KOLEJ DISTED-STAMFORD NEWS
20 June 2009

Spicing up lessons with IT

Better IT skills can help teachers to be more effective in delivering lessons and handle paperwork with greater ease. 

“Nowadays students are proficient in using computer. So they expect more than just chalk-and-talk teaching method,” said Sithi Banu Mohd. Sultan, SMK Convent Pulau Tikus senior assistant for administration. 

“Hence, it’s imperative that teachers compete with their IT-savvy students by keeping abreast with technology trends in education,” she said. 

SMK Convent Pulau Tikus teachers at the training on multimedia presentation and spreadsheet management conducted by DISTED.

Sithi and her colleagues attended the ‘Spice Up the Class with ICT’ workshop conducted by DISTED College on 20 June 2009. 

“Multimedia presentation is a useful teaching tool. By using animation, colours and sounds in teaching, teachers can make learning more exciting for students to better absorb what is being taught,” she said. 

“Spreadsheet management is another essential tool for teachers particularly for analyzing examination results.

“Instead of report books, our students now are given computer printouts of their examination results,” Sithi said. 

Workshop facilitator Lim Chia Yean (standing) explaining a point to SMK Convent Pulau Tikus principal Faridah Fazal Mohd.

Workshop facilitator Lim Chia Yean showed the teachers the applications of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for the workplace.  

“Excel can help teachers to speed up data analysis and generation of charts such as for examination results,” said the software engineer, who is a DISTED computer science alumnae.  

“Rather than just using notes on paper, teachers can project them on PowerPoint slides to capture their students’ attention,” Lim said.  

She also imparted internet search tips to the participants using Google.  

“By being skillful in using correct keywords, they can obtain more accurate results from their search for teaching materials and resources,” Lim said.

In a discussion when attending the computer skills workshop at DISTED are SMK Convent Pulau Tikus teachers...(from left) ICT teacher Zaharah Abdullah, administration senior assistant Sithi Banu Mohd. Sultan, science and maths senior teacher Ooi Poh Yee and science panel head Teh Ai Wah.