Reflection on Situating tools

In this session we learned about the last ICT tool to integrate in teaching and learning called situating tool. Like the other tools we have already looked at this tool is also another meaning tool that will make teaching and learning process interesting journey. I found it very useful and engaging when I actually used it.

Situating tools are an application that helps to situate learner’s in an environment to experience the context and happenings. Few examples are simulation (flight, farming, surgery, environment, driving, history city, Sim city, play station.), virtual reality (VR).  The importance of situating tools are; situates user in an environment, comprehend and manipulate variable, communicate with other users login, foster creativity and visualization skills.

One example of situating tools is simulation and integration of it in teaching and learning will help the learner experience a certain real-life experience which is impossible or difficult to attain. Simulations are programs that teach strategies and rules which are made to apply real life situations where the computer presents simulation of real learning situation, makes learners to take decision, problem solving skills, manipulates the elements of the model as the computer provides feedback, invokes learners conceptual understanding and higher order thinking skills.  

Two types of simulation are – about something (teach) and how to do something. Simulation about something has physical simulation where users manipulate the object and processes and interactive simulations where users speed up or slow down the process to get the result . Simulation on how to something has procedural simulation where it teach appropriate sequence of steps to perform certain procedures and situational simulations where it provides hypothetical situation to ask them and react.

So, I feel that the schools which has adequate computers and access to good internet facilities  ,the teachers have the opportunity to engage the students effectively in their learning and provides opportunities to interact with the real life situations without danger, expense or difficulty and make teaching and learning process meaningful.