Week 4 ~ Constructivism in practice

I liked the way Dr. Orey deciphered the difference between constructivism and constructionism.  The “v” word refers to the experiences a learner has “unique to the individual’s mind” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). The “n” word is based on “first hand experiences” or “a theory of learning that states people learn best when they build an external artifact or something they can share with others” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).  The use of technology to provide these experiences is a good tool if the technology fits with the objectives and desired outcomes.  With everything that is available in schools now, the types of projects that students can create is overwhelming.  Dr. Orey suggests using PowerPoint.  It is a great starting point and most schools no matter how light they are in the technology department, I think would at least have access to Microsoft products.  If students know that their work is going to be viewed or shared to others besides me, I have noticed a difference in their motivation, their efforts, and in their pride. 

In this week’s reading about generating and testing hypothesis, I learned that it can be applied to more than science or math content.  Since I teach English / Language Arts and Social Studies, I didn’t see how the chapter could apply to my lessons.  Out of the six tasks, (systems analysis, problem solving, historical investigation, invention, experimental inquiry, and decision making) several of them can be used to promote higher thinking in my content (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn & Malenoski, 2007). My concept map from last week on the three branches of government was created after the students analyzed the parts by identifying the elements and purposes in a systems analysis approach.  Many web quests are based on a problem solving tasks where students collaborate to task on a role, solve a problem and present their findings in some type of presentation.  Historical investigation can initiate a great conversation when applied to history’s unanswered or unexplained situations or by changing a variable.  For example, last year I assigned a writing assignment that meshed the elements of narrative writing and incorporated events from American history.   The question they were asked is how the American Revolution could have changed if the technology we have today was present back then.  I had writings of Paul Revere riding a Harley, Ben Franklin using laser printers, Thomas Jefferson using a computer to write the Declaration of Independence, and colonists using Facebook to communicate and look up information for better farming.  In either task, decision making is evident when the student has to figure out how to proceed, organize and determine an answer or present their findings. 

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011).Cognitive Learning Theories. Baltimore, MD.

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

§  Chapter 11,”Generating and Testing Hypotheses”.

 

Week 3 ~ Cognitive Learning in Practice

               Knowing how students learn is one aspect of teaching but understanding how information is processed is another.  Dr. Orey in our media resource stated that “integrating multiple senses in presentations improves learning” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).  As a teacher, our desired outcome is to have the student process the information we present into their long term memory.  It has to go through a process to get there and another process to recall it. 

            One way to present an engaging learning experience is to conduct a virtual field trip.  So many students lack the experience needed to understand certain concepts.  With budget cuts and lack of resources for families to provide experiences, virtual field trips is an effective way a teacher can bring the experience to the student right in the classroom.  Not only can you bring the student to any place mentioned in your content but you can take them beyond the typical place that it could be impossible to ever visit.  Some examples are to the moon, under the ocean, in a volcano or to other place you can imagine!  The field trip features in our media resource (Laureate Education, Inc. Orey, 2011) not only took the students to the theater where Lincoln was shot but also verified the information presented in their text to the real thing.  Questions asked by the teacher made them think on a higher level by making them come to conclusions based on what they learned and what they see on the trip.  The experience came alive to them when they could make connections to the events and the people involved in the historical event. 

            A unit of study that I am going to implement a virtual trip will be the three branches of government.  If students can make visual connections to the three buildings in Washington, D.C. then I believe the information will make the transformation into long term memory.  Dr. Orey explained Paivio’s Duel Coding Hypothesis (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011) as information being stored as pictures and as text.  With students taking notes, perhaps outlining the information using a concept map, students can connect the information with actual pictures and video.  Using as many senses as possible to connect information to meaning will help students not only store the information but also be able to remember it and apply it to new knowledge and build concepts and make new connections.   

 

 

References

 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program five: Cognitive learning theories [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollge.com/ec/default.learn?coureid=5700267&cpurl=laureate.ecollege.com&survey=1&47=2594577&clientnodeid=984650&coursenau=0&bhcp=1 .

Laureate Education, Inc. Orey (2011). Program six: Spotlight on technology: Virtual field trips [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1

Week 2 Application~ Behaviorism in Practice

           There is a need and a place in classrooms for behavioral theories and strategies.  “Behaviorist techniques have long been employed in education to promote behavior that is desirable and discourage that which is not” (Standridge, 2002).  More so now, than ever, this is true.  Kids today are not coming prepared for school in many ways.  How they should behave away from home with other adults who are in authority, other than the parents, is not being taught.  It is now up to the teacher and other adults in the school to provide behavior instruction model it themselves and reinforce it when it is demonstrated.  The general idea behind behavioral strategies is to reinforce the desired behaviors and decrease the undesirable behaviors.  This reinforcement can take place both in a positive and a negative way.  In either case, the desirable behavior increases.  Positive reinforcement can be obtained by adding something the student will find appealing so that the behavior will be repeated.  Students really do want to please the teacher.  In my classroom I demonstrate this by giving praise, smiling, being complimentary, and rewarding when a student does something admirable.  Negative reinforcement is when something is taken away from the student they do not find desirable like homework, recess laps, and assigned seating for example.  The behavior that was demonstrated to earn those incentives will be seen again!   

            At our school, we have school-wide expectations as well as classroom expectations.  The one trait that they have in common is effort.  We have three levels of effort that we report using bimonthly progress reports that go home to parents.  Level 0 is no effort at all.  Level 1 shows minimal effort to accomplish requirements and level 2 is when a student consistently goes beyond the minimal requirement and surpasses what is expected.   The book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, introduced me to an idea of using spreadsheet software so students can measure their own efforts in different classroom categories.  Students have different beliefs as to why they are successful or why others are more successful than they.  By using this spreadsheet, students “can change their beliefs and make connections between effort and achievement” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007).  This activity will make a concrete connection so that id students can see it for themselves, and then the effort will increase.  I have a quote displayed in my room that says “Failing is not an option and there are no excuses.”  The lack of effort is an option that usually coincides with an excuse.  I tell my students from the first day of school that this is unacceptable in my classroom.  Just telling them is not enough sometimes.  I think the spreadsheet idea is a tool I will implement right away!

 

 

References

Palter, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malinowski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom

Instruction that Works. Denver: McREL.

Standridge, M.. (2002). Behaviorism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on

learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/

Week 7 ~ Class Reflection

The last seven weeks have been very enlightening!  I was hesitant about going back to school but I know now it was one of my best decisions yet!  While acquiring two Bachelor’s degrees, my college experience got better as I got older.  I gained more knowledge and was able to relate and make connections, it was more meaningful.  After only one, and my very first Walden online class and looking ahead at future classes, I believe I am going to be a better educator and right now, that is my passion.

Walking into the classroom for the first time as a grade level teacher back in 2009, I brought with me a wealth of knowledge and many years of experience of integrating technology into the curriculum.  In my second year, our school became a participant in the 1:1 Computing program.  It all came together for me.  To some degree I was “putting old wine in new bottles” as Dr. Thornburg said by using online grade books, taking attendance, keeping documents like lesson plans and correspondence on WORD and other Microsoft products.  Some of that is necessary but I was already integrating technology by using interactive software, using streaming media, and becoming a project based, student centered classroom.  My first experiences with web tools have me motivated and excited about the future.  Since our school is becoming more web based, Microsoft Office will soon be a thing of the past.  My excitement has spilled over into my classroom already.  As I have been learning about web tools, so have they.  I set up blogs for our next social studies unit, we have worked on a wiki and a few students helped my with my podcast project.  I then posted the podcast on our edmodo site and now they all want to make one. 

“Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society” was my first class at Walden.  I am completing this class with a deeper knowledge of what type of students are now, and going to keep coming through my door each year.  Our school’s focus this year was knowing your “who”.  An effective teacher knows about each student and what they carry with them, what makes them who they are.  We usually focus on home life, culture, socio-economic status, and learning styles but now we need to also add “digital native” (DN) and what 21^st century skills they possess.   This class has given me a deeper understanding of those students as it relates to technology.  I consider myself to be a “digital immigrant” (DI) myself but I became interested in technology at an earlier age than most DI’s so I made the transformation smoothly.  Typical DI’s conduct their classroom in a teacher centered style.  Students today do not respond to that type of learning if it happens all day long.  When students are put into the center of anything, they respond.  I give them the knowledge to get started, let them ask questions, and give them the guidance to research their own answers.  Much more collaboration is happening at all times of the day.  Students sit in learning clubs for group work but it is also set up if partners are required.  Seating is changed about 4 times a year to give them new perspectives and form new relationships. 

Teachers are life-long learners and we need to teach our students that mentality too.  The world of information and research does not sit still.  Things change over periods of time, both long and short.  What I have learned in my first college experience provides a base of learning and experiences but as time went on and experiences happened, I need to continue to build on or adjust that knowledge.  We also have to accept change, be courageous enough to take it on and with it learn flexibility and patience.  Teachers cannot sit still in the knowledge and ways of today.  We must take any opportunity to grow and continue to learn.  By pursuing my Masters is going to help me accomplish that but it cannot stop there.  Professional development is very important and we have to make time for it even if we aren’t getting paid for it anymore.  It teaching were on an hourly based salary, we’ be wealthy.  I didn’t become a teacher to be rich; I discovered a passion for teaching late in life but still not too late where I can’t make a difference in my students’ lives.  It is my responsibility to continue to learn and grow so I can be effective and prepare them for an unknown future.

Goal setting is important.  Our evaluations at my school are goal based.  I set up reading, assessment, and behavior goals for my students.  One of my goals for my classroom is to include the traits and behaviors of a digital native in my getting to know my students from the start of the year.  I was aware of these traits but before they didn’t really fit in with what was going on in the classroom.  I was fighting them instead of using them.  I know now that what the DN brings to the classroom very useful and the way I teach material and concepts needs to engage these types of learners.  Assignments and projects need to complement and enhance the digital native.  Another goal will be to be more efficient and effective using web tools and sharing that knowledge to my students and other faculty members.  With our Chrome Book computers, there will be lots of changes in the way we do things next year.  I don’t just want to use technology to do the same things only in different ways but I do want to do new things too.  By the looks from my new text books for my next class, I can see that I have only touched the tip of what I’m about to learn and achieve here at Walden Online.  Thank you, Dr. Calvin, for guiding me as I begin this educational journey.

Week 5 ~ Podcast

Week 5 Podcast

The project above took some thinking, collaborating, and effort.  It was my first ever attempt at creating a podcast.  It's a little rough, but I think I covered the requirements.  It is something I am going to keep trying to improve on.  When I do have a solid understanding, I will definitely implement it in the classroom.

I administered a survey to my students that asked questions about their experience with computers, what they think about computers, and about their learning environment. 

All but 2 students in my class have a computer at home.  One other has a computer, but no Internet service.  A majority of the students have used a computer at school from kindergarten or 1^st grade.  (If they were at my current school, then it was from kindergarten.)  When asked about usage, they all answered that they use them every day at school and a majority at home.  Every combination was mentioned, individually, in pairs, as a whole class, and in small groups. 

When asked about learning about the computer, when it came time to figure out a new game, almost all students said they do not need any help in figuring out how to play.  But often times when they have a new assignment on the computer, all of a sudden that drive to figure it out by themselves diminishes. 

I also asked if their good grades are a result of using technology.  The high students said they probably would have straight A’s anyway bit it makes learning more fun and they accomplish tasks faster.  The middle level students find using technology very helpful.  And my lower end kids say it can help them a lot because they stick to it more.  If it was a paper and pencil assignment, they do not put out as much effort.  Interesting!!! 

Week 4 ~ Creating 21st Century Thinkers

For class this week we were asked to review a website, http://p21.org/ and give our reactions to the concept, what surprised us, if we disagree and why, and any implications for my students or myself.  After exploring the site and getting a deeper understanding, I think it is a remarkable framework that should be taught and applied in all aspects of our lives but we seem to be a bit disorganized or just not on the same page across the country or even the world.  We have to start teaching with this framework now to prepare our children today for the future.

The Framework for 21^st Century Thinkers is a system of beliefs of teaching and learning that combines skills, content, and literacies to prepare students in multidimensional abilities in order to prepare them for a future that is not really mapped out yet.  The idea of it as explained on the site is right on with understanding what’s going on, or not going on, in the classroom and what our students will need to know to be successful later in a job that is not yet created.  How do we prepare them for the unknown? 

The list of core subjects that are essential are the typical ones you find in classrooms all over.  But the ideas is to take those core subjects and blend them with “21^st century interdisciplinary themes like global awareness, and different literacies like financial, civic, health and environmental.  Then they mention the skills like creativity, innovation, problem solving, communication, and collaboration.  Along with that, you add the information and media skills.  Wow, how overwhelming! 


Teachers are finding it difficult now with the accountability and the rigorous standards that we are required to teach and then school admins are adding more to our plates.  I am sure new teachers reading this will be scared or thinking how can this be done. 

Our country is so diverse in the education field.   Schools can be either one of the “haves” or the “have nots” as far as materials and equipment.  Applying this framework to many schools is probably out of reach.  I think this framework should be taught in our universities now to teach the new and younger teachers coming into this field.  Schools that can should teach their faculties this framework.  We have to begin somewhere.  I know I am more conscious now.  I consider my school to be one of the “haves” so I have had the access to technology and staff development that promotes 21^st century thinkers.  Our district implemented a program called “Working on the Work” or “WOW” created by Phillip Schlechty.  It focuses on engaging students by adding critical thinking traits to lessons and projects.  The desired result is the same. 

The future is approaching faster than we can imagine and we need to prepare our students to continue to make strides in all areas of life.  It is an overwhelming task but we have to start, even if it is in small chunks.  It won’t happen overnight but we have to prepare them.   

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. http://www.p21.org

Walden Week 3 ~ Reflection

I cannot believe just after three weeks how much I have implemented what I have learned at Walden in my classroom.  This week was about several topics.  I was excited to start a wiki with my classmates and discuss how technology is changing the work environment. 

If you don't know what a wiki is, visit http://www.commoncraft.com/ and scroll to view the video.  I wiki is a web tool that allows more the one person to collaborate and edit a document that is web based.   This is the link to our wiki: educ-6710group3.  We compiled some great resources, categorized, and rated them.  I showed my class the video and they are excited to learn it too.  Having my class at school becoming a part of my learning process gets me motivated to be creative in new ways.  they are pretty excited too when I tell them that I talk (and brag a little) about what great work they are doing in class.   I'll write more about that later on when we use this in class. 

Technology and the work environment...I cannot even begin to comprehend the complete impact or even predict what will change in the next  few years, or even weeks!  One of the main points in our lecture was that we need to teach our children skills that they will use in jobs that aren't even invented yet!  How can we do that?  By teaching them to be thinkers, problem solvers, decision makers, and to develop their creativity.  That is a tall order for us educators on top of all the content standards we are responsible for.  We as educators are still learning and developing those skills.  At the same time technology is advancing at a fast pace.  We need to gel together both the technological device and the user.  Children today have a heads start on us.  Technology has been a part of their life from the beginning.  We adults are playing catchup!  I am amazed how my 2-year old niece can pull up a game app on my sisters iphone and play it!  I wonder what she will be doing 20 years from now.