Teaching and Learning with ICT

I watched the video “The Future Stats Now”, and I am interested in the benefits of using ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in teaching and learning. The video discusses necessary skills that are needed in the 21st century, as students must have a "range of functional and critical thinking skills related to information, media and technology" to succeed in a 21st century marketplace. It also discuss how to use ICT smartly to improve teaching and students’ learning. Teachers should be prepared to integrate latest information and communication technology into their teaching practices that better help students acquire knowledge and learn new technologies. 

By watching the video, I strongly agree that ICT can promote our teaching and learning and my primary interest is how to use ICT in my classroom. Just like an instructional tool, ICT can help teachers prepare teaching materials, deliver lessons, and evaluate students’ learning. More importantly, ICT can help attract students’ interest in learning a subject and engage them in the teaching and learning process. Also, ICT can help students develop their writing skills, spelling, grammar, punctuation, editing and self-learning. When I recall my teaching 20 years ago, I used only chalk and blackboard, and it was mainly a teacher-centre approach.  The only “technology” at that time was watching TV and available to students for watching news during lunch time. Right now, I use smart board in my classroom every day. I am glad to see that the students have more interest and engage more in my classrooms nowadays. Usually I spend hours to collect teaching materials through various websites, and research information related my topics then sort, reorganize and edit to my teaching. I really believe that teaching with ICT is a cool and effective way to prepare and carry out my curriculum.

By using ICT in the teaching and learning process, students can engage more in learning and involve more in tasks and group work. ICT promotes interaction between teachers and students, and it also promotes peer learning among students. ICT is very helpful in implementing student/learner-centre teaching and learning approach. Based on my teaching experience, I have observed that students can learn much better in a technology-enhanced setting than in a traditional classroom learning environment.