Session 2 (week 3 & 4): Learning Resources & Technology

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have transformed the education sector and made access to education on the fingertips. Education feeds technology, which in turn forms the basis for education. Top institutions of higher education have adopted educational applications technologies to assist acquisition of skills, creative and critical analysis and how to go with advanced science and technology. ICT enabled technologies help to implement new pedagogical approaches in the teaching and learning environment. 

In the Pacific region learning technologies has mostly impacted tertiary education and this has resulted in a shift from teacher centered to student centered learning. At the University of the South Pacific a host of learning technologies are in use which include computers, internet, audio and video conferencing tools, synchronous and asynchronous online communication and collaboration tools, email, learning management systems (LMS) and mobile communication. The LMS forms the backbone for designing online courses and managing the classes, assignments and tests. It provides support to both teachers and students by ensuring effective interactions between the two, uploading and downloading of lessons and course materials, submission of assignments and reports, evaluation and grading of examinations. 

With these advancements and expanding infrastructure at U.S.P., teachers/instructors need to be well versed with online tools that make virtual classroom engaging and interesting. Online learning allows for self-paced learning, and allow students and teachers to collaboratively work together to meet scheduled targets. Additionally, teachers can engage in the realm of constant learning by non-conventional means through multimedia, video, chat and interactivity. Web 2.0 lists a host of learning tools that may be utilized by facilitators to engage on many levels with learners. I chose a visual tool that can be effectively used in Learning and Teaching. Videos improve learner performance by providing visual examples, allowing them to interact, explore and digest the content at their own pace. 

With Movie Maker you can create, edit and share video clips right on your computer. It is a Microsoft product and is pre-installed as an application on almost all Windows operating system. This eliminates the need for any third party downloads. Its major advantage is that it does not require an active internet connection to run. 

Open Educational Resource (OER) 

Integration of ICT in education has powered accessibility to OER which is continuing to gain a stronghold in mainstream HE curriculum. Open Educational Resources include freely-licensed educational content and related resources that support the production, distribution and use of such content. OER authors grant anyone the freedom to use their material, modify, translate and share with others. Interestingly, OERs have had a trickle effect in engineering programs offered at U.S.P. Lecturers can share and develop their materials with colleagues, and a peer-review system  implemented to validate it. Subsequently, such materials could be digitally reproduced with ease thanks to digital technology and be included as course materials. This would ultimately allow more courses to be offered in online mode and appeal to working students. Presented below is an interesting case where students at Victoria University created an open source textbook: 

For my part, I chose a visual and a textbook as a OER that I would likely implement in a 2nd year mechanical engineering program. The course in concern deals with manufacturing processes where students are introduced to theory and practicals on various machining operations. The OER could be used in the course to provide theoretical and practical knowledge of manufacturing processes and workshop technology to all students. It could be further used as preparatory materials for lab activities concerning:

• Proficiency in safely operating machines tools of various types.
• Knowledge of the working properties of metals and non metals
• Academic skill

 

Open Resource - Textbook

The video above is part of a three part series which demonstrates the anatomy, and fundamental operations of a lathe machine. Second year mechanical engineering students are given theory and practical knowledge on machining operations on a lathe machine. Similarly, the textbook covers a wide range of manufacturing processes in multiple chapters that are being currently taught to second year mechanical engineering students. Each chapter quite extensively introduces and demonstrates the mechanisms of machines, tools and safety features. It can be noted that both OERs complement each other in their delivery and would tremendously assist teachers, technicians, lab demonstrators and students alike.