ICT as a constructive tools

"We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher's hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world" – by David Warlick.

I realized the importance of ICT use not only in teaching and learning but in other areas too, after learning ICT as a constructive tool. It helps me in a better understanding of the constructivist approach to teaching through the use of ICT so that teaching and learning become engaging and innovative for the learners. A constructive approach to teaching and learning emphasizes on the construction of own understanding, making meaning and knowledge, active engagement of learners in learning, fostering critical thinking, and independent learners. There are also benefits of linking ICT to the constructivist approach and implementing it in the education system. It has a great impact on uplifting the education system in and around the world. That is the reason why the Bhutanese government focusing more on educating ICT skills to the students at the present moment to instill 21st-century skills. 

When I was a student, there was no opportunity to access and equip ICT skills to construct knowledge of our own. Most often I was handicap, learn sequence in a logical order and the following direction from the teachers.  At present, when tutors give work and left on our own to learn from the net. I feel work is hectic and it instinct I cannot learn better from what I usually learned through teacher’s teaching. It is all because of our digital immigrant notion and traditional way of learning that instill in us during school days. When I was in 1st year in college, I think turning to search for information on net and construction of knowledge is the second option and I usually don’t like learning through eLearning. Now, I came to know that ICT has a power to shape and success student’s life towards a knowledgeable and skillful person. Hence, the modality of teaching and learning should also change by adopting new methodologies, content, and thinking in modernized world.

I learned constructive tool is an application that helps the learners to manipulate information, visualize, and construct understanding and knowledge. ICT provides various constructive tools to construct and enhance learners’ knowledge. Following are the examples of constructive tools;

Here is how I used ICT constructive tool (Microsoft Publsiher) to make brochure on the importance of physical exercises to our respiratory system in Health and Physical Education module.

The picture given below shows how I create page about Himalayan Tour and Track agency along with brother through simulation and Photoshop app.

This two activity provides me a greater platform to construct and innovate ICT ideas in my daily life. It also boost idea, creativity and engage myself in meaningful self-construction. Similarly, if teachers integrate the constructive tools in classroom teaching then definitely students will also learns to construct their own knowledge and engage them in self learning. Therefore, I urge educators to integrate ICT components in teaching and learning to make learners an effective citizen in this 21st century world.

This types of activities on constructive tool helps me to  become a innovative and creative person; where it provides us to construct various things of our own. Its help me to become independent learners and boost critical and analytical thinking. When I become a teacher in the near future, this will help me to come up with different posters and logo while conducting any activities in the school by applying constructive tool knowledge that I learned. I will also integrate constructive tools in classroom teaching such as conducting posters competition among the students, providing them with theme and coming up with logo, template, and slogan using constructive tools like Microsoft Publisher, Photoshop, PowerPoint, etc... This will provide a platform for the students to innovate their creative ideas into the practice as it requires them to construct their own.  Moreover, I will also integrate this tool in daily classroom teaching in imparting concepts, ideas and knowledge to the students.

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