TIPS FOR PRACTICUM

TIPS FOR PRACTICUM
ON THE EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL OF ICT TOOLS

My Dear Students,
HAPPY ONAM GREETINGS!

This write up is prepared to help you successfully undertake the 4th practicum. You all are aware that the rapid development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has dramatically increased the ways by which delivery of education can be accomplished. Therefore it becomes imperative that you all acquire the necessary skills in handling ICT tools.

What is expected of you from the work are the following.
1) You all develop proper understanding of the potential of ICT tools in teaching and learning.
2) You all become familiar with various ICT tools that can be used for the delivery and interaction in educational settings.
3) You all acquire proficiency in handling at least one of the ICT tools.
4) You all develop positive attitude towards the use of ICT tools in teaching and learning.

How to undertake the PRACTICUM?
It is assumed that you all accomplish the above objectives through self learning by practically handling the chosen tool in various practical situations. Duration of three to five hours of surfing on the NET or spending with the computer seems essential for the successful completion of the practicum.
You can select any one of the following ICT tools and undertake the work suggested here. In addition to the basic theoretical and practical knowledge, you must acquire proficiency in the specific skills mentioned.

INTERNET.
Familiarize yourself with the various options and provisions available with major Internet browsers like the Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome OR
Familiarize yourself with the various options and provisions available with major Internet Service Providers like Google,Yahoo, Altavista etc OR
How to maximize search efficiency by using key words and ‘AND’, ‘OR’ and ‘NOT’.
E-MAIL.
Send scholarly mails to your friends or teachers. Learn to attach documents/files to your mails. Learn how to attach CV to potential employers. Familiar yourself with various options available with email.
CHAT.
Engage yourself in chat in educational topic through chat rooms / Google Talk / Rediff Talk.


BLOGS(web logs)
Create your own BLOG and post regularly for duration of five days. Request your friends to visit your BLOG and make comments. Post your friends comments also on the blog.(Pl.search www.blogspot .com)


ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUPS/LISTSERV
Join one discussion group in education and engage in discussion. Find some popular groups in your subject.
WEBSITE
Create your on website on free portals like Google Sites and create pages on topic of interest (www.sites.google.com).
SOCIAL NETWORKS
Join one of the popular social networks and enquire the ways by which these can be used for educational purposes. Create your own community (school/college/subject/locality/school students).

GOOGLE SKY/EARTH
Acquaint yourself with these tools and enquire their classroom potentials.

BLUETOOTH
Enquire the educational potential of Bluetooth. Develop audio/video files that can used in ednal settings.
SMS
Create/coin a bunch of short messages suitable for celebrating/observing international/national days of educational interest.

DIGITAL LIBRARIES/DIGITAL DICTIONARIES/ONLINE JOURNALS.
Familiarize yourself with the various option and provisions available in these facilities.
WIKIPEDIA/KNOL
Acquaint yourself with these tools. Create/Edit new pages in these tools.

EDUSAT
Study the provisions available and being used in our schools in connection with EDUSAT.

Friends,
Many more ICT tools are now available on the NET. You may select topic/tools of your choice. Please feel free to ask your doubts and to send your queries by email.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas Uzhuvath
10/09/08