation of students by using microphones, headphones, speakers, specially prepared software and special dedicated websites.

o    Video conferencing, chat and email helps in better communication, hence better concept clarity.

o    The concept of E-tutor give access to teachers instantly and give teachers a better chance to earn.

o    Current syllabus can be viewed through website of the concerned school board; made available to students if teacher has made a website and uploaded using Internet; and updating- using web could be done easily.

o    Inspiring students to express their imagination using Paint Brush

o    Encouraging the students to surf web pages and gather relevant detailed information through web pages.

o    Readymade software could give practice material to students

·         Learning:

o   Collecting notes /pictures/videos from web pages for detailed information and projects/assignments.

o   Saving the documents as soft copy for future use

o   Learning through animations, as they are much near to the students

o   E-books/online libraries/online encyclopedias help to guide in minutes and save precious time and resources.

o   Creating videos using images, albums for better power point slides.

o   Simulated Learning gives them an idea of the real situation.

o   Publication of pamphlet/brochures for awareness with institution and among community members.

v  Testing and Evaluation process

• Keeping records of students for their academic scores
• Keeping records in relation to personal history
• Creating question bank for students
• Using computers for testing by asking questions from question bank
• Online Testing and Evaluation
• Analysis and interpretation of the data
• Previous year Question papers and sample papers using web sites.

v  Guidance purposes

• With reference to collective records of the students maintained year wise, stored in computers
• Testing for aptitude, interest, psychology using computer data bases and internet.

Benefits

• ·         The ability to provide more engaging activities for students
• ·         Can be an incredibly effective teaching tool
• ·         Computer software uses scientifically-assisted educational research.
• ·         Motivating factor
• ·         Fast communication through internet
• ·         Co operative learning
• ·         Locating research materials through internet
• ·         Encourages peer to peer learning
• ·         Visual illustration makes learning easier
• ·         Personalize learning
• ·         Reduce on the amount of text books students carry to school

Disadvantages

• ·         Expensive
• ·         Creates distractions in the classroom
• ·         Poor writing skills

2)      LCD

An LCD projector is a type for displaying video, images or computer data on a screen or other flat surface. To display images,) projectors typically send light from through a  or series of  that separates light to panels – one each for the red, green and blue components of the video signal. As polarized light passes through the panels (combination of polarizer, LCD panel and analyzer), individual pixels can be opened to allow light to pass or closed to block the light. The combination of open and closed pixels can produce a wide range of colors and shades in the projected image.

Role of LCD projectors

The impact of a presentation made using multimedia is always greater than the impact made by a simple speech. LCD projectors are very useful while interacting with a large group. The presentations made can be projected on to a big screen. This will help every participant to view information on the screen without any problem. Many teachers find chalkboards to be almost a thing of the past with the advent of projectors in the classroom. Rather than writing notes across a board, teachers can make use of PowerPoint presentations, images and even film as teaching tools through the use of projectors. Consequently, teachers and students alike find projectors to be useful classroom devices.

Advantages

•               Easier Note Taking 
•               Greater Teaching Versatility
•               Better Use of Class Time 
•               Better Student Presentations
•               More energy efficient

Disadvantages

·         Light Can Play Spoilsport

·         Costly Maintenance

3)      MULTIMEDIA

The term multimedia by definition means ‘more than one media’. It  is the combination of various digital media, into an integrated multi-sensory interactive application or presentation to convey information to an audience.

Role Of Multimedia in Teaching-Learning

• Multi-media approach in teaching and learning is psychologically sound.
• Variety and newness of the media motivate the students for learning both at the preparation and participation stages and promote learning.
• Students profit from recreational activities like pictures, charts, posters, models, stories and plays, accounts of travels and musical productions.
• Multi-media approach in teaching and learning is essential for the effective realization of learning objectives.
• It also provides Learning environment in which students take active part in the learning process.
• Multi-media approach in teaching and learning is learner-centered in the sense that it can accommodate learner’s needs and interests.
• The variety and flexibility of multi-media offer the opportunity to adopt any media combination for use in individualized instruction.
• Various types of media like computer, television, video cassettes, video discs etc, can be of great value in supplementing and enriching the class-room instruction.
• Media like audio cassettes and CD’s enable the learners to receive any given information according to their own convenient time

Benefits

• Enriches teachers creativity
• Leads to multi-sensory students learning
• Offers a lot of fun and interest  in learning process
• User friendly
• It reaches all the senses
• Increases efficiency of students
• Increases students motivation
• Facilitates active learning
• Facilitates experimental learning
• It leads to better learning
• It is consistent with student centered learning

Disadvantages

• Expensive
• Depends upon the material teacher creates
• Role of the teacher shifts from instructor to facilitator

4)      THE INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD

An interactive whiteboard is a touch-sensitive screen that works in conjunction with a computer and a projector. The first interactive whiteboard was manufactured by SMART Technologies Inc. in1991. Educators were the first people to recognize the interactive whiteboard’s potential as a tool for collaboration, improving student learning outcomes and streamlining lesson planning.

Role of an  interactive whiteboard

• Manipulating text and images
• Making notes in digital ink
• Saving notes for later review by using e-mail, the Web or print
• Viewing websites as a group
• Demonstrating or using software at the front of a room without being tied to a computer
• Creating digital lesson activities with templates, images and multimedia
• Writing notes over educational video clips
• Using presentation tools that are included with the White boarding software to enhance learning materials
• Showcasing student presentations

Advantages

·         Visualizing

·         Time-saving

·         Motivation

·         Efficient education

·         Interesting

·         Rich content

·         It provides convenience

Disadvantages

·         Technical problems, lack of infrastructure,

·         Time wasting,

·         It tires the eyes and causes headaches.

·         Usage out of purpose

·         Software deficiency,

·         It requires preparation,

·         The touch screen does not work well.

 Conclusion

Technology is changing the classroom experience. Information and Communication Technology has made many innovations in teaching and learning process in order to accommodate challenging student’s needs. Consequently, we need to have interactive teaching and learning tools in order to ensure the learning outcomes to be achieved. Educators need to take up the challenge by equipping with multimedia skills to enhance students’ study interest. By using a mixed of multimedia tools in teaching and learning process, we can be able to change students’ mindset towards a subject and they enjoy learning and feel motivated to participate in class room activities. Multimedia enabled teaching is able to transform dry, plain and even difficult subjects into enjoyable and thrilling ones. It depends on the respective teacher how to apply innovative and creative teaching methods in order to accommodate digital student’s needs in this borderless world. The most important thing is that we need to unlock our creativity in order to be creative.