HIGHER THINKING SKILLS THROUGH ITBASED PROJECTS OVERVIEW In

HIGHER THINKING SKILLS THROUGH ITBASED PROJECTS

OVERVIEW In this lesson, we shall discuss about four types of ITbased projects which can effectively be used in order to engage students in activities of a higher plane of thinking. To be noted is the fact that these projects differ on the specific process and skills employed, also in the ultimate activity or platform used to communicate completed products to others.

It is to be understood that these projects do not address all of the thinking skills shown previously in the Thinking Skills Framework. But these projects represent constructivist approach to instruction.

FOUR IT-BASED PROJECT RESOURCE-BASED PROJECTS II. SIMPLE CREATIONS III. GUIDED HYPERMEDIA PROJECTS IV. WEB-BASED PROJECTS I.

I. RESOURCE-BASED PROJECTS The teacher steps out of the traditional role of being an content expert and information provider, and instead lets the students find their own facts and information.

The General flow of events in Resource-Based Projects 1. The teacher determines the topic for the examination of class (e. g. “the definition of the man”) 2. The teacher presents the problem to the class. 3. The students find information on the problem/questions. 4. Students organize their information in response to the problem/questions.

Relating to finding information, tsthe central principle is to make the students “go beyond the textbook and curriculum materials”. Students are also encouraged to go to the library, particularly to the modern extension of the modern library, the internet.

TRADITIONAL LEARNING MODEL RESOURCE-BASED LEARNING MODEL Teacher is expert & information provider Teacher is a guide & facilitator Textbook is key source of information Source are varied (print, video, internet , etc. ) Focus on facts information is packaged In neat parcels Focus on learning inquiry/quest/discovery The product is the be-all and end-all of learning Emphasis of process Assessment in quantitative Assessment is quantitative and qualitative

II. SIMPLE CREATIONS

�Students can also be assigned to create their software materials to supplement the need for relevant and effective materials. Of course, there available software materials such as creative writer (by microsoft) on writing, kid. Work Deluxe (by Davidson) on drawing and painting, and Media. Weave by Humanities software 0 on multimedia.

Creating is more consonant with planning, making, assembling, designing, or building. Creativity is said to combine three kind of skills/abilities: �Analyzing �Synthesizing �Promoting

To develop creativity, the following five key tasks may be recommended: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Define the tasks Brainstorm Judge the ideas Act Adopt flexibility

The Upgraded Project Method Given these complex thinking skills, the modern day teacher can now be guided on his goal to help student achieve higher level thinking skills and creativity beyond the ordinary benchmark of the student’s passing, even excelling achievement test.

Project Method For Higher Learning Outcomes Consists in having the students work on projects with depth, complexity, duration and relevance to the real world. q

Project Method There is a tighter link between the use of projects for simply coming up with products to having the students undergo the process of complex/higher thinking under the framework of the constructivist paradigm. q

The Process The process of project implementation takes the students to the steps, efforts, and experiences in project completion. q

Guided Hypermedia Projects �As an instructive tool, such as in the production by students of power-point presentation of a selective topic.

� As a communication tool, such as when students do a multimedia presentation ( with text, graphics, photos, audio narration, interviews, video clips, etc. to simulate a television news show.

Web Based Project

Web Based Project �Students can be made to create and post webpages on a given topic. • But creating webpages, even single page webpages, may be too sophisticated and time consuming for the average students

�However, that posting of webpages in the Internet allows the students a wider audience. �They can also be linked with other related cites in the Internet. �But as of now, this creativity project may be too ambitious tool as a tool in the teaching-learning process.

If kids come to us from strong, healthy functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important. -Barbara Colorose