ICT through we-chat forum discussion

1^st Reflection on use of ICT for the month of September, through we-chat forum discussion 2019

On 3^rd September 2019, I used We-chat to integrate ICT in my lesson for class VI and the subject was Social Studies. The topic was on types of Transport. I have used We-chat especially to let parents involve equally in letting the children learn effectively. For this I have provided series of questions as a home task where by children need to answer through triangular discussion.

The triangular discussion means discussion between a child, parent and the teacher using the We-chat as the means of communication. The timing is fixed at 6:30 P.M. because many parents return home at 6:00 PM from their regular work. The discussion started from 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM. which compressed of 1 hour 15 minutes.

The home task questions for triangular discussion were as follow.

1.      What is transportation mean to you and your family?

2.      How many types of transport do we have in our country?

3.      How does transportation help you during emergency?

4.      What could be some of the transportation that you used in olden days?

5.      How was the transportation system change over past?

6.      What type of transportation you use at present?

7.      Any further discussion related to the topic.

I have used We-chat as a means to teach this lesson because almost all the parents have We-chat facility and I have class we-chat group where parents are invited and added. However, I have asked those students to take help of nearby friends and parents to communicate who do not have We-chat facility.

This strategy was so interactive because both parents and students are used to We-chat. Most of the parents have interacted with the teacher either through voice message or in the written. Integrating this ICT means was found to be so meaningful for teaching this particular topic. It not only helped in teaching and learning but also strengthened the bond relation between the parents and teacher. Moreover that we can keep our children engage in activities though they are out of school boundary. The most successful thing was that both parents and students were able to understand what, why and how about the transportation system of our country. I was so proud that all the students could easily understand the whole chapter on transportation when they come to next class. Parents were encouraged and suggested similar way to be used in future for the better learning and understanding of the students. There was lots of sharing which are different views from one another. I as a teacher could also learn so many from diverse background of parents. 

However, there were few challenges. Some parents took lot of time in discussing the actual point or a question. They spent time in talking some other issues which were not related to topic. There were few parents who did not have we-chat and they failed to participate in the forum discussion. The other challenge was I had to explain and ask in their local dialect (Bumthap kha). I had to explain the same issue or discuss too many parents and students because to make them clear on topic and questions that are discussing.

I must also make it clear to parents that they must not talk anything which is not related to the topic. This kind of arrangement will definitely solve the problem.

However, integrating ICT such as We-chat in teaching this particular topic really helped both teacher and parents. I could fulfill the lesson objective involving parents. I am thinking same to conduct in future lesson and some of my friends also started to use such discussion.

 

 

Kinzang Dorji

DEA-III

PCE 06160359