Use of ICT in Learning and Teaching

Formative Assessment, Effective Feedback and EDTech Tools - Part 1 Date: 27th May 2022/Friday Welcome to another interesting new blog post about formative assessments in schools, followed by effective feedback and the role of edtech tools in creating innovative formative assessments. We will begin by refreshing and exploring a little more about formative assessments. Then we will discuss effective ways of giving feedback to students. This will be followed by exploring a few edtech that are freely available that can be used to create innovative and personalized formative assessments. So what are formative assessments? why are they important? how are they different from summative assessments? when should we take formative assessments? what should the teachers do after formative assessments? Formative assessments are basically ongoing and taken at regular intervals during the school year. These can be taken once the unit is completed or even in the midst to checking for understanding. The...

Valour Circles in Schools Date: 14th November 2019/11:35 AM It has been long since I had time to write a blog about something very interesting, useful  and important in our lives, our emotions and how they effect us at times and how we take them for granted both in kids and adults. Emotions give us very important data not about ourselves but even people around us, what they are going through. I think it's very important for educators no matter what age group of kids they are teaching to be aware of not only oneself but others too. It's a common observation that students are told be rigid, strong and firm, and leave their emotions behind while making decisions. I wonder parents or even educators ever think, in doing so they are ripping apart their kid of a very unique ability, strength, which is god gifted. Acknowledging emotions is the first step to handling them. Dr Susan David, a Harvard Psychologist in her Ted Talk talks about emotions as data and not directives. She fu...

Exploring Hello Ruby - a new way to learn Technology, Coding & Computers Date: 19th June 2019/Wednesday 21st June 2019/Friday  This blog post will give you an insight into an interesting way of learning algorithms in creative and artistic ways. This may sound weird but its interesting and engaging like anything. Linda Liukas who is the founder for the HundrED Innovation project Hello Rubi [1],  a children's author and illustrator, who has written 3 books about technology, coding and computers which is based on learning through play, creativity and imagination. This blog post explores Hello Rubi in detail and why there is a dire need to adopt the same approach in schools in Pakistan. So just for a moment think of the traditional and usual way of teaching technology, coding and  computational thinking in schools and classrooms. We usually begin with explaining technology terms  and concepts to kids on the white board, share examples, watch a video, read s...

Introducing Computational Thinking in Classrooms Date: 26th May 2019/Sunday/12:18 PM           27th May 2019/Monday/1:55 PM This blog post is inspired from my dive into my recent course i.e Computational Thinking for Every Educator Course offered by the ISTE International Society of Technology Education. It had a lot of insight to offer about Computational Thinking, its four key components i.e Decomposition, Pattern Recognition, Abstraction and Algorithms, its practical applications in classrooms, designing lesson plans and activities incorporating Computational Thinking in your classrooms. What amazed me was that its completely different to Computer Science, as educators we often confuse the two terms, though they are completely different from each other . Lets dive in and figure out how. So let's begin with our understanding of what is Computer Science ? Computer Science as per definitions explored onlin1 (1) its the study of information (data) and...

Imagination Sparks Creativity - An Insight into the role Tech has to play Date: 11th April 2019/Thursday An interesting blog post inspired by my brief conversation with my psychologist about creating fantasies - something I believe has more to do with imagination and creativity. Imagination actually fueling creativity. In other words imagining realities that do not exist but in my opinion they pave the way for a more extra ordinary, innovative and a dynamic future. My blogpost tries to explore links between imagination and creativity and the role education technology can play to build and enhance creative thinking skills in children and adults both. So lets begin by exploring what is actually imagination and creativity. As per definition that I looked up on an online dictionary (1) imagination is the process of creating images that do not actually exist and your senses might not adhere too. Creativity on the other hand is the process of generating ideas that are both original ...

Exploring Innovations in Education - The Teachers Guild Date 14/Nov/18 Wednesday This blog post is inspired by my dive into hundrED Innovations in Education . Though it was not possible to share all of them here, I have picked up the ones that inspired me the most and are worth trying in schools. The first one is the Teachers Guild Approach in education. My upcoming blogs will explore their impact and possible applications in schools. To begin with "The Teachers Guild" its a learner centered approach aimed at equipping teachers with the mindsets and methods from design thinking so that they can plan and design learning experiences keeping in mind the growing and evolving needs of the students. This  approach focuses on collaborations among teachers based on design thinking methods and mindsets.  It encourages teachers to share ideas, starting with a challenge that you intend to solve with collaboration with peers. It equips you with skills that help aid teachers in...

Exploring the future of Future Classroom Labs in Pakistan Date: 22 June 2018/Friday My blogpost this time is inspired from my recent dive into the Future Classroom Labs by the European Schoolnet and their 30 Ministries and various industry partners to rethink design, pedagogy and technology in classroom. My blog explores their work in detail and highlights why such a set up is needed in Pakistan, how can this be set up and who can be the driving force behind this, some suggested schools and partners to take up the initiative. So lets begin by exploring what is actually the FCL Future Classroom Labs ? The Future Classroom Labs is created by European Schoolnet and 30 ministries and industry partners to re-imagine and think teaching and learning in conventional classrooms, reorganize learning spaces that cater to the differentiated needs of diverse learners in a class. Classroom here is not a traditional four walled room but any area where learning takes place be it inside or ou...