Reflection: Blog Posting

This class has really taught me a lot about teaching literacy skills to young children. After completing this class and using the lesson plan that I created, I have come to realize that you can teach children how to do most anything when you take the time to show them how to do things. Showing 1st graders how to critique and synthesize information was a task but the students loved it and really enjoyed learning more about the Internet than just playing games.

This class has taught me more about finding valuable information on the web and that will only help me become a better teacher in that now I can teach it to my students and show them how to find valuable information. This will help them all throughout school when they have to write papers and conduct research. I never had a teacher to show me how to find good information when writing papers. I was pretty much on my own so I know from experience that teaching students literacy skills will help them to become a more productive student which makes me feel like a better teacher.

One professional goal that I can take from this class is to keep learning. Being a life long learner not only helps me but the students that are in my class every year. I can take what I learn and teach my students so that they can also use the information. That is why I became a teacher, so that I can teach and help students to become better people. To accomplish my goal, I will continue on to get my Specialists and also take Professional Development classes offered by the county I teach in. Also, by doing research on my own time, reading, and learning from my colleagues.

This class has taught me a lot and I have really enjoyed learning about and teaching new literacy skills.

Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology Reflection

Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology together makes for great teaching in a classroom. When a teacher uses technology in the classroom, it allows the students to be open minded and more motivated to learn. Taking courses about technology has only helped me to become a better teacher. I have been taught new ideas and given resources to use to enhance the learning of all students in my class.

After looking back at my Personal Learning Theory, I would say that for the most part I have not made any major changes to my theory. My thoughts about all students can and will learn to the best of their ability remains the same, I just have more support from this class. I still think that using different learning styles and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences is also very important so that you reach each child and their learning styles. Gardner's theory is explained as all children learn differently and by different approaches so they all need to be taught differently so that each student learns just as much as the others.

Immediate adjustments that I would make would be to use technology as much as possible on a daily basis. I would have students doing webquests, using computer programs to complete daily tasks, completing virtual fieldtrips, and using voicethreads to present information. All these resources allow students to be creative and also motivates them to learn. Technology also helps students be more accountable for their work so that the work is more meaningful to them.

Having goals is important for teachers and students. Teachers need to have short and long term goals to reflect on so that they can be better teachers. A teacher should be a life long learner so that they can provide the best education possible to all students. Two goals that I have set for myself for this class is to use technology on a daily basis and to continue to learn all that I can about technology so that I have all the resources needed to pass along to the students in my class. For goal number 1, I will write lessons that includes technology and also allows the students to use technology to its fullest capacity. Goal number 2 will be reached by continuing my education with my Masters and Specialist degree. I will also take courses through the county I am employed with and any other possibilities that arise.

This class has been very beneficial to me as a teacher and a learner. I have learned new things and been reminded of old resources that are wonderful to use in the classroom. This upcoming school year will definitely be a learning year and an experimental year for my classroom.

Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice

Cooperative Learning is a very effective strategy to use in the classroom. It correlates with the social learning theories in the way that it is the social part of the theory. Students need to talk to one another while learning. Cooperative Learning groups can be used in many ways and for many tasks. They can also change so that the group better fits an assignment. Teachers can put together groups by interests, abilities, and randomly. All students are held responsible in the group. The students are responsible for learning the material but also to make sure everyone in the group has done their part. Cooperative groups also help the teacher in that the teacher can be a facilitator of learning instead of standing in front of the classroom lecturing the students. Cooperative learning also helps prepare students for the real world because they one day will have to work with a group of people at a job so that they can complete a presentation or task for their boss.

When I use cooperative groups in the classroom, I assign each child a role so that everything gets done and everyone has something to do so that one student does not do all the work. The groups always have a leader, recorder, and collector. If there are more than 3 people, there are other titles that they are given. Each student knows their role and the others role so that they can hold each other responsible throughout the task.

VoiceThread

http://voicethread.com/share/568069/

Constructivism in Practice

When looking at this weeks resources and reading about generating and testing hypothesis, I think that they correlate with the principles of constructivist constructionist learning theories. Learning is an active process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon their current and past knowledge. When using spreadsheets, data collection tools, and web resources students are constructing knowledge for themselves so that they individually understand what they are learning. These applications give the students many resources and choices to enhance their learning so that they can remember information that they are learning. As a student myself, I personally know that if I can construct information in a way that I understand, it is much easier for me to remember the information for longer periods of times. When students are given choices and the responsibility for their learning, they are more likely to stay motivated and engaged in the learning.

Cognitivism in Practice

Cognitive tools have many uses in the classroom if they are used to their fullest potential. Their roles allow students to interact with information in order to acquire, synthesize, create, and share new knowledge (Robertson, Elliot, & Washington, 2007). Cognitive learning tools also have many advantages such as enhancing learning and thinking, activate metacognitive strategies, and to experience cognitive processes. When cognitive tools are implemented in the classroom correctly, the students can become the independent learners and the teacher can be the facilitator of the classroom. This interaction empowers learners to become active and responsible filters of information in which they engage in directing their mental processes; therefore, the role of the teacher resumes the “guide on the side" (Robertson, Elliot, & Washington, 2007).

When looking at this weeks resources, they support the theories of cognitive learning. Concept mapping and graphic organizers help students collect and organize information so that they can see the information represented visually. Teachers need to present information so that it is stored in the long term memory of the students and this can be done by using cognitive tools so that the learning is fun and memorable for the students. When teachers use cues and questions, they are activating prior knowledge and information that the students already have stored. When the information is revisited during this process, the students are more likely to remember it and can also relate the information to something personal. Having students make personal connections with learned information will help them to store the information for longer amounts of time.

Orey, M.(Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Behaviorism in Practice

Behaviorist learning theory is a topic in education that some educators are not sure about. After reading this weeks resources, behaviorist learning theory is something that is and can still be used in the 21st century classroom. Some wonderful examples of how to incorporate technology were given in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works by Pitler, et al, such as using spreadsheets, data collection tools, word processing, multimedia, and web resources. These resources are used to help students with academic behaviors that will produce the wanted result for both the teacher and student. Behaviorism is primarily concerned with observable and measurable aspects of human behavior. In defining behavior, behaviorist learning theories emphasize changes in behavior that result from stimulus-response associations made by the learner (Standridge, 2002). When looking at the chapter about Homework and Practice, the strategies given help promote the learning theory in the following ways. When homework is given in the correct amounts and feedback is given it will help students reach the expected level of proficiency. Homework is given to reinforce what was taught in class and to help a student master a concept. When relating homework to the learning theory, I see it as the teacher is given the assignment and has an expected outcome in mind as well as the student knowing that the more practice they get, the better it will be for them. Online educational games are also a great form of technology to use in the classroom. Teachers can put students in literacy or math centers on specific websites that will help a child further there knowledge about a topic. Online educational games have an inherent appeal and generate immediate feedback that allows a student, parent, and teacher to monitor progress toward mastery (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). The appeal and feedback is a reward to the child for a positive action therefore the child will want to continue the action for more positive reinforcement.

Behaviorism is something that can make a positive impact on students and a classroom if used in the correct way and with multiple strategies.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/