Module 6

Module 6: Learning in a Digital World

Module 6-Blog Post Discussion

What is my philosophy of learning?

My philosophy of learning is that the belief of Driscoll (2005).  According to Driscoll belief “Constructivist learning is when students are actively engaged in using problem-solving and their critical thinking skills (p. 387).  Knowledge should be constructed by the students by evaluating their ideas, using their inspiration, and making use of their former knowledge.  The learning must be significant and comparative to their real world circumstances.  More time to think and perform in real life difficulties is not necessary.  What is needed is successful interactive experiences that motivate and enthusiastically engages learners in the learning process.

What do I believe is critical and non-negotiable in the teaching and learning process?

What I believe is critical and non-negotiable in the teaching and learning process in this 21^st century is technology.  When technology is executed properly it allows the opportunity for teachers and students to exhibit their inventiveness in learning and use of their own thought process.  In the 21^st century we are driven by technology and with its usage learners value applying the proper technology expertise or strategies while using it.  It is believed that teaching is based on the principle that learning happens when learners are actively engaged in a technique where meaningful knowledge is constructed.  In this era a teacher is not seen as the authority figure with all the answers to every inquiry.  The teacher is the facilitator of instructions and while he or she is facilitating, learning occurs for the both the facilitator and the student.  They are both learners, learning from each other.

References:

Driscoll, M. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3^rd ed.). Boston: Pearson Education. Inc.

Blogs I responded to:

http://rashidabrown.wordpress.com/

http://ylyonstechnology.blogspot.com/2012/05/module-6-blog-yolanda-lyons-when-it.html#comment-form

Module 5-Blogs Commented On

Blogs commented in Module 5:

http://ylyonstechnology.blogspot.com

http://lauralee7105.blogspot.com/

http://vidamartin7105.blogspot.com/

Blog Post –Module 5

It is my belief that whatever you introduce anything new one of two things will happen.  There will be some that will accept and some that will reject.  Usually the ones who reject are closed minded are have low self-efficacy.   

At one point in my teaching tenure I was the person who rejected using the Promethean Board.  It had taken me such a long time to use the computer.  After being told I would either use it or seek other employment, you know my only option was to use it.  The fear that I had was that I would wipe out everything.  That is why I rejected its use.  The Promethean Board was just too much for me to digest all at one time.  I received a year of training in 3 hours.  Sometimes we are so overwhelmed and like children we shut down completely.  The entire school year I used the Promethean Board as a chalkboard.

The following school year the technology “geek” which was my team member and friend starting showing me different ways he was using the board in class.  He had some interesting lessons that he was using and the student were so motivated to learn.   The lessons were teacher directed but student driven.  Not only that, test scores began to improve.  I developed an interest in using the board.  He then stayed after school with me for 30 minutes each day for about 3 months.  This is when I began to embrace technology.  Based on my experience I would say due to the low self-efficacy I was not willing to embrace technology.

The motivational ARC Design Process as presented by Keller is an awesome tool for introducing content and technology.  This tool is stimulating and perpetual. Motivation is a powerful tool but it works in different ways for different people.  Knowing this helps instructors become better, creates better relationships with learners, and they enjoy learning even more.  I would integrate the ARC Design Process in my lesson plans and instructional goals to implement motivational tactics.  This could be very beneficial for new teacher or a person with low self-efficacy.

http://.arcmodel.com/home.htm

Blogs commented on

I commented on the following blogs for the Module 4 assignment.

http://vidamartin7105.blogspot.com/

http://learningtheoryeducationaltechnology.blogspot.com/

http://ylyonstechnology.blogspot.com

Connectivism Module-4

How has your network changed the way you learn?

Connectivism is built on the principal that knowledge exists in the world not in the mind of one individual.  I chose to reveal my mind map to show how this principal relates to the knowledge about technology and how I apply this knowledge.  When gathering information what comes to my mind is collaborating with the experts in my field.  I have had such a great learning experience working in a learning community, I decided to build on this experience by relating to other learning communities in the content area in which I teach (4^th grade math).   The insight that I have gained from others is priceless. Like students we sometimes feel intimidated by our peers and don’t communicate openly with them. 

What digital tool best facilitates learning?

The digital tool that best facilitates learning for me is Wikispace.  This tool is very motivational  for all learners due to the fact that individuals learn so much from each other.  This has given the students in my math class the ability to respond to their peers using their language.  My class includes students with poor writing skills and they are very hesitant about writing.  Twenty-first century education is challenging all teachers to meet the students where they are.   They live in a digital world and we must make learning digital.  They are learning to respond to their peers by adding comments as to how to work a problem and what part of a problem was most complicated for them.  They are even able to reveal the part of solving the problem they still don’t understand.  This has been a great instrument for me being a veteran teacher.  It allows me to critique their work without a verbal comment but by using a written remark.  I have become a big fan of wikispace and so have my students.  My colleagues in the workplace are seeing its benefits as well.  We used it wikispace to express our concerns Teacher Keys because we did not have time to meet f2f.  When using wikispace you are also working with individuals that you are not familiar with except through written communication.

How do you learn knew knowledge when you have questions?

When I have a question I can always use Google and find the answer and this is how knew knowledge is learned.  Google is a great search engine for finding trustworthy and suitable articles. This also allows you and other individuals to be sincere with their opinion about the subject matter at hand.  It also increases collaboration efforts. This makes learning motivational and challenging.  It also promotes critical thinking skills.  According to Siemen we bond and bring together numerous elements and creative ideas and activities continually influencing our perception and awareness. (Simen, 2006, p.35)

Reference

Siemens, G. (2006). Knowing Knowledge. Copyright 2006 by George Siemens. Used by permission.

Shirley Brady

Module 3 Blog Post

Do you believe that humans have a basic instinct to “interact and work as a group,” as Rheingold proposed in his discussion of the evolution of Wikipedia as a collectively developed encyclopedia? How can technology facilitate collaboration among learners based on constructivist principles? Find a current research study that has been conducted in the last 5 years that supports collaboration as an effective tool for learning.

Howard Rheingold: Way-New Collaboration http://www.ted.com/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html

In our workplace there have not been a lot of examples as to how collaboration works.  As individuals we envision collaboration as what works for oneself.  Howard Rheingold makes mention of the “Split Game.”  In this game two individuals who are not familiar with each other are placed in different rooms and given a problem.  They are given a $100 dollars and one of the individuals decides what is to be done with it and the other has the choice to accept or reject the idea.  The offer was only accepted when the offer was very close to the even split of being evenly divided.  Rheingold pointed out that it is to no advantage to reject even the $1 against 0 but is does happen.

As we get a better understanding of what collaboration really is and seeing the benefit individuals working together to achieve the same goal. A good example of this is Wikipedia.  This site provides many instances where people are collaborating together to put together enlightening users of all available information and no particular individual reaps these benefits.  If a way can be found to convince individuals that everybody can benefit from a reward other than oneself, this will increase the drive to collaborate.

Addendum to Module 2 Discussion

In my teaching tenure I have learned that educational goals change as social needs change.  Along with these changes integrating of technology also changes.  There are no one size fit all as to which strategies prove to be the most reliable in accomplishing the educational goals of today’s learners.  Even though most directed instructions are embedded in behaviorist learning theory and the processing of information is the work of the cognitive learning theories,  the disagreement  for the two types of learning is directed teaching and constructivism.  Technology applications that involve drill and practice or tutorials are not the answer to effectively integrating technology.  There are applications that can improve our directed lessons or constructivist surroundings.  Depending on how teachers incorporate technology in the classroom instructions is the result of its effectiveness.  It is obvious that will be much research along with trial and error to determine the most effeective way of integrating technology.

Module 2

Module 2 Discussion

Shirley Brady

As we continue to find ways in which students’ learning occurs cognitivism supplies us with more depth of knowledge concerning this matter.  According to Driscoll the cognitive information processing view is that, the human learner is conceived to be a processor of information in much the same way a computer.  Once knowledge transpires, the information is believed to have been contributed from its surroundings, then developed and stored up in recollection, and production occurs thorough a discovered ability. (Driscoll, 2005)

Cognitivism:

What insights does cognitivism provide to understand and predict how people learn?

The process of acquiring knowledge by the use of logic, perception, or observation has gained the interest of many people to seek ways in finding out how people learn.  Cognition is understood to be a shared and positioned action. The insight in which it provides is that most learning engages connection established through a continuous series of recurrences. It also emphasizes feedback needs to provided continually concerning the accuracy of an answer.

Learning Theory:

How does cognitive learning theory change the way you might approach a learning situation in educational technology?

Teachers are being required to learn new strategies and methods for teaching.  A very critical factor concerning technology is how can learning not only be enhanced but how can the knowledge the student already has attained be connected to new theories and thoughts.  Another vital factor is the point of view of the teacher.   This will determine whether are not the use of technology will be meaningful and serve its intended purpose.

Reference:
Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Kerr, B. (2007, January 1). _isms as filter, not blinker [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html

Article: Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/

Module 1 Blog Topic-EDUC7105

What are your beliefs about how people learn best?  What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?

My belief of how people learn best is through a multiplicity of ways along with being able to exhibit their wealth of understanding.  In my twenty-seven year teaching tenure I see many students have developed an unenthusiastic attitude toward learning.  As a teacher it is my responsibility to develop an understanding of how the students learn and find a teaching method that is designed to meet their individual learning styles.  This can only be done through differentiation of instructions.  In my opinion when a variety of teaching strategies and other resources are used for students to exhibit their understanding are provided, this creates a more positive attitude in students wanting to receive knowledge.  They can then see the importance of intellectual knowledge and how they can benefit from attaining this knowledge.

In my opinion the purpose of a learning theory in educational technology is for teachers to be knowledgeable of all the available resources to enhance instructions and allow students to achieve their potential or even exceed it.