ICT as a communication tool

Communicative tool

Communicative tools are applications which enable easy communication between teacher and the students as well as among students beyond the physical barrier either by space, time or both of the classrooms.

The following are the examples;

1. e-mail
2. electronic bulletin boards
3. online chat
4. video and web conferencing
5. electronic white boards/smart boards
6. social networking sites (blogs/Facebook/twitter)

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Basically, there are two types of communications that are;

1. Synchronous
2. Asynchronous

Synchronous

It is also called real time, in which users must be simultaneously connected, rather like a telephone call.

• Enabler real-time communication
• Used for instructional activities that require higher degree of interaction
• Helps solving urgent problems or issues
• Examples; chat, telephone call, videoconferencing

Disadvantages of Synchronous

• Slow connection distracts and fails to keep abreast of interest
• Difficult to make quick comments by slow computer users
• Discussion lose focus because of many side discussions
• Multiple threads of discussion are difficult to follow

Advantages of Synchronous

• Provide real time communication
• Helps solving urgent problems

Asynchronous

It’s doesn’t require people to access to the internet at the same time.

Example; e-mail, electronic bulletin boards,

Disadvantages of Asynchronous

• Discussion boards/blogs/VLE posts fail to maintain the interest (minimizes frequency)
• Discourage learner’s participation

Advantages of Asynchronous

• Not require people at the same time

After learning this topic, I came to know about the disadvantages and advantages of synchronous and asynchronous. If the internet speed is high or if the message has to be sent instantly then synchronous communication is better and if the discussion has to sustain for a longer duration then asynchronous communication can be used using VLE discussion forum, we chat, email etc.

My experience of using Camtasia studio

Today I am going to talk about my experience of using Camtasia after learning two hour session on Camtasia. I haven’t used Camtasia in my previous years and didn’t hear the name forget about using it. Till now I have been using window movie maker to edit videos. In this module, ICT in teaching and learning, I was taken through how to use Camtasia which was completely a new knowledge to me. After that particular session, I came to know that through Camtasia, I can record video and edit video using Camtasia features. Some of the features that aren’t there in the windows movie maker are there in the Camtasia.

After using Camtasia studio, the differences I found is that Movie Maker has lack of effects. There are few pre-selected effects that we can apply to clips, such as giving a film old age looks or fading the clip in or out, but for the most part we are limited. Another limitation is the ability to save as different file types, where as in Camtasia we can capture video from our laptop screen. And it is very handy if we want to do some sort of video tutorial on our computer as it gives space to record the screen. Camtasia also creates and handles various file types such as animated GIF, Abode Flash, Window Media types, and MP3 audio.

After taking a session on Camtasia, we were asked to come up with ten minutes video tutorial whereby our module tutor gave us the topic. I was given topic hand coordination from class PP teacher manual (English subject). I was anxious about how to go about creating a Video tutorial and was bit worried as well. Then I installed the Camtasia studio 8 in my laptop and tried to use those features learnt in the classroom and it was quite impressive as all I need to have is a power point presentation on Hand coordination and my work is done. As Camtasia, gives an opportunity for me to record the screen whereby I can record my presentation while I am presenting on the slides. After recording the presentation in the Camtasia Recorder, the Camtasia components can be used to modify audio and video displayed as tracks by using the timeline control and object library interface with an integrated preview window. It also allows us to add captions.

By using Camtasia Studio, I could come up with 10 minutes video tutorial which isn’t a quality one but it was my first video tutorial so I am glad that we are given this assignment. So the video that I have uploaded is the video tutorial that I have made using Camtasia. The video mainly talks about how to improve eye hand coordination to improve hand writing and fine motor skills of the children.