NEW MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

Technology is a body of knowledge used to create tools, develop skills, and extract or collect materials. It is also the application of science (The combination of the scientific method and material) to meet an objective or solve problem. (www.ncrel.org)
Media are means of communication, derived from the Latin medium (between) the term refers to anything that carries information between a source and receiver. Media in the classroom engage students in learning and provide richer experience .Media is useful tools for illustrating a lesson, allowing students to see examples of what they are learning. Interactive media such as smart boards allow students to move item on a screen for illustrative purposes. Students view media as exciting learning aids, making learning entertaining and less monotonous.
New media is a broad term that emerged in the later part of 20th century to encompass the amalgamation of traditional media(. www.wikipedia the free dictionary)
Prior knowledge acts as lens thought which we view and absorb new information. It is a composite of who we are, based on what we have learned from both our academic and everyday experiences. (Kujawa and Husker 1995)
Through new media and technology can assess the prior knowledge which influences how the teacher and students interact with the learning materials as both individual and group as follows;
Prior knowledge self assessments through this a teacher should ask students different questions concerning the topic which is going to teach especially when using the new media and technology , example how to search different materials through using internet, a Teacher should ask each or some of the students understanding and due to that he or she will know how to help these student according and use different ways to help their student since he or she know the weaknesses of each students on how to use well the new media and technology.
Concept maps as a teacher you can assess prior knowledge of the student by using different maps. You can use new media and technology such as projector to show maps of somewhere and ask student about it, to look out for their knowledge about those maps. There is where you can combine these students prior knowledge with your knowledge as a teacher to explain in deep on those map in case of making students understand more. Example the use of smart board on conducting different graphics for advertisements.
Concept tests the teacher who have organize his or her material through new media and technology can test the prior knowledge of the students through provide the questions, example can provide the phone or computer to the students and ask them to access the internet and search different materials. Through these, teacher can determine the prior knowledge of the students.
Performance based prior knowledge assessments Teacher can assess the prior knowledge of student by using new media and technology. Example by giving them questions about the certain media that teacher going to use during teaching and learning process. To ask students to connect the projector if you’re going to teach on how to use the projector in showing something from the computer towards the large group of people. Or to ask them to connect computer before teaching them on how to search different materials through internet in the computer.
Use a wide variety of learning activities that reflect the students’ cultural diversity and the capacity for multiple intelligences for the case of making a well rounded man, teacher should use different methods of teaching which can make the learners in sweet able ways to understand the lesson. Example the good ways to be used is the participatory methods when teacher asking question and waiting for feedback to the learners.
Use heterogonous grouping and cooperative learning to facilitate the sharing of prior knowledge and engage students in their own learning. Through using new media and technology can help much on assessing the prior knowledge of the students and help instructor to know the background, the knowledge, and skills level of the learners. Example projector use in classroom can help the student to cooperate much with teacher within a lesson which facilitate on observation of different pictures and images which test the prior knowledge of the students.
Involve community members and a variety of rich resource based that reflect varied cultural expression to help develop instructional tasks and to suggest authentic assessment measures by which to gauge student achievement. Through the new media and technology it help the instructor with relevant information about students knowledge and skill level , example using face book ,tweeter, perm chart, blog help the student to share information with other community member as the result of assessing prior knowledge.
More over assess students prior knowledge , new media and technology help students in acquiring the necessary prerequisite knowledge and skills if their prior knowledge is weak as following;-
Creates an authentic learning experience using newspapers, brochures, job application forms and news broad casts provides authentic opportunities for students to learn using real world media. This method simulates real life experiences in which students must read, evaluate and interpret information based on items that they need in their daily lives. Example when students use objects from the real world. They can see the connection between what they learn in school and how they can use the knowledge as a member of society.
Appeal to multiple learning styles media appeal to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. Student can watch a movie, listen to music or interact with digital media on an interactive smart board. Effective teacher do not rely on teaching students in merely one style but use a variety of styles to reach the greatest number of students. Providing a rich learning experience through classroom media keeps students focused and engaged in learning.
Strengthens critical thinking skills teacher can use media to hone critical thinking skills. Students can write about a song, interpret a movie or interpret a news broadcast. Teacher can use the media to ask probing questions and facilitate discussions that extend beyond basic comprehension questions. Teacher can also create projects in which students develop their own media, using classroom media as a model. This hands on activity challenges students to formulate media, using their own creativity and interpretations from classroom media.
Teaches students to use media through using media in the classroom as a teacher teaches students how to use and care for resources to further their education. Students not only learn how to use the internet, a dictionary or a news paper for information, but they also learn how to care for and protect the items they use, according to the center for media literacy. Students can also learn how to determine the value of media and learn methods to contribute to society, producing their own media as a result of forming a well rounded man in the world.
The application of new media and technology in classroom assess the student prior knowledge and help the instructor to know the prior knowledge of the student as the result of understanding which ways to use in conducting knowledge, skills and attitude to the students for the case of making a well rounded man in the world.

TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION
 Meaning of Technology
 Meaning of Media
 Meaning of New Media and technology
 Concept of prior knowledge

MAIN BODY
 How new media and technology assess the prior knowledge of the students
 How new media and technology help student in acquiring the necessary prerequisite knowledge and skills if their prior knowledge is weak

CONCLUSSION

REFFERENCE

REFFERENCE
Sharon, E. Smaldino (2012); Instructional Technology and Media for learning
Publishing as Allyn & Bacon
www.wikipediathe free dictionary retrieved on 20th June, 11; 30 am
www.cmc.eduretrieved on 20th June, 11; 40 am
www.ncrel.orgretrieved on 20th June, 12; 10 pm
Blog name; www.allypamoja.blogspot.com









PARTICIPANTS
NO. NAMES. REGISTRATION NO. SIGNATURE
1 ABDALLAH ALLY TEKU/BAED/HK/12411
2 ANGOLILE DICKSON TEKU/BAED/HK/12415
3 ANTHON THOMASI TEKU/BAED/HK/12416
4 AHMAD FATUMA TEKU/BAED/HK/12412
5 MWEMBE JOSEPHINA TEKU/BAED/HK/11807
6 BUHAGA ANJELINA TEKU/BAED/HK/12418
7 SELEMAN CHIKU TEKU/BAED/HK/11862
8 SALUMU TUNDA TEKU/BAED/HK/11854
9 ANDREW JOSEPHINE TEKU/BAED/HK/12414