Dorothy Cooshna Naik

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Enhancing the teaching and learning of History
and Geography through ICT A Mauritian experience
A research project by the VCILT- University of
Mauritius
Presented by Dorothy Cooshna Naik
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PLAN

• Introduction
• The Project Rationale
• Current teaching practice
• Aims Objectives
• Overview of the multimedia environment
• Multimedia considerations
• Pedagogical concepts applied
• Ongoing testing evaluation
• Recommendations conclusions

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RESEARCH PROJECT
The Virtual Centre for Innovative Learning
Technologies (VCILT) has developed an interactive
multimedia pedagogical support (CD-ROM) to be
used in standards 4 and 5 (students aged 8-10) of
our primary schools.

• Funded and supported by the Mauritius Research
  Council (MRC) and developed by the VCILT

• In collaboration with gtMauritius Examinations
  Syndicate (MES). gtMinistry of Education,
  Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE),
• gtThe Mauritius College of the Air (MCA)
• and the support of gt The Ministry of Education
  and Scientific Research (MoES)

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Project Started in July 2003 and was completed in
June 2004. DEVELOPMENT TEAM Project
Coordinators History and Geography
consultants Museum consultant Graphic
Designers/Illustrators Web and Multimedia
Developers Audio and video specialist
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Assessment of situation of history and geography
teaching

• Acessibility to sites and museums (arrangements)

• Reluctance to take pupils on some site visits
  (historical sites)

• Constraints of time and funds for visits,
  activities, books, etc.

• Reluctance of teachers to integrate such visits
  in their work plan

• Teachers concern about introduction of new
  learning and teaching strategies in
  history and geography.

• Availability of stimulating text books and
  materials

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AIMS OBJECTIVES

• Based on existing History and Geography
  curriculum for standards 4-5. A selection of
  topics has been addressed.
• Not intended to replace the prescribed textbook.
  To be used as a teaching aid and a
  reinforcement/consolidation tool.

• Tries to Cater for different types of learners
  (auditory, kinesthetic, visual). Minimize the use
  of content and favours visual and practical
  History and Geography.
• Enhancing existing contents by interactivity
  (audio, animations, etc).

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AIMS OBJECTIVES

• More learner centered rather than teacher
  oriented.
• Aim to provide high quality material to
  children.
• Encourages transdiciplinary learning - Learning
  ICT through History
  and Geography, literature, etc

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AIMS OBJECTIVES

• The CD would be an exciting learning experience
  for the primary school teachers as well as for
  the pupil.
• Mauritian History and Geography to be presented
  in a non-insular way as part of regional and
  world history and geography.
• Emphasis on doing history and geography, i.e.,
  trying the tools and methods of historians and
  geographers.
• Make History and Geography come alive.

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CONTENTS FEATURES OF THE INTERACTIVE CD

• Interactive Activities , Library Corner providing
  textual and visual reference material on the
  topics, Teachers corner, Simulations, Picture
  Gallery, External links

• Mauritian context characters chosen dodo and
  tortoise which are familiar to the Mauritian child

Interactive activities based on a selection of
topics from the curriculum

• Integrated internet links for further sources of
  information such as image database (restricted),
  external links, hypertext, etc.

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MULTIMEDIA DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

• User friendly interface with bright stimulating
  and tropical colours, simple intuitive icons,
  visual motivational cues. Colours used to reflect
  a playful mood
• Motivational factors that are crucial to any
  effective learning. User friendly interface with
  bright stimulating and tropical colours, simple
  intuitive icons, visual motivational cues.
• For narration techniques/long text, the learner
  controls how he or she receives the information.
  Next and back buttons are given to allow the
  student to read at his or her pace.
• Feedback visual and auditory.

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CURRICULAR STRATEGY IN THE CD

• percolation strategy
• use is made of the work of historians and
  approaches of historians permeate to classroom
• enhancement strategy involving current history
  teaching and the use of multimedia to enhance it .

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History geography pedagogical concepts

Cause and Consequence
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PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS

• Continuity and Change

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PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS

• Chronology, Evidence, Situation

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PEDAGOGICAL CONCEPTS

• Places, Location,Scale

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Learning approaches
Discovery Learning An example of discovery
learning on the CD is the activity on
archaeology whereby the learner discovers
information gradually by interacting with the
interface.
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Learning by association the activity on
Temperature whereby the student has to make the
relationship between temperature and the
thermometer
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Learning by understandingthe activity on
cardinal points where the student is presented
with a series of questions to complete
successfully the task.
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Multidisciplinary approach
Skills acquired Reading, listening,
understanding, observation, recording, etc
Computer skills Using the mouse, clicking, drag
and drop, opening closing windows, typing, etc.
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• MILESTONE TESTING
• Pupils of Soopaya Soobiah Government School (std
  4-5)
• Pupils of Step Ahead Primary School (Std 4-5)

FEEDBACK

• Difficulties/problems encountered by pupils were
  taken into consideration throughout the
  development of the CD
• Different levels of reading skills Audio was
  included and reading and listening were
  encouraged.
• Different level of Computer Proficiency A basic
  skill section on using the computer was
  included.
• Simplified instructions provided
• More visual feedback provided such as Well done
  or Try again

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FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS

• To address additional topics with more complex
  activities

• To have training sessions for the teachers to
  assist and guide them how to use this educational
  aid as effectively and creatively as possible.

• Implementation of the CD in our primary
  schools.Close monitoring and evaluation .

• Measure the effectiveness of the integration of
  multimedia in other subjects such as science, etc.

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ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
Ministry of Education and Scientific Research
Mauritius Research Council (MRC) Mauritius
Examinations Syndicate (MES) Mauritius Institute
of Education ( MIE) Mauritius College of the
Air Development Staff of VCILT, University of
Mauritius School teachers and pupils National
Museums Council Mauritius Meteorological Services