BLENDED AND ONLINE LEARNING AND FLIPPED CLASSROOM

 Assalamualaikum everyone!

This week I would like to share information related with blended and online learning also flipped classroom. Recently, this term have become quite famous among students in schools and higher education institution.

What is online learning?

Online learning is education that takes place over the Internet. It is often referred to as “e- learning” among other terms. However, online learning is just one type of “distance learning” - the umbrella term for any learning that takes place across distance and not in a traditional classroom.

What is blended learning?

A style of education in which students learn via electronic and online media as well as traditional face-to-face teaching. This is the practice that used by my institution in order to ensure students can adapt with the online learning slowly. Besides, blended learning is important as some subjects needs face-to-face lessons such as practical and demonstration sessions.

What is Flipped Classroom?

A flipped classroom is a type of blended learning where students are introduced to content at home and practice working through it at school. This is the reverse of the more common practice of introducing new content at school, then assigning homework and projects to completed by the students independently at home. This is a practice used by public schools in Malaysia during MCO all over Malaysia. I am not really sure the impact of this practice as I have never used this practice for my students. I am pretty sure some students will have difficulty in understanding the lesson without a teacher teach them directly.

All of these 3 types of learning have their own advantages and disadvantages. It is the roles of teacher and educators to ensure when they decided to used any type of learning stated above, they should enhance the advantages that it has and reduce the impact based on disadvantages it has.

When teaching students online, there are methods that can be used by educators in order to engage them online. It can be done by using method as below:

1. Online Communication
2. Online Collaboration
3. Web Design and Development 
4. Online Design, Creation and Making

Online Communication is a communication channel is a website that allows you to talk and communicate to other people around the world through the internet. Among types of Online Communication are Blogs, Vlogs, Podcast, Social Media and Web Pages.

Online Collaboration can help students understand how the web works with web design and development tools. Learning HTML, CSS, and PHP will help your students learn the basics of a website which could serve as a platform for them to share their knowledge. Learn from scratch or use web design tools. Among the Online Collaboration are:

1. Edmodo
2. Google Drive
3. Google Doc/Sheet/Slides
4. Bubbl.us
5. Twiddla
6. Cacoo
7. Titanpad
8. Padlet

Web design and development help students understand how the web works with web design and development tools. Learning HTML, CSS, and PHP will help your students learn the basics of a website which could serve as a platform for them to share their knowledge. Learn from scratch or use web design tools. Among web design and development tools are:

1. Roblox Academy
2. CodeAcademy
3. Wix
4. Wordpress
5. Codemoji
6. Adobe Spark
7. Google Sites

Online Design, Creation and Making

In order to bring out your students’ creativity in completing tasks in class or at home, expose them to online design sites. They can use it in their presentation, designing posters, infographics and even booklets. Among website that provide design services are:

1. Canva
2. Freepik
3. Flaticon
4. Picsart
5. Slidesgo
6. Venngage

Enhancing Learning with Multimedia

Multimedia is a combination of:

• Audio
• Video
• Text
• Visual

Advantages of using Multimedia in class are:

• Motivates Students to Learn
• Improves Teaching Efficiency
• Enhances Interaction among Students and between Teachers and Students
• Creates a Conducive Teaching Environment in the Classrooms

As a conclusion, using technology is a MUST for all educators in these days. Teachers should use all possible teaching aids and techniques that can enhance the lessons to be delivered and suitable with the situation and environment of students. However, teachers should not overuse multimedia technology as it can create divider among students especially students with tech-savvy and non tech-savvy. So, some bright students might be hindered their potential due to limitation of technology that they have.

DESIGNING DIGITAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

 Assalamualaikum everyone!

This week I would like to share a method to design digital learning environment. This method is based on notes shared by Ms Aimi to my class.

By hook or by crook, using technology especially lesson involving edutech is a must in this "Post-Covid-19" Era where Teaching and Learning is most likely using technology such as internet as a medium. Most educators have accept the fact that technology usage is important in delivering the lessons.

However, one big question that need to be think is "How should we design the lesson that involve technology?" Usually, in designing any system a suitable problem solving  model application can be used to help designing a good system. For example during my experience in industry working as a Halal Executive, we have been designing our own Quality Management System (QMS) for ISO 9001 certification. In order to design a good QMS, we have used the concept of PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) and based on this model the system can be ensure the continuous improvement.  

For the case of designing digital learning environment there are two model can be used which are ADDIE model and ASSURE model. ADDIE model is a model that derived from: 

1. Analysis, 
2. Design, 
3. Development, 
4. Implementation, and 
5. Evaluation. 

For ASSURE model, it is derived from: 

1. Analyze learners’ characteristics, competencies, and learning styles
2. State objectives for what your lesson should accomplish (ABCD format—audience/behavior/condition/degree)
3. Select, modify, and design methods, media, and materials
4. Utilize methods, media and materials—implement the lesson
5. Require learner participation in lesson
6. Evaluate learner outcomes with objectives and revise as necessary.

Both models use the similar concept but different approach in obtaining the same objective by evaluation on students.

Digital learning is any type of learning that is accompanied by technology or by instructional practice that makes effective use of technology. It encompasses the application of a wide spectrum of practices including: blended and virtual learning. Digital Learning is sometimes confused with online learning or e-learning, digital learning encompasses the aforementioned concepts.

A digital learning strategy may include any of or a combination of any of the following:

1. adaptive learning
2. badging and gamification
3. blended learning
4. classroom technologies
5. e-textbooks
6. learning analytics
7. learning objects
8. mobile learning e.g. Mobile Phones, Laptops, Computers, iPads.
9. personalized learning
10. online learning (or e-learning)
11. open educational resources (OERs)
12. technology-enhanced teaching and learning
13. virtual reality
14. augmented reality

There are few types of Digital Learning Approach can be used for students which are:

1. Problem-Based Learning
2. Drill and Practice
3. Project-Based Learning

Problem-Based Learning

The best instructional strategy for e-learning is to use problems as triggers of learning. The e-learning environment is perfect for PBL cycles. PBL approaches provide the motivation for online learning engagement in terms of connecting to resources, peers and experts.

Drill and Practice

Reinforcement activities are practice activities that give learners the chance to apply the information, knowledge, and skills they have learned from the course. In an eLearning course, you can use several types of reinforcement/practice activities. These range from hands-on, guided-analysis, teamwork activities and drill-and-practice.

Project-Based Learning

Research shows that PBL can help students build 21st-century skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity. It also gives students agency in their learning and lends itself to a more authentic assessment of their skills and capabilities. Plus, PBL allows students to learn through well-designed projects and self-evaluation.

According to our subjects and assessment method that we used in our curriculum, suitable approach can be used to design digital learning environment for our students. 

ADVANCE TUTORIAL ON USING AUTOPLAY

 Assalamualaikum everyone!

This week we have been given a task to design our own courseware based on the tutorials given by Ms Aimi in her Youtube Playlist. As per last week, I am still pairing with my partner Dr Farrah in completing this task.

This time Ms Aimi have teach us on how to find and download the design or background of our courseware and also icon that can be used in our courseware later. All of this item can be found in, Freepik, Flaticon and Canva website.

After finding the suitables design we taught on how to edit the design using Adobe Illustrator (AI). I have bought this software in Shopee in order to use it as I cant found any free downloader for this software. By using this software we can change the design of the image that we download from internet. However, the image that we can edit is only images that using format vector.

 AI is the simple software that can be used to create our design of our courseware. The background, button, words are all created and designed in AI. After, complete the design, they will be bring to AutoPlay to create the courseware using the designed we created over there.

Unlike last week, this week were taught as well on how to include audio and pronunciation into the courseware. So, for every buttons that we created has been included audio pronunciation. 

For this task I have chose my subject, Halal Slaughtering to be used as the subject of our courseware and I have chos topic of Al-Jalalah Animals as the topic to be discussed in the courseware. After a few moments I managed to complete the task.

So, tadaaa here it is!

TUTORIALS ON HOW TO USE AUTOPLAY

Assalamualaikum everyone!

This week I want to share with all of you lesson that I learnt from Ms Aimi. This week we were given tutorials by Ms Aimi on how to use AutoPlay Media Studio software in designing our courseware later on. 

AutoPlay Media Studio

AutoPlay Media Studio is perfect for making anything from autoplay CD/DVD/USB menus and utilities to games and interactive multimedia applications – complete with web interaction, database connectivity, video playback and much more.

It is a convenience development tool allows you to create your own custom software in a visual drag and drop workspace. Make anything from CD/DVD/USB autorun menus and interactive presentations to complete multimedia software programs quickly and easily! Simply drag and drop to create amazing Windows software applications.

It is a good software that can be use to create our own application. Based on my opinion, AutoPlay is a software that use the concept of power point that link between each slides using hyperlink but in a more convenience setup and interface. 

Tutorial by Ms Aimi

Using AutoPlay is a new thing for all of us. I am pretty sure none of us ever heard about AutoPlay before. So, it is important for Ms Aimi to give tutorial for us in using this software. The tutorial we given during our asynchronous class where we were assigned to complete the task based on tutorial given in pair. It is the right decision made by Ms Aimi to give tutorial in asynchronous class. Tutorial were given in a video that uploaded in YouTube. It is easier to complete the tutorial by referring the video as it helps us to rewind the video if we are missing any points or steps during completing the task.

To complete the tutorial we were given some items to be used for completing the task. The topic that will be chose for our courseware in AutoPlay is about "The Beetles", a famous boy band from UK on 1960s.

In the tutorial we were taught how to include all the item given into the AutoPlay. We just need to follow all the steps given and understand the function of certain setting in the AutoPlay.

After few moments, my partner, Farrah and I manage to complete the task in time.

So, tadaaa this is the result!

DISCUSSION ON DESIGNING OUR COURSEWARE

 Assalamualaikum everyone!

This week we were given time by Ms Aimi to discuss on our courseware. We have been brief before by Ms Aimi to create our own courseware that is related with our field of study. We have been shown examples of courseware that have been made by few students of KUPTM. After the briefing we have got some rough ideas on content that we will be used in developing our content.

My group members consist of  Dr. Farrah Payyadhah, Nurul Ain, Nur Ezzatul Natassha and of course me myself.  Actually, all of us are from the same institution which is KPM Bandar Melaka and it is quite helpful when your group members are from the same institution. However, we still need to discuss using whatsapp call as Farrah is still on maternity leave. The discussion ran well and thanks to the technology that ease our work in completing the task.

During the discussion, we have faced few difficulties in discussing the content of our courseware especially on deciding the subject that will be chose for our courseware. All of us are from slightly different background and even all of us are teaching different subjects to our students.

At last we came to conclusion to decide that we will used subject of biomolecules for our courseware as all of us have the basic knowledge on biomolecules and the resources for this subject is a lot.

Then, we have discussed the delegation of work among our group members. Natassha has been chosen as a group leader for this project. I have been in charge in designing the concept of the courseware. I have to use all of my creativity in order to make sure our project is successful.

HOT POTATOES

 Assalamualaikum everyone!

Today, I want to share a new edutech that I have learnt from Ms Aimi which is a Hot Potatoes. Hot Potatoes is a software created by Stewart Arneil and Martin Holmes, professors from University of Victoria in 1997.

Hot Potatoes is a software with a purpose of providing interactive and fun learning for students. The Hot Potatoes software suite includes five applications that can create exercises for the World Wide Web. The applications are JCloze, JCross, JMatch, JMix and JQuiz. There is also a sixth application called The Masher, that will compile all the Hot Potatoes exercises into one unit. 

JQuiz is a tool for making question-based exercises. Each quiz can consist of an unlimited number of questions. There are four basic question types which are multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, hybrid question, multi-select question. 

JCloze is used to make gap-fill or cloze exercises. The idea of a gap-fill exercise is that the student completes all the answers before checking; in other words, it's a holistic exercise. When all the answers have been entered, the student presses the Check button to mark the answers. Correct answers will be inserted into the text; any incorrect answers will be left in textboxes, so that they can be corrected. When the student checks an answer that is not completely correct, a penalty is incurred, so the score depends on the number of checks required before the answer is completely correct.

JMatch is used to create matching exercises. Basically, this means that a list of items appears on one side, and each one must be matched up to an item on the other side. JMatch output comes in three types: standard, drag-drop, and flashcard

JMix is used to make jumble exercises. You can jumble the words in a sentence, or the letters in a word. Like JMatch, JMix has two output formats: standard, and drag-drop. 

JCross is used to make crossword exercises. 

The Masher is a different kind of application from the others in the Hot Potatoes suite. It's intended to help you make larger units of materials, linked together.

Hot Potatoes is a very helpful tools that can be used by teacher in order to create an interesting game as a part of the lessons in class. It is convenience, interesting, and simple. However, the interface of Hot Potatoes can be improve to make it become more attractive n modern to capture the intention of our young generation!

PRESENTATION ON ARTICLE REVIEW OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

 Assalamualaikum everyone!

This week class we did not have any class as my class have presentations on our assignment given by Ms Aimi. For this week my group were not presented as we are quite busy with our MQA Audit for Full Acreditation of our diploma programe which is Diploma in Halal Industry. So, Ms Aimi has give a consideration for us to present next week.

So for this week, I have spectated my friends presentation on their articles reviewed. All of them presented very well and chose very good articles. The group that really attracted my attention is Hafiz's Group that presented about 3D Printing machine used as a tools of learning in schools. 

I am quite shock to hear that there are schools that teach the students using 3D printing as an adaption to the technology development in industry. In fact, 3d printing have been used widely by the industry of printing as a new business and nowadays, designing products such as souvenirs does not need to be manufactured in factory anymore. Even, a small shop that have 3D printer can produce custom design of souvenirs. 

For the purpose of education, there are subjects such as design, architecture that need 3D printing in designing any structure or sketch. Students in a modern world does not need to create their own house, building miniature and so on using their own hand manually. Now all of that can be created using 3D Printing. 

It is a good initiative for some schools that introduced the 3D printing machine to the students so that students canuse the knowledge that they gain in school during pursuing their study in college or university. It is also a good sign for our education that show our education is not lagging behind with the modernization of industry.

This is the example of 3d printer that are sold in Shopee: