Mod 5: New Technologies

**** I posted to Carol Lee & Laine Pagan's blogs. ****







When I was teaching Kindergarten in the Private school a few years ago I tried to get another teacher on board with using technology in her classroom and also to complete her lesson plans. This teacher did not like technology and refused to change the way she did things. She thought she was just fine with out any of it so why change now. She refused to even try it at all in her classroom. She didn’t want anything to do with it. She had a very negative attitude towards technology and virtually everything else. With regards to Keller’s ARCS model, I could have designed a motivational strategy that could have generated satisfaction for using the technology in her classroom. A training session where the uses of the technology in the classroom were highlighted may have peaked interest and created a path for motivation. Being able to see the technology and how it would enhance something that she already does in her classroom could have created an inlet for satisfaction and a wanting to learn more about it. As stated by Driscoll, “People can harbor beliefs about their capabilities, or lack thereof, that bear no relation to their actual ability to perform some task” (Driscoll, p. 317, 2005). Allowing the teacher to see what could be done with the technology and then guiding her in the use of it could change her mind set towards it. Sometimes the birds need to be pushed out of the nest and I believe that is what it would have taken for this teacher.


Reference:

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


**** I repeat myself ****
**** I posted to Carol Lee & Laine Pagan's blogs. ****

Mod - 4 Connectivism

**** I POSTED TO CAROL LEE & CHARITY MORAN'S BLOGS. THE URLS ARE BELOW: ****

http://carollee387.blogspot.com

http://msmomo-educationaltechnology.blogspot.com/





I do not know if you will be able to really see the jpg. so I am also including the URL address to my mind map: http://mywebspiration.com/view/418402a729b

When ever I am learning something new or I have a question about something I will go to the internet and search for the information that I am seeking. I will utilize Google, Google scholar, you tube, teacher tube, and the Walden Online Library. Through my degrees at Walden I have learned to utilize several tools that help me to collaborate and facilitate my learning. These tools include wikis, Skype, Blogs, and EDU 2.0 amongst others. These tools help me on my learning journey and they are very convenient and easy to use. Over the years as I have added more and more digital items to my network it has changed the way I think and the way I learn as well. I no longer have just a few options at my finger tips but an endless amount to pull from. It has changed the way I think and that has changed the way I learn.

****************** I REPEAT MYSELF ******************

**** I POSTED TO CAROL LEE & CHARITY MORAN'S BLOGS. THE URLS ARE BELOW: ****

http://carollee387.blogspot.com

http://msmomo-educationaltechnology.blogspot.com/

Mod 3: Collaboration

I believe that humans have a basic instinct to “interact and work as a group”. You can see it in just about every profession out there. There are prime examples in business and education when groups of people need to collaborate to get something accomplished. There is a need to pick other’s brains to come up with the best idea possible to get the job done. Rheinhold stated that people have been working together for a very long time and have had to work together in groups in order to get the job done (Rheinhold, 2008). For example hunters and gatherers had to work together when taking down a huge animal for the tribe. People have an innate need to work together, live together, and socialize together - it’s biblical. Really we have seen the constructivist theory at work for a very long time when it comes to communication and collaboration among groups of people - as the commercial says “So Easy a Caveman can do it” and they were within their familial units.
Technology can facilitate collaboration in so many ways. I my self have utilized web-quests in the classroom with groups of about 3 - 4 students each depending upon the assignment. Students love being able to utilize technology to learn and collaborate with each other. I have also utilized e-mail with our Flat Stanley projects and collaboration is instant with partner classrooms in the project. Collaboration and technology go hand in hand and with the onset on social networking sites, texting, and wiki usage, there really is no separating the two of them.

Reference:

Rheingold, Howard. (2008). Way-New collaboration. Retrieved April 14, 2010 at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html

Mod 2: Cognitivism as a Learning Theory

I agree with both Kerr and Kapp in that we need to use parts of each learning theory. As I stated in my last post I believe that a melting pot learning theory is needed when it comes to teaching and learning. Depending upon the student and their needs you may need to use several aspects of different learning theories. Kapp Stated that “We need to take pieces from each school of thought and apply it effectively because…Cognitivism doesn’t explain 100% how humans process information and neither does Constructivism or Behaviorism” (Kapp, 2007). You really do need to utilize parts of them all in order to really make a difference in each and every student’s life. We all learn differently and because no 2 people are a like a melting pot learning theory is the best way to address everyone’s needs at once. Being able to pick and choose what best fits each student is what is going to make the difference when it comes to getting our students to be successful at learning.

References:

Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought. Retrieved from http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational.html

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

Mod 1: Learning Beliefs

I believe that people learn best when they are fully engaged. This would include cognitive skills, behavioral skills, and sensory skills and so on… Each person is different and each persons needs are different. So in the words of George Siemens, “How do we design learning when learners may adopt multiple paths and approaches to content and curriculum” (Siemens, 2008, p. 1). I believe that you need- not just one learning theory- but an array of learning theories. People learn best by, what I like to call, the melting pot learning theory. This learning theory incorporates the best of them all. Depending upon the student or what it is you want them to learn you may need to utilize more of a behaviorist approach and other times you may need to go with a more cognitive approach to their learning. I believe in being flexible and I think that the more flexible you are as an educator the better you will be. Being able to go with the flow and changing your approach to learning is better than going against it and sticking with your chosen learning theory that may not necessarily work with the chosen student.

The purpose of learning theory in educational technology is to help determine the needs of the learner and what application or technology would most benefit the learner. For example, if you have a student who is more of a visual learner and really responds well to positive reinforcement then a learning game on the computer where graphics come into play and positive reinforcement is given would be great! This technology would inform the student of a job well done or could correct them when they have gotten the wrong answer. This would be a great way to integrate educational technology based upon the way they learn best or in essence learning theories.

Reference:

Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf