Module 6 Blog Assignment

Learning in a Digital World

An educator’s philosophy is based on learning theories and philosophical concepts. My belief is that learners need to be active participants not passive. I am a believer in constructivism. “Constructivist theory rests on the assumption that knowledge is constructed by learners as they attempt to make sense of their experiences” (Driscoll, 2005, p. 387). I believe that children learn by doing, especially in math. By deriving formulas and rules on their own, children have a deeper and better understanding of the concepts being taught. I do think that direct instruction has its place in teaching though. The critical and non-negotiable aspects of teaching and learning to me are that all lessons should incorporate a variety of learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Every child learns differently and in order to reach your students you need to include all three styles in your lessons. The other non-negotiable for me is that learning needs to be meaningful and relevant to the student. “The constructivist approach to identifying learning goals emphasizes learning in context” (Driscoll, 2005, p. 390). In order to get and keep the attention of your students, you must make your lessons relevant to their lives. By connecting the concepts you are teaching to real-life, your students will be able to understand why they need to learn them and will be active participants in their learning.

In the digital world of today, I also believe that social networking needs to be a part of the classroom. I have introduced some of my former co-workers to www.edmodo.com and they plan to use it this year in their classrooms. I believe that Siemens is right when he says we learn from our connections through our networks. “Connectivist teaching and learning must optimize the ability for learners to form effective networks” (Siemens, 2009). By using Edmodo, students can discuss the book they are reading in English class or work together to solve a math problem. It brings the class discussion home and students can continue it as they complete their homework. The teacher can then show the class the discussions from the night before and have even more discussions on the concept. Social networking is a part of children’s lives today and it is very beneficial to make it a part of their education as well. As educators we must embrace the ever changing world of technology. Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism help educators to form instructional theories and create lessons. Siemens’ idea of connectivism gives educators insight into the world of social networking. We should take heed of this information and incorporate social networking into our classes. While I do not believe that connectivism is a new learning theory in and of itself, I do believe that some of Siemens concepts should be utilized in today’s classroom.

References:

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

Siemens, G. (2009). Connectivism learning theory. Class Podcast.

Module 5: Blog Assignment

New Technologies

Three years ago, my school system switched to a new grading program. I was asked by my principal to attend the training along with the Instructional Lead Teacher. I was excited to learn the new program because it included a blog for us to communicate with parents and students. There was also a place to include detailed descriptions about assignments, including the standards students needed to master. It was going to be more than just a grade book; it was going to a great tool for communication as well. By attending the training I agreed to present the information to the rest of the faculty upon return to the school. I was also one of the go-to people in the building if someone was having difficulty with the program. There were quite a few teachers who were resistant to make this change. They were perfectly happy with the old grading program and did not want to take the time to learn something new. These same teachers still relied on using the phone to contact parents and vary rarely used e-mail. However, they did not have a choice and they needed to learn how to use the new grading system.

Using Keller’s ARCS model, I need to gain their attention, make it relevant to them, help build their confidence in using the new system, and be there to help them through the process of switching, offering advice and praise. “To make the most of curiosity caused by stimulus changes, teachers can capture students’ interest by using novel or unexpected approaches to instruction or injecting personal experiences and humor” (Driscoll, 2005, p. 334). During the presentation to the teachers I should vary my instructional approaches and use my own experiences with the program to capture their attention. I could also give them hypothetical situations that might come up and ask for them to discover ways in which the grading program could help them. By getting and keeping their attention, I have a better chance of getting them to buy-into the new program. Making the program relevant is the second part of Keller’s motivation model. By having the teachers write their own goals and showing them how the program can help them achieve those goals, the relevancy of the program is shown and their resistance should become less. The third part of Keller’s motivation model is building their confidence. I can let the teachers work in the program during the training session and learn how to use it on their own. By setting up an environment where they are safe to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes, their confidence in using the program will increase. The last part of the model is to generate satisfaction. I need to make sure that I’m available to answer all questions and help with all problems that arise during the course of the first year of using the program. Throughout the year I also should offer praise to the teachers as they venture into the new areas offered by the program and use them successfully. “Maintaining consistent standards throughout a course or training experience is essential for learners to feel that they have been fairly and equitably treated” (Driscoll, 2005, p. 338). As with all learning situations the most important of Keller’s model is relevance. If students are shown the relevance of what they are learning then they tend to remain on-task and learn the concept being presented.

Reference:

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

Module 4 Assignment

• How has your network changed the way you learn?

My network has been extended because I’m now connected to friends, family, and colleagues more readily than I’ve ever been. I now have resources accessible 24/7 to help me in any learning situation. With access to an infinite number of experts through the Internet, I can now find answers to any question or “how-to” advice for any problem.

• Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?

The digital tools that best facilitate learning for me are blogs, wikis, podcasts, YouTube, purplemath.com, mathway.com, and the Walden Library.

• How do you learn new knowledge when you have questions?

My first step when I have questions is to immediately go do a search on Google and/or post a question for my friends and colleagues on Facebook. However, I still like to have access to an actual textbook when learning something new. It has helped tremendously to have information readily available when needed, especially while I’m pursuing this degree. Being able to ask the opinions of others helps me to see “the other side” of situations and make better decisions. Research has changed dramatically in the last 5 years to where you can get real-time opinions from such a diverse pool through social networking sites. The Internet makes it possible to find answers quickly and conveniently.