Educational games

 Educational games are games that are designed for educational purposes, in order to expand a concept, help teacher, and reinforce development. These games motivates students to learn, get engaged, pay attention, and stay focused in the lesson. Also, educational games increase student’s participation, and it requires students to communicate while working in groups, so students will learn from each other. Educational games are very important especially nowadays during online learning to improve learners their thinking, and creativity so they will learn faster and the learning will be more effective.

Useful assessment tools:

Technology is integrated widely in online learning, that's why many assessment tools have been used while online learning such as:

 

•  Mentimeter: it is an assessment tool, where we can add questions, polls, images and surveys. In addition it is simple for students and enjoyable.

 

• Jamboard: it is a useful app that can be used to ask a fast question after explaining a lesson, it helps the teacher know if all the students understand well the lesson 

 

• Google forms:It is easy and simple, also we can add multiple choice questions and true or false questions.

 

•  Poll everywhere: where we can make questions as world clouds, in addition it is used for discussions and it enhances participation in class

Our life has changed to better in 2021

Our lives have changed 180 degrees from last year till now. Last year in 2020, we were not able to attend schools and universities, go to work, and visit friends and family and have fun with each other, in addition to economic issues that our country was facing . However, nowadays everything is changing progressively to be better, no more strong lockdowns, we can go out easily ( of course without forgetting to put masks on and keep a safe distance between us), and we have returned to our work and our social life. Moreover, we all had gotten used to all the protective measures of covid-19, in addition we became more familiar with online learning and working.

 

Challenges in teaching online

Online learning has been used  throughout the last 3 years and till now, to pass information from teachers to students. Regardless of the usefulness and the benefits of online learning, it has its challenges. Some of these challenges that are facing me as a teachers:

• Connectivity: Currently, due to the corona pandemic in the whole world, in addition to the electrical crisis in our country, there is an increase in using online learning tools, that means more internet usage which leads to more problems in connectivity and poor quality in  online sessions and videos, these problems leads to difficulties that faces teachers and students.

• New tools and apps required: Most teachers should be familiar with all tools and apps used in online learning to convey the idea in an appropriate way to the students, and to make them understand the lesson well.

• Work organization and time management.

• Lack of motivation in online learners:Teachers should apply gamified apps and programs to increase motivation and to let the students get involved by the lesson.

Tips for students to avoid problems while online teaching

 Online studying has gone viral throughout the whole world in an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19, so schools across the nation have closed. Moreover, teachers have to rethink how to help their students in supplying their needs, since all of the students are falling behind, and they are facing social and emotional issues in addition to the distance learning issues. So there are some tips to help and support the students, and to avoid problems :

• Distraction and time management: Students at home can be more distracted especially in the presence of family and friends, that’s why students should build a schedule for their online sessions, assignments and assessments and identify a quiet time to complete their course work.

• Staying motivated: students that are not attending classes are feeling somehow depressed, since there is no direct communication between each other, that’s why they should create a schedule and find a suitable study space, and they should have communication with their professors and friends to help them be motivated.

• Be aware of sharing and giving personal information: so other students couldn’t be allowed to access the information and passwords,and they don’t  put their school work at risk.

• Empowering students with online teaching tools, by informing them how to use apps and tools applied in their schools. For example teaching them how to turn in an assignment or submit the assessments, also joining the live sessions.

  
  
  

A digital citizen

 The most important rule to be a digital citizen is to protect our privacy, our personal information, and avoid oversharing online in social media. In addition, we should respect each other, their privacy, their personal information, and don’t imitate others' lives.  Also, we must think about the future, think wisely about every single content we want to share on the internet, since everything is saved on the internet, and cannot be erased and deleted easily. Moreover, it is preferred to be respectful, intelligent and optimistic to attract the reader's attention.

Integrating technology into teaching

 Technology has taken a huge part throughout the last 3 years due to Covid-19 pandemic.The advantages of technology on our lives can’t be ignored, especially with the new technology developments and improvements. First, technology improves collaboration, for example when students are assigned to groups, students with high achievement and more technologically advanced can help students with low achievement and inexperienced students in technology. Second, technology approves the relationship between teachers and students by using different apps and tools to present excitable content, it also helps teachers to improve and expand their own knowledge.  Third, using technology in the classroom helps in increasing engagement and involvement, in addition it encourages students to participate, for example using gamified learning attracts students attention so they get focused on the lesson and ask questions.

EDUC561 Class

In this course, there are practical activities in each app or tool, which encourage us to participate, to get involved and get engaged in class. These practices make the session  more  fun and enjoyable. Moreover, we should not forget the importance of this course as teachers, it informs us about different apps, tools and websites that can facilitate the lesson for me as a teacher, and for my students. In addition to our instructor role, she is characterized by her patient, kind, caring, dedication to teaching and her ability to make this course very clear and entertaining.

 Due to the current economical and electrical crisis in our country, there is rarely an internet connection during the day, that's what makes it difficult to attend the class.