Learning Theory Reflection

The main changes that I would make to my learning theory would be adding the importance of using technology in the classroom. I mention how it can be useful but not to the point of its true potential in the classroom. I feel that the rest of my learning aligns greatly with the topics covered throughout the course. Not only does it align but can be reinforced with the information gathered and data that correlates with it.

Some immediate changes that I would make to my teaching style it to try and phase out as much lecture with technology as possible and try to find more learning with technology to replace it. I know with the more learning will benefit over the lecture for obvious reasons. This involve me collaborating with colleagues so that I can adapt lessons to meet this desired outcome.

The first tool that I would like to start using more in my class would be the voice thread. I think this would be great for having error analysis of problems and the sharing for information on the subject matter being taught by myself and students. This supports the ideas of collaborating with peers as well as learning through experience. It may be a little more difficult in the math content area but I think the benefits of this critical thinking would out way the effort placed forth. The second tool would be mind maps with web links built into them. This would be a great resource for the students to discover information on their own while meeting the requirements of the course. This is another tool where the students are learning through experience while keeping them focused on the main topics. If the students were to do it without these maps they could easily get lost in the sea of information.
Two long-term goals is more frequent use of online resources and more learning technology instead of lecturing technology. I use many technologies in my classroom already but very few are online based that I would consider learning technology. I feel that there are so many opportunities for my students to learn from the web that they are missing and that I should be able to find many resources that they can use with very little guidance from me. To help meet these goals my strategy would be to make at least two days a week have lessons that are based off of the used of learning technology. By doing so on such a frequent bases it would make it more of a norm for me to plan lessons that have technology involved. To also assist in this I would create my own personal database of activities that includes links and a brief description on how to construct the activity. Something that I already do is save digital copies of all lessons and materials used in the lessons. This will reduce workload and make it easier for developing future lessons. Another resource I would utilize is online blogging communities that focus on technology in the educational field. This would help me with staying up to date on new items and provide additional support if needed.

Voicethread OOPS!

Here's my voice thread. I had posted it with the blog but I must have deleted it some how. At our school we have a parent student teacher night where we go over some of the basics for in the classroom. The math team makes a PowerPoint every year. This is so that if a parent cannot make it to the orientation night they can have a copy sent home to them. Also each teacher has a web page that can be used to upload the file. This addresses the issue of parents and students having a understanding what is expected of them from the very beginning. It seems to help get everyone on the same page with basic ideas. A more detailed list goes home but this covers the main ideas. This reduces conflicts between both teacher and students, along with teacher and parents.

http://voicethread.com/share/1261411/

Cooperative Learning

The base of cooperative learning is learning from and/or with other individuals. This is a learning styles that we all practice whether we know it or not. This theory is based off the idea of sharing information with one another through socialization. We are a social society that reaches all corners of the world. It is no longer talking to the people who are immediately around you but to people all around the world. We are always sharing some kind of knowledge with someone it may be as small as what happened last weekend to how to run a business but we are always sharing ideas and knowledge. As teachers we use this idea of socialization to relay the information for our lessons.

Technology gives a huge advantage to this socialization idea that comes so natural to us. Through technology we can build networks for cooperative learning. A social studies teacher may set up a blog to discuss the pros and cons of different governments. This would allow the sharing of views from each student and the information they use to support their stand would be new information for other students to learn from. Web pages are a way that students or teachers can present material being taught to others around the world. Not only does this approach share information with others but the person publishing it will have to do research above and beyond what they might learn in class and have a solid base of knowledge on the material. Teaching itself is cooperative learning and can be done by students. One of the best ways to learn something is to study the material and teach it. This has the students go in depth with the information and if a student ask a question they do not know the answer to there is that obligation to find the information. Technology ties into teacher by how the material is presented from making worksheets with images to PowerPoint's and games for the lesson. Cooperative learning from peers is an easy way to tie the material into the content and culture because the students are able to link the information into situations that apply to them in real life. With voice thread students are able to share information and recieve comments from people either from their class or around the world.

Constructivism in Practice

The resources explored this week incorperate the creativity and interaction of students with the curiculumn. To be an effective teacher we know that students must be not involved in the learning process but partially in control of the outcomes. All of the learning strategies have students creating artifacts that go with the subject matter being taught. The main idea of constructivism is having students develop artifacts that are relavent to the subject material that includes the main idea needing to be covered. By no means is this something that the student must stick to a certain format. It is ussually an oppertunity for the students to explore a subject on their own without restriction. With the use of technology there are many resources that the students are able to use to create artifacts and find the information to use in the creation of the artifacts. Where it use to take students weeks of research to find the material with the use of the internet they are able to find true artifacts, articles and even virtual field trips to gain the knowledge needed. This material is then used to share with classmates so that they are able to have the same experience.

With the students being own their own and pulling from prior knowledge and new knowledge we run into the idea of constructionvism where each student has their own idea of the subject matter from previous experiences. This is a good thing in the classroom becuase there is room for debate on the different ideas. In most cases neither student is wrong but just with a different view. With each view experienced the greater the edcuational experience. This can be used to the teachers advantage when the students make an artifact for the content being covered in class. With each person doing individual work or working in different groups different information and views are being brought into the lesson for a great and more in depth understanding.

Cognitive Learning Theory And Strategies That Relate

The correlation between cognitive learning theory and our strategies this week is mainly focused on organization of ideas and being able to recall the facts when needed. Each of the learning strategies focus on a slightly different area of the theory but both relate to it very well.
Cues, questions and advanced organization has the focus on preparing the mind to receive and organize the information more than anything. This may involve using KWL or KWHL charts. There is a preset goal the students are trying to reach. This helps focus the mind on the main ideas of being sought out by the teacher. With these questions and cues being used it allows the brain to make the mental connections to recall the information that is needed. These charts are advanced organization technique to help the students to organize their thought throughout the class so that it easier to use later.
Summarizing and note taking is something that I think is more effective for older students who need to cover a great deal of information on their own without the help of the teacher to guide them through the idea of cognitive learning. When students are able to summarize they are eliminating information this is not important to the content of the subject. As we know from Dr. Orey the mind can handle about 7 new concepts at once. If the students cannot filter the information down then they will be overwhelmed with the information presented. If a teacher gives note guides and/or suggest different format for notes the students are able to organize the summarized information easier. With more variety in how the students can organized the better chance of each student finding a method that works beneficially for them.
Both of these strategies filter and help organize ideas for students. With great organization students will be able to make connections easier to recall information at any given time.

Strategies for behavorist theory

I feel that the main correlation between the practice heard and read about this week is mainly focused on the positive influence of the correct behaviors. Little was discussed about showing/focusing on the negative outcomes. I think that this is a very important to show the positive outcomes. People in general are more internally motivated by something positive than by a negative reaction. This is something that I try to practice frequently in my class and it almost always more effective than putting the negative spin on it things. Another approach that I use with my students that relates to the Behaviorist Theory deals with the activities in the classroom. There will be days where the students work hard and get everything finished early so they receive the time left in class for a small game or time to start homework. I make it very clear that they are receiving it because of their hard work and effort. For the days where they are very uncooperative they receive extra homework for the material we did not get covered in class. I do the same thing, making sure they realize why they have the extra work.

What I liked most about almost all of the strategies presented was the link to real world applications that applied directly to the student performing the task. There was no hypothetical situation but an actual connection between the students and the data presented. With the use of technology the information presented is far more accurate and immediate compared to doing the same task by hand. This is both beneficial to the students and teacher because of the easy comprehension, quick feed back and accessibility to both parties. I have done many graphing activities with the students and after showing the home to construct graphs using excel I find that students use the resource quite often for their own projects. It can even be considered a fun activity when the students customize the graphs with colors and patterns.

Intro

Hello everyone this will be my blog for Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Can't wait to see what is in store for us!