Technology aided learning in and out of class. .

A dream realized

This is a  dream realized! Long ago, I had dreams of a time in space where students could freely use the computer and access the internet in and out of class to facilitate learning. We started this style of learning when  30 brand new desktops were installed in our ICT lab in September 2011. We also installed several LCD projectors in strategic rooms. But never in my wildest dreams, did I  envisage Chromebooks to be used in place of computer desktops for learning. But here it is today, 80 Chromebooks were supplied by YTL Frogasia to SMK Convent Sentul. They opened a whole new world of learning for teachers and students through the FrogVLE.   

5 Anggerik 2014 during their Biology class in August.

These Chromebooks are portable and can be brought to class or to the labs. The 80 units means each student can interact one on one with the Chromebook.The image above shows students who are so totally engaged in their Biology lesson facilitated by Pn Fitri Yanti. They are eagerly and happily surfing for information  on the topic "Meiosis and mitosis" using their Chromebooks.   They interact actively with one another and the computer to digest the information on their screens. This is active and student centered learning!

Learning about mitosis and meiosis on the Chromebook

5 Anggerik 2014  students showing their
unmistakable joy at using the Chromebooks

What's the impact of using computer aided learning? You see happy smiles from the girls and learning is at their pace. The more important element - they are actively involved and understand more better. They can learn during class time as well as out of class time.

Jivanesh and Sor Wei Peng demonstrating their use of the
Chromebooksduring the opening launch of CLIC in UTC Sentul

We also had the joy of witnessing  5  Form 2 girls selected to demonstrate their use of the Chromebooks during the launch of the CLIC ( Creative Learning IT Center ) in UTC Sentul to important guests. The afternoon session teachers and students are extremely proactive in the use of Chromebooks due to En Mazwan and En Azmizi providing the strong technological support needed

Collaborative learning using the Chromebook
Form 2 girls Septemeber 2014.

The sites on Frog VLE. The orange site shows the
the Physics projects.done by 5 Bakawali 2014 students  

The previous batch of Physics students had posted nice work on Physics projects they researched on. So to avoid mixing up the work of this year batch of work from 5 Bakawali 2014, I created a new site specially for them so they could review one another's work and share it with each other. The image below show some of their work which had been uploaded and shared. I enjoyed their creativity especially in their selection of the Youtube movies.

Students can review their friends's work after class hours. These lessons
come with interesting and appropriate Youtube movies

Last year I started a Whatapps group called "Anak Physics." I had students from as far as Subang and Puchong and IB students from private schools as well as our students in this group. Different members would pose videos and questions  on Physics and the active discourse that went on indicate the intellectual activity of the group members in different ways.

We had posted a question  on boiling point.
This was one of the responses from a member to
help the rest understand the animated  discussion
on effects of air pressure boiling point.

Some students could not sleep peacefully until they
fully understood. The joy of the students.
This discussion went on till close to midnight

Some one had posted the answer. A member asked why
the answer was not B.Another member helpfully explained. This
helped the one who understood to articulate her answer clearly
while others who dare not asked also got. the questions and the
answers. All these were done out of class .
Note the time 11.29 pm

The learning skills needed for the 21st century are technology savviness, team work culture  and bilingual language skills.  I hope to see more and more innovative ideas on computer aided learning taking place among students, teachers , parents and administrators. Can we move together in this direction? It will be another dream come true