Page 1 Higher Thinking Skills through IT-Based Projects Higher Thinking Skills through IT-Based Projects

Page 2 Projects represent constructivist approach to instruction, namely: the teacher creating the learning environment. the teacher giving students the tools and facilities, and the teacher facilitating learning.

Page 3 Four IT-Based Projects: Resource-based Projects Simple Creations Guided Hypermedia Projects Web-based Projects

Page 4 Resource-based Projects  The teacher steps out of the traditional role of being an content expert and information provider, and instead lets the students find their own facts and information. Only when necessary for the active learning process does the teacher supply data or information.

Page 5 General flow of events in resource- based projects are: 1.The teacher determines the topic for the examination of the class. 2.The teacher presents the problem to the class. 3.The students find information on the problem/questions. 4.Students organize the information in response to the problem/questions.

Traditional Learning Model Resource - based Learning model Teacher is expert and information providerTeacher is a guide and facilitator Textbook is a key source of informationSources are varied (print, internet, & video) Focus on facts information is packaged in neat parcels Focuses on learning inquiry, quest, and discovery The product is the be-all & end-all of learning Emphasis on process Assessment is quantitativeAssessment is quantitative & qualitative

II-Simple Creations II-Simple Creations Students can also be assigned to create their software materials to supplement the need for relevant and effective materials. Of course, there are available software materials such Creative Writer (by Microsoft) on writing, KidWork Deluxe (by Davidson) on drawing and painting, and MediaWeave (by Humanities software) on multimedia.

In developing software, creativity as an outcome should not be equated with ingenuity or high intelligence. Creating is more consonant with planning, making, assembling, designing, or building. Creativity is said to combine three kind of skills/abilities:

Three kinds of skills/abilities: Three kinds of skills/abilities: Analyzing- distinguishing similarities/differences Synthesizing- making spontaneous connections among ideas thus generating interesting or new ideas Promoting- selling of a new ideas to allow the public to test the ideas themselves

To develop creativity, the following five keys may be recommended: Define the task. Clarify the goal of the completed project to the student. Brainstorm. The students themselves will be allowed to generate their own ideas on the project. Rather than shoot down ideas, the teacher encourages idea exchange. Judge the ideas. The students themselves make an appraisal for or against any idea. Only when students are completely off track should the teacher intervene. Act. The students do their work with the teacher a facilitator. Adopt flexibility. The students should be allowed to shift gears and not follow an action path rigidly.

Page 13 Guided Hypermedia Projects: Production of self-made multimedia projects can be approached in 2 different ways: As an instructive tool, such as in the production by students of a power-point presentation of a selected topic. As a communication tool, such as when students do a multimedia presentation (with text, graphs, photos, audio narration, interviews, video clips, etc., to simulate a television news show.

Page 14 Web-Based Projects Students can be made to create and post webpages on a given topic. But creating webpages, even single page webpages, may be too sophisticated and time consuming for the average student. It should be said, however, that posting of webpages in the Internet allows the students (now the webpage creator) a wider audience. They can also linked with other related sites in the Internet. But as of now, this creativity project may be to ambitious as a tool in the teaching- learning process.