Lesson 8: Higher Thinking Skills through IT-Based Projects

Rosalie G. Alegarbes   BSEd General Science4     MW 3:00-5:00pm

Lesson 8: Higher Thinking Skills through IT-Based Projects

Content

            This lesson will discuss the four types of IT-based projects which can effectively be used in order to engage students in activities of a higher plane of thinking. These projects will represent constructivist projects which contains the key elements of a constructivist approach to instruction. On the other hand, students will be the one to demonstrate the higher thinking skills and creativity through such activities like searching for information, organizing and synthesizing ideas, creating presentations, etc. So, here are the IT-based projects which will help develop higher thinking skills and creativity of the students. Resource-based projects­-- in here, teacher steps out of the traditional role and the let the students find their own facts and information. The central principle of this is to make the students go beyond the textbook and curriculum materials. Students’ are encouraged to the modern extension of library, the internet. Inquiry-based or discovery approach is given importance in which students, individually or cooperatively work to relate gathered information to the real world. The webquest which is an inquiry oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by the learners are drawn from the web serves as an internet approach to support this kind of IT-based project. Simple creations--- students will be assigned to create their software materials to supplement the need for relevant and effective materials. In developing software, creativity as an outcome should not be equated with ingenuity for higher intelligence. So to develop creativity, here are the 5 key tasks to be recommended: define the task, brainstorm, judge the ideas, act and adopt flexibility. Next is the guided hypermedia project--- which serves as an instructive tool, such as the production by the students of PowerPoint presentation, then as a communication tool, such as when students do a multimedia presentation. Then the last one is the web-based project--- students can be made to access to create and post webpages on given topic.    

Experience

            After developing basic digital skills, higher thinking skills will follow. Developing higher thinking skills is a challenge, not just for the students but also for the teachers. Since we are emphasizing the impacts of the advancement of technology and the change of evaluation, IT-based projects can be used to develop such skills. In these IT-based projects, the teacher is focusing on the student-centered approach. As what we are experiencing nowadays, teachers are focusing on giving activities on which students are in control. Examples of resource-based projects are the laboratory activities which uses inquiry or discovery approach. In here, we collaborate in the group to find solutions or answer in a certain activity. Sometimes, our teacher will give as an assignment which requires answer from the internet. Information being studied is more on downloaded PDFs, while teachers act as the facilitator of the learning experiences given. Most of the time, we are required to report a certain topic in which PowerPoint is a must. This means that studying and mastering the report is not the only work of the student, we are also required to make our own PowerPoint presentation and in making this, our creativity will really enhance.

Reflection

            The use of IT-based projects in developing higher thinking skills of the students is very effective. In here, students will develop their social skills, creativity, evaluative minds, etc. a teacher will step out as a traditional source of information, and instead they act as the facilitator which indicates the student centered approach. In order to equip the students with the skills needed to face the digital world, basic skills ae not enough. In addition, in these IT-based projects, gathering information and finding solutions to a problem with the use of information technology cater the interests of most of the students. Through IT-based projects, the aim of the teacher to change their ways of evaluation will also be fulfilled.

Application

            It is really a challenge for every future teacher to help develop the higher thinking skills of the students. Technology has the great effect in the educative process that is why it is a must for us to learn the appropriate use of these technologies in the teaching and learning process. Since the main goal of the school to produce graduates that will function effectively in the future, as a teacher, it is our work to help them be equipped not just by knowledge but also skill by giving them activities requiring the use information technology since we are now on the digital world.