Voice Threads and Social Interaction
A voice thread is a way to communicate your ideas and understandings of information to others. I view voice threads as a way to reflect on your knowledge. As you reflect, others can provide their own ideas and together you can build a better understanding of the information. Reflection is important in any educational process. It is not the activity that you do that allows you to develop your own thinking, but it is the reflecting of that activity where you are able to truly expand you knowledge. When reflection occurs through social interaction, more ideas are being developed and therefore your understanding increases. The voice thread allows for students to provide their own feedback to certain information and then discusses their understanding with others. It is a way to communicate your thoughts in a more technological way.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Constructivist Learning Theory and Project-Based Learning
Constructivist Learning Theory and Project-Based Learning
Project-Based Learning is a way for teachers to organize a lesson. It allows teachers to identify the learning goals of the lesson, the way students will be assessed over those goals, etc… I interpret Project-Based Learning as a way for teachers to construct lessons that ensure students will have the maximum learning opportunity.
The Constructivist Learning Theory is the idea that students explore and develop their own understandings. It is a theory centered on students self discovery of information.
The Constructivist Learning Theory and Project-Based Learning would allow for students to discovery their own understandings while ensuring that the students are still meeting the intended learning goals. Project-Based Learning is simply a guide for the teachers and students to follow to ensure the ideal learning is occurring. However, it does not tell the students how to -think. Project-Based Learning still allows the idea of constructivist learning. Students will follow the guide, but develop their own understanding of the information being obtained. It allows for creativity and self discovery while guiding students in the right direction. I personally, feel that these two learning styles can complement each other very nicely to ensure that students are both learning the intended information, but developing and interpreting the information in their own way.
Project-Based Learning is a way for teachers to organize a lesson. It allows teachers to identify the learning goals of the lesson, the way students will be assessed over those goals, etc… I interpret Project-Based Learning as a way for teachers to construct lessons that ensure students will have the maximum learning opportunity.
The Constructivist Learning Theory is the idea that students explore and develop their own understandings. It is a theory centered on students self discovery of information.
The Constructivist Learning Theory and Project-Based Learning would allow for students to discovery their own understandings while ensuring that the students are still meeting the intended learning goals. Project-Based Learning is simply a guide for the teachers and students to follow to ensure the ideal learning is occurring. However, it does not tell the students how to -think. Project-Based Learning still allows the idea of constructivist learning. Students will follow the guide, but develop their own understanding of the information being obtained. It allows for creativity and self discovery while guiding students in the right direction. I personally, feel that these two learning styles can complement each other very nicely to ensure that students are both learning the intended information, but developing and interpreting the information in their own way.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Instructional Strategies and Cognitive Learning Theory
The Cognitive Learning Theory focuses "on learning as mental operation that takes place when information enters through the senses, undergoes mental manipulation, is stored, and is finally used" (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008, pg. 16). It is the idea that learning is only if you are able to remember the information, make connections between information, and use the information in a higher level of thinking. In the book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, the author refers to cues, questions, and advanced organizers that can be used to help support the cognitive theory of learning. The cues are used as a way to remind students of information or prepare them for the information they are about to learn. The questioning allows students to recall the prior knowledge needed to enhance the current information being obtained. Lastly, the advance organizer is a technique used prior to an activity to help students organize their thinking to allow room for the information to be learned. All of these strategies are used to prior to a lesson to help students prepare for the information being taught in hopes of allowing them to better recall the information, as well as more effectively impact their prior knowledge and ability to make connections. These strategies are tools in the cognitive learning theory.
Technology can also support the cognitive learning theory. When you prepare students for an activity using the strategies, such as cues, questioning, and advanced organizers, have the students use the computer for these activities. Some programs that you might use is word processor, excel, or specific organizing software programs. These programs will not only be more interesting to the students, but it will also have more of an impact of their ability to recall the information.
The Cognitive learning theory is only affective when you have prepared students for the information being taught, made an impact on them while teaching, and allowed them to make connections to the information they already know. Technology is a great way to support and provide an effective learning experience.
Resources
Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Teaching and learning with technology (3rd ed. pp. 2–35).
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Behaviorist Theory in the Classroom
The behaviorist learning theory is centered around positive and negative reinforcement. It is a way for teachers to encourage positive behavior in the classroom and stop the negative behavior. By promoting positive behavior the teacher is encouraging students to work to the best of their ability. It shows the students that hard work is what makes them successful students.
It is important in today's society to use technology in the classroom. Technology can play an important role in the behaviorist theory. Our district currently has many technology programs to encourage positive reinforcement through technology. We have reading programs that test students reading rate and comprehension without penalty. The students read passages on the computer and then answer questions. Throughout the year the students can monitor their improvement in reading. It allows the students to see that as long as they try their best and improve each time, then they are succeeding. We also have a math program that we use where the students can earn blue ribbons when they pass a math concept. The computer program does not penalize the student if they do not pass the first time, instead they can then work for a white ribbon. It is also a program that supports effort and does not penalize them for not passing the first time. If they work hard they can eventually pass. These types of programs are supporting positive reinforcement. The students are able to see how they are improving, earn ribbons or better rankings as they work hard, and they aren't not being punished if they miss a question. They only feel good about themselves when they earn their ribbon. I have never seen students so happy with themselves for doing well on an assignment like I do when they use this technology program. They will do this program at home even if it's not assigned and tell me about how many ribbons they earned the next day. Technology is a great way to positively reinforce the effort that students put into their work.
It is important in today's society to use technology in the classroom. Technology can play an important role in the behaviorist theory. Our district currently has many technology programs to encourage positive reinforcement through technology. We have reading programs that test students reading rate and comprehension without penalty. The students read passages on the computer and then answer questions. Throughout the year the students can monitor their improvement in reading. It allows the students to see that as long as they try their best and improve each time, then they are succeeding. We also have a math program that we use where the students can earn blue ribbons when they pass a math concept. The computer program does not penalize the student if they do not pass the first time, instead they can then work for a white ribbon. It is also a program that supports effort and does not penalize them for not passing the first time. If they work hard they can eventually pass. These types of programs are supporting positive reinforcement. The students are able to see how they are improving, earn ribbons or better rankings as they work hard, and they aren't not being punished if they miss a question. They only feel good about themselves when they earn their ribbon. I have never seen students so happy with themselves for doing well on an assignment like I do when they use this technology program. They will do this program at home even if it's not assigned and tell me about how many ribbons they earned the next day. Technology is a great way to positively reinforce the effort that students put into their work.
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