Reflection on the final Project: Lesson Planning Based on TPCK framework

This is my reflection on the final project of the course “ Pedagogies for flexible learning supported by tec (2010) (2010_19197037)”. The final project had had two components: the design of a lesson and the design professional development based on the TPACK framework. Hence, a group has a possibility to chose among these topics (flexibility). The group I belong to have done on the first topic. Hence, this reflection is all about the process of doing this assignment in the last couples of weeks. I have organized my reflection into six different days. This days are the days in which the group meet to do the assignment in addition to the home take assignment. The reflection describes the process of the situation and give final conclusion in each day.

Day 1:  October 27, 2010 ( Cubicus at 16:00hrs)

In the first day of the meeting, the issue was in selecting the  topic between the given alternatives. Two members of the group has an interest to do on professional development and one member of the group has interest on lesson designing. In the other hand, one member of the group has no preference. There was debate to come up to consensus to one topic (how challenging to do in groups with different interests). The debate lasts for about two hours and finally come up with consensus to do on professional development based on TPCK framework. On this day the following decision were also made

·         The context was determined (Ethiopian primary schools)

·         The subject was also determined (The topic about earthquake)

Then home take assignment was given to read and prepare on the issue for the next meeting of October 29, 2010 at Vrijhof

It was interesting to me that we have discussed a lot in selecting the assignment, there were arguments to reside in one direction. We have shared experiences while arguing on the issues.

Day 2:  October 29, 2010, (Vrijhof at 15:00)

On this day something happened unexpectedly. Three of the group members come with a different ideas about the assignment, however, one of the group member come with a preparation with the home take assignment. The three members of the groups come with a thesis that we have to change our project from professional development to lesson designing. There were arguments for this shift. It took a lot of times for the group again to come to consensus. Finally with the principle of the vote for the mass (paradox to democracy) we came to the decision to do our project on lesson designing based on TPCK framework. On this day there was task division hence we have divided tasks. Since there was a preliminary context analysis, it helps us to decide the technology to be used and the content to be taught.

·         The content selected was about earthquake

·         The technology selected was not clearly defined, sometimes we said Wikipedia, YouTube and Encarta premium 2008.

As a result, the group decided that there should be  a clear context and content and technology to progress.

It was surprising on this day that it faced us a great challenge to fit with the content with the technology and  the context selected. This day gave to me a great lesson how it is difficult to fit technology with content and how context challenges to select appropriate technology. Moreover, since the context selected is not that much rich with modern technologies it was challenging for the group to selected the available technology and fit with the existing content.

Day 3:  November 03. 2010  ( Cubicus  at 15:00)

On this day everybody did come with a certain preliminary results on the given tasks. However, the following mismatches were happened. The first for front mismatch was the technology selected and the context did not go inline. The technology selected demanded high internet connection, however, the context has no such fast internet connection. Therefore, we came to search the available technology and which suits the context, and content. As a result Encarta premium 2008 was selected as a means for technology to teach grade seven environment science subject about earthquake. On this day, we read the manuscripts of each of the group members tasks. As a result, we came with a certain draft document which demands further improvement.

On this day, it was good experience that context binds/influences in selecting appropriate technology for a given content. It was also a good lesson that TPCK helps in using the available technology in teaching a certain content.

Day 4:  November 10, 2010 (  Vrijhof  at 14:00)

The draft task was analyzed critically. As a result the lesson designing process come up with the structures of containing four different components namely, TPACK framework, design model, analysis of context and actual design of the lesson. Each of the components were described in this meeting. Especially I was happy that we have created our own design process model combining Dick and Carey design model and TPCK framework. It was the very important of our work. After preparing our design model it becomes very easy to proceed straight forward.

In this day, we also tried to go through Encarta Premium 2008, however, it was a challenge to find it easily. Finally we were able to be successful in finding the Encarta software. We found that it is a good source for students specially in places where there is no internet connection.

It was interesting in this day that framing one’s work through a certain model helps to organize a certain task easily. Moreover, it was interesting that I have got interesting experience that TPCK  framework and Dick and Carey model combined helps to design a lesson plan based on TPCK framework. It helps us to prepare our lesson planning process.

Day 5:  November 12, 2010 (Vrijhof at 14:00)

The whole document was read by each members of the group. There was good sharing of experiences in dealing with wrong/mismatched statement and argument in the document.

In this day everything was finalized and combined together. As a result we come up with a certain document which clearly shows how to prepare a lesson plan based on TPCK framework.

It was interesting that TPCK helps to design a lesson plan which helps in teaching a certain content with the available technology

Day 6:  November 15, 2010 (Vrijhof at 10:00 )

In this day the group finalized the whole job on the document. In addition, we tried to prepare the slide for the presentation. The whole document was about 20 pages, hence, to prepare a slide of 10 -12 slide we have to read the whole document. Finally we come up with a 12 slide presentation. The slides contains introduction, design model, context (curriculum, grade level, curriculum, school, and content) and actual design process (before, during and after).

This day helps the group to recapitulate what we have done since the beginning of the project.

Day 7: November 17, 2010 (Cubicus at 12:30)

On this day we finalized and organized the slide for the presentation.

Generally, the final project helps me to share experiences with persons from different country and background. Each day has its own implication for me and had had value while doing in groups. Moreover, I came to understand that TPCK helps a lot in integrating technology in the classroom. Especially, I found interesting that TPCK concept helps to dig out the available resources in a certain context to use/integrate in the teaching learning process.