Mathematics through ICT:

Mathematics through ICT:

ICT based teaching and learning is one of the most important aspects of teaching-learning process particularly in this era of fast and technically advancing technology. Teaching and learning without the use of ICT can be very redundant since it’s the need of the generation. The learners will become inactive and un-participatory without the integration of ICT in the lessons apart from many more.

To make the class interactive and students’ centered, insisting students to browse the net on their own to relate the information of the text to that of the internet for better and realistic learning and understanding comes as solution. Through the process, students were empowered with a series of skills and attitudes about ICT that are essential tool of knowledge for success in this era as they  learn to browse net and you tubes for educational purposes.

On 22^nd October, I taught a lesson on ‘MEAN, MEDIAN and MODE’ to class VI using ICT. The facilities used were laptop, projector, internet and smart phones. During the lesson, I used video tutorial. Alongside, I made students to have hand on experience to use ICT facilities; children were involved in surfing Google search for the solution and used WeChat app to discuss (for two days).

I found that through student-centered ICT integrated teaching-learning process; students were very active and energetic throughout the lesson. They were excited and felt that they were doing small research in their own way while they were doing Google search using smart phones. It also made them to have extensive discussion on a problem as they found lots of related responses by different authors. Further, while using WeChat app for discussion, students were very enthusiastic to discuss and comment which helped them to learn better. The classroom was very lively as students were completely engaged in exploring information for the lesson concept. The introduction of the lesson, made trough video tutorial, let students realize that learning can happen even in absence of teacher. They also realized that it will certainly support them to use the period effectively that ultimately will reduce the challenges of syllabus coverage. Surfing search engines in smart phones helped them to find meaning for difficult words; pronounce the words appropriately; find synonyms and antonyms with examples and many more, which surely added excitement to learn and explore further. Children realized that smart phones were not just to call or chat, but can be used for educational purpose. Usually, I use video clips as energizer in between the lesson to break boredom to increase the learning efficiency, but for this  lesson learners were already enthusiastic and curious to learn which greatly helped to   reduce  my workload.

On the other hand, having uncountable benefits of ICT in teaching learning process is not without challenges. Owing to limited ICT resources in Computer labs, transportation of electronic gadgets from one class to another location were seen as nuisance and waste of time.  Lack of IT expertise is another hiccup. High internet price also does not motivate us to integrate ICT on a daily basis. The handiest gadget that students and teachers can be used was found as smart phones but the policy of not letting students to use smart phones in schools comes as a big obstruction. Therefore, it is my earnest opinion that the policy has to be amended to help the digital natives, the 21^st century students, to learn in the way that suits them.

To conclude, ICT plays a pivotal role in transforming educational practices.  ICT not only helps to translate theory to pragmatic experience, but also makes learning more fun and creative. It has helped both the teacher and the learner to carry out their tasks conveniently and efficiently which finally results learning more independently through ICT as they take more responsibility of learning process.