Seamlessly integrating technology into my instructions is a very important goal. Its importance is magnified as I read articles like Friedman’s “It’s A Flat World, After All” and Prensky’s “Turning on the Lights.” Both authors make clear the need to re-evaluate how and what students are learning in today’s classrooms. I have been using Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer’s (2010) GAME Plan approach to build my proficiency with technology integration. You may recall that this approach involves setting goals, taking action, monitoring progress, and evaluating success and extending learning (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010). The goals I created were established to build my proficiency in the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T). This week, I would like to consider the steps I have taken towards meeting my goals.
The first goal I developed was to implement a class blog to communicate with students and parents and have students utilize blogs for collaborative reflection. I have discovered that I need to modify this goal. The IT department at my school has informed me that they will be setting up blogging sites for each teacher within our school’s server. They prefer for blogging to be handled this way so that students do not need individual email accounts and teachers can closely monitor the discussions. Therefore, I have decided to focus on the first part of that goal to implement a class blog so that I can communicate with students and parents. This will allow me to keep students who miss class informed. They will also be able to post questions to me about the material. I appreciate the advice from people on my last posting. This really answered a lot of questions for me. Focusing on creating a blog for the class as a whole is a good step to begin with so that I can work towards having my students use their own blogs. I think that I will summarize what was done in class. Do any of you have suggestions for what I need to include on this blog?
The second goal I have is to use flip video to record myself teaching and compile the clips for my professional portfolio. I have made a lot of progress in this area. I have recorded clips from one lesson and my next step is to edit them into a video. I need to have the IT department load the flip software onto my laptop. In the mean time, I will have to do my editing on my home computer. I would highly recommend the flip videos to other teachers. I have found them to be very user friendly and the quality is quite good considering how affordable they are. I may need to modify my plan to include how many lessons I would like to record. I think that one to two a month is a good goal to have as I do not want to become overwhelmed with the task. This would give me a good base of information to review as I evaluate the things I am asking my students to do. I am really interested in having my students use these cameras in the future. Have any of you had students do projects with them? Do you have any advice?
Thanks to everyone who has assisted me with my goals. I really appreciate the helpful advice I have received. I will continue to keep you posted as I work to build my proficiency in these areas and I look forward to hearing more great suggestions.
Jenny
Resources
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Prensky, M. (2008, March). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6), 40-45.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Carrying Out My Game Plan
One of the goals I established for myself last week was to utilize Flip Video technology so that I can record clips of my lessons. I have made quite a bit of progress in this area. Using one of the school’s new flip cameras, I recorded clips of a lesson where I had students utilizing the Mimio. I chose to record portions of this lesson so that I can demonstrate my ability to engage students through the use of technology. I tried to upload the clips onto my school laptop and found that I was unable to do so without administrative rights. The IT department will be installing the software onto my laptop. Until it is installed onto my computer, I have uploaded the clips to my personal computer. My next step is to edit the clips into a movie so that I can include it with my portfolio. A lot of staff development time in my school has been spent considering the level that we are engaging the students in. Because of this, I have decided to primarily record my students in action. I think that this best demonstrates the kind of work that I am asking the students to do. I was asked last week if I would share my lessons on the Internet. After considering this, I do not believe that I will as the videos will contain shots of my students. It would be a great deal of work to have each student complete a consent form so that I could upload the files to the Internet. This is a step that I am not willing to take on at this point. Therefore, I will collect the clips and compile them onto a DVD. I may use the clips to demonstrate to other faculty how I use various types of technology. They could also be shared with administration during the evaluation process. Most importantly, I will use them to evaluate my teaching practice.
The progress that I have made in regards to my goal of incorporating a class blog and individual blogs for students is much slower. There is great potential to improve collaboration and communication among students through the effective use of a blog. Asynchronous discussion allows students who may hesitate to participate in class discussion more time to formulate their thoughts (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010). I have spoken with my IT department about implementing blogs. They informed me that next year each teacher will be provided with a blog site through the school’s server. I will continue to pursue creating my own blog site so that I can better communicate with students and parents and then transition to the school’s blog as it becomes available. I am interested in having my students create their own blogs and I would love any guidance people could give me on this as it is out of my comfort zone. Is it necessary to have students creating their own blog sites as I could post questions to begin the reflection process on mine and then just have them contribute their? (It seems like this would promote discussion with me and not with the other students.) Does anyone have any sites to recommend? Are there sites that you can control who can view the blogs? Does it defeat the purpose of blogging if they cannot be viewed by outside sources? There are many areas of this that I need to research. The use of blogs has been very limited at my school so I hope that some of you can provide me with some guidance.
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
The progress that I have made in regards to my goal of incorporating a class blog and individual blogs for students is much slower. There is great potential to improve collaboration and communication among students through the effective use of a blog. Asynchronous discussion allows students who may hesitate to participate in class discussion more time to formulate their thoughts (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010). I have spoken with my IT department about implementing blogs. They informed me that next year each teacher will be provided with a blog site through the school’s server. I will continue to pursue creating my own blog site so that I can better communicate with students and parents and then transition to the school’s blog as it becomes available. I am interested in having my students create their own blogs and I would love any guidance people could give me on this as it is out of my comfort zone. Is it necessary to have students creating their own blog sites as I could post questions to begin the reflection process on mine and then just have them contribute their? (It seems like this would promote discussion with me and not with the other students.) Does anyone have any sites to recommend? Are there sites that you can control who can view the blogs? Does it defeat the purpose of blogging if they cannot be viewed by outside sources? There are many areas of this that I need to research. The use of blogs has been very limited at my school so I hope that some of you can provide me with some guidance.
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Game Plan
Marc Prensky (2008) makes it very clear, in his article “Turning on the Lights,” that the need for technology integration in today’s classrooms is great. Students employ a variety of technological applications outside of school and it makes sense that educators would draw on this same interest and knowledge in the classroom. The National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers (NETS•T) should serve as a guide for teachers as they work to infuse technology into their curriculum and practice.
Within each standard are several indicators that I feel fairly comfortable with. Each standard also has indicators that I would like to become more proficient with. I am most comfortable with Standard 2 as a whole. I utilize a variety of digital tools to create learning experiences of relevance to my students. Students are often able to investigate areas of interest due to the technology and manner it is incorporated. The formative and summative assessments I use align with the content and technology being covered.
One of the goals that I have as it relates to technology is to have the students utilize a blog and to create one for my classes as well. This goal will build my proficiency in indicator 1c: “promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify student’s conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative process.” It will also allow me to gain confidence with indicator 3b: “collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success.” Promoting student reflection is something that I struggle so this goal is especially important as reflection is essential to building understanding. Implementing a class blog will allow for greater collaboration so that students and parents stay informed.
I will utilize the GAME plan strategy, presented by Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2010), in order to take control of my learning….
Goal: Implement a class blog to communicate with students and parents and have students utilize blogs for collaborative reflection.
Action: Determine what provider to use (edublogs, blogger, wikispaces, etc…). Seek advice from other teachers who have used the technology. Identify the material to include on it. Identify areas of curriculum to use blogging for reflection with. Create guiding questions for reflection. Create the blog sites. Instruct the students in how to use the sites and how to create their own blogs.
Monitor: Identify areas where further information is needed. Consider how the process is going. What changes are needed in the action plan?
Evaluate: This will be an ongoing process. It will be important to record what worked well so that the needed changes can be made. This goal will develop my own proficiency with blogs. I will also consider students’ ability to reflect on the learning they have done. The amount of time spent discussing missing work should decrease if the class blog is used effectively by those students.
Standard 5 is another area that I would like to improve on. At a recent workshop I attended, Tony Wagner shared the idea of using a flip video camera to record clips of teachers in action. I would like to utilize this idea to develop professionally. This goal will build on several of the indicators for standard 5.
Goal: Use the flip video to record myself teaching and compile the clips for my professional portfolio. I will record myself during a variety of lessons and focus on the activities that I have the students doing. I would like to capture my use of technology so that I can evaluate its effectiveness.
Action: Check out the camera, record clips throughout the year, and compile them onto a CD.
Monitor: This goal will allow me to monitor my own ability to use technology and engage the students. It will be an ongoing process. It will allow me to evaluate my teaching so that I can make improvements and to share lessons where I have used technology with fellow teachers.
Evaluate: I will consider areas where technology was utilized effectively and identify strategies for improving the lesson and enhancing student engagement. I will not only evaluate my teaching but also learn how to use the flip technology to edit clips into movies that represent my lesson. Lessons that I am proud of could be shared with other teachers to promote the integration of it into their classrooms.
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Prensky, M. (2008, March). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6), 40-45.
The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T). (n.d.). International Society for Technology in Education Home. Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
Within each standard are several indicators that I feel fairly comfortable with. Each standard also has indicators that I would like to become more proficient with. I am most comfortable with Standard 2 as a whole. I utilize a variety of digital tools to create learning experiences of relevance to my students. Students are often able to investigate areas of interest due to the technology and manner it is incorporated. The formative and summative assessments I use align with the content and technology being covered.
One of the goals that I have as it relates to technology is to have the students utilize a blog and to create one for my classes as well. This goal will build my proficiency in indicator 1c: “promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify student’s conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative process.” It will also allow me to gain confidence with indicator 3b: “collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success.” Promoting student reflection is something that I struggle so this goal is especially important as reflection is essential to building understanding. Implementing a class blog will allow for greater collaboration so that students and parents stay informed.
I will utilize the GAME plan strategy, presented by Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2010), in order to take control of my learning….
Goal: Implement a class blog to communicate with students and parents and have students utilize blogs for collaborative reflection.
Action: Determine what provider to use (edublogs, blogger, wikispaces, etc…). Seek advice from other teachers who have used the technology. Identify the material to include on it. Identify areas of curriculum to use blogging for reflection with. Create guiding questions for reflection. Create the blog sites. Instruct the students in how to use the sites and how to create their own blogs.
Monitor: Identify areas where further information is needed. Consider how the process is going. What changes are needed in the action plan?
Evaluate: This will be an ongoing process. It will be important to record what worked well so that the needed changes can be made. This goal will develop my own proficiency with blogs. I will also consider students’ ability to reflect on the learning they have done. The amount of time spent discussing missing work should decrease if the class blog is used effectively by those students.
Standard 5 is another area that I would like to improve on. At a recent workshop I attended, Tony Wagner shared the idea of using a flip video camera to record clips of teachers in action. I would like to utilize this idea to develop professionally. This goal will build on several of the indicators for standard 5.
Goal: Use the flip video to record myself teaching and compile the clips for my professional portfolio. I will record myself during a variety of lessons and focus on the activities that I have the students doing. I would like to capture my use of technology so that I can evaluate its effectiveness.
Action: Check out the camera, record clips throughout the year, and compile them onto a CD.
Monitor: This goal will allow me to monitor my own ability to use technology and engage the students. It will be an ongoing process. It will allow me to evaluate my teaching so that I can make improvements and to share lessons where I have used technology with fellow teachers.
Evaluate: I will consider areas where technology was utilized effectively and identify strategies for improving the lesson and enhancing student engagement. I will not only evaluate my teaching but also learn how to use the flip technology to edit clips into movies that represent my lesson. Lessons that I am proud of could be shared with other teachers to promote the integration of it into their classrooms.
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Prensky, M. (2008, March). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6), 40-45.
The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T). (n.d.). International Society for Technology in Education Home. Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Reflection: Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom
The learning opportunities that I have had in the master’s course, Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom, have provided me with a great deal of insight into the teaching of new literacy skills. The definition of literacy in the 21st century is much more than being able to read, write, and communicate. Today it consists of a variety of additional skills including: communication, media, information, and teamwork (Jukes, 2007). The new literacy skills are ones that every student needs so that they can be successful in the 21st century workplace. The most striking revelation that I have had is that teaching students these literacies may be even more important than some of the content material. I know this will not be a popular statement with many teachers. However, I have a hard time identifying content material that students cannot learn with a simple Internet search, excluding math. Choosing not to teach the new literacies is simply not an option. Alan November (2008) believes that “the decision not to educate our students in this new media is a dangerous one” (p. 3). It should be the responsibility of every educator in the school to teach these new literacies not just the librarian or English department. The content can be the vehicle through which the literacies are taught.
This insight will certainly influence my teaching practice as I continue in the profession. The new literacy skills can be embedded into the curriculum so that students learn the content material while developing fluency. I will continue to evaluate my curriculum in order to determine where the teaching of the literacies naturally fit. Inquiry based unit plans appear to be a great method for the teaching of the new literacies. I would like to incorporate more of those into my various courses.
The information in this course has exposed me to multiple areas where I would like to develop professionally. The first is to model ethical use of technology. Sara Armstrong recognizes “modeling as the most powerful way of teaching” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009b). An area where I could improve in this regards is to cite pictures that I have used in PowerPoint presentations. Including the citation for these pictures would demonstrate the value that I have for using technology ethically and would encourage my students to do the same. I will accomplish this goal by adding the citations prior to the use of the presentation in my classes so that by the end of the year many of them will be improved.
Another professional goal that I have is to implement the use of digital storytelling as was presented in “Visual Literacy through Digital Storytelling” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009a). The first step I need to take is to determine the technology that will work best for my situation. I would like to use VoiceThread but have also heard many positive comments about Garageband. I will need to acquire microphones to be used with this as my lab currently does not have any. A rubric will be provided to all of the students prior to beginning the project so that the expectations are clear. I will demonstrate how to utilize the technology and provide instruction on using images, sound, music, etc… to tell a story. Utilizing this type of project will increase my own literacy skills as well as those of my students.
Jenny
Jukes, I. (2007). 21st century fluency skills: Attributes of a 21st century learner. Retrieved from http://www.committedsardine.com/handouts/twca.pdf
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009a). Program nine. Visual Literacy through Digital Storytelling [Motion picture]. Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009b). Program twelve. Safe and Ethical Practices [Motion picture]. Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society. Baltimore: Author.
November, A. (2008). Web literacy for educators. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.
This insight will certainly influence my teaching practice as I continue in the profession. The new literacy skills can be embedded into the curriculum so that students learn the content material while developing fluency. I will continue to evaluate my curriculum in order to determine where the teaching of the literacies naturally fit. Inquiry based unit plans appear to be a great method for the teaching of the new literacies. I would like to incorporate more of those into my various courses.
The information in this course has exposed me to multiple areas where I would like to develop professionally. The first is to model ethical use of technology. Sara Armstrong recognizes “modeling as the most powerful way of teaching” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009b). An area where I could improve in this regards is to cite pictures that I have used in PowerPoint presentations. Including the citation for these pictures would demonstrate the value that I have for using technology ethically and would encourage my students to do the same. I will accomplish this goal by adding the citations prior to the use of the presentation in my classes so that by the end of the year many of them will be improved.
Another professional goal that I have is to implement the use of digital storytelling as was presented in “Visual Literacy through Digital Storytelling” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009a). The first step I need to take is to determine the technology that will work best for my situation. I would like to use VoiceThread but have also heard many positive comments about Garageband. I will need to acquire microphones to be used with this as my lab currently does not have any. A rubric will be provided to all of the students prior to beginning the project so that the expectations are clear. I will demonstrate how to utilize the technology and provide instruction on using images, sound, music, etc… to tell a story. Utilizing this type of project will increase my own literacy skills as well as those of my students.
Jenny
Jukes, I. (2007). 21st century fluency skills: Attributes of a 21st century learner. Retrieved from http://www.committedsardine.com/handouts/twca.pdf
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009a). Program nine. Visual Literacy through Digital Storytelling [Motion picture]. Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009b). Program twelve. Safe and Ethical Practices [Motion picture]. Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society. Baltimore: Author.
November, A. (2008). Web literacy for educators. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Reflection: Effective Integration of Technology in the Classroom
The learning opportunities in this course have required me to deeply consider my personal theory of learning. Eclectic was the term I used to describe that theory during Week 1 and it remains accurate today. Picking and choosing strategies and approaches from all of the theories has allowed me to better meet the needs of my students. The behaviorist theory is most evident in my classroom management. Behaviorism can be used effectively, especially in classroom management because as Melissa Standridge (2002) points out, “students work for things that bring them positive feelings, and for approval from people they admire” (p. 6). Cognitivism is a theory that I would not have identified directly with prior to this course. However, I have discovered that I employ many cognitive strategies including concept mapping. I would like to utilize this theory more often in my teaching as building strong and numerous connections in the students brains will increase the likelihood that the information can be recalled (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). Constructivism and Social Learning are two theories that I call on often in my daily practice. These theories allow me to work towards the student-centered classroom that I strive for. Technology can allow students to work independently or in teams to create some amazing artifacts within these theories. These artifacts can be used as alternative assessments that demonstrate the learning that has taken place. The benefits of social learning are numerous. Perhaps the discussions among students are the most valuable. Technology can be used to engage students within all of these theories of learning and student engagement should be a primary goal of all teachers.
There are several technology tools that I would like to use with my students to enhance learning. Voice thread is the tool that I am most excited about. Learning will be enhanced through the effective use of this technology as the students will be able to have discussions about images related to course content. Students who hesitate to contribute to class discussion will have time to prepare their thoughts. The walls of the classroom are virtually eliminated as students can contribute to the voice thread from any computer with internet access at any time of day. Another technology that I am excited to take full advantage of is Microsoft Word. Many of the advanced features of Word were presented in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (2007). The Track Changes and Insert Comments features on Word can allow for students to receive feedback on their writing. Students can also receive feedback in Word by utilizing the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Scale to see what grade level their writing was done at. Other features in Word that I want to familiarize my students with are using the reference tab in creating a bibliography, working with citations, and using the program for research. These applications of Word can enhance student learning by offering comments on their work, providing feedback, summarizing, and researching.
Portfolios have been an integral component of my classroom for several years. They provide students with a collection of their best work and demonstrate the learning that has taken place. My experience in this course has shown me that my students may be better served by creating their portfolios online. This can be accomplished through the use of a blog. It will take me a year or so to work out all of the fine details of this endeavor but I will begin by providing the students with a rubric of my expectations for their portfolio. Student will be able to scan images, upload digital photos, and create links to voice threads, etc… as they compile their artifacts. Compiling portfolios online will allow for the students to comment on each other’s work, offer suggestions, seek input from people outside the walls of the classroom, and to work on them anywhere. Another goal that I have in regards to technology integration is to create a webpage for myself where students can access their classroom pages. I will begin this endeavor by starting with one or two classes and working up to all of them. On each classroom page I will list upcoming deadlines, downloadable files, technology tutorials, helpful links, and a link to a blog where students can ask questions. This will be a large job for me but will be a big step in creating a kind of global classroom that can meet the needs of my students. Providing technology tutorials will be very helpful to my CAD students in using our software. This kind of a site will also be very beneficial to students who have been absent while blogging will allow for the students to assist one another. This goal will also allow me to create a more environmentally friendly classroom with students submitting assignments electronically.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program five. Cognitive Learning Theories [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA:ASCD.
Standridge, M. (2002). Behaviorism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved April 30, 2009, from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
There are several technology tools that I would like to use with my students to enhance learning. Voice thread is the tool that I am most excited about. Learning will be enhanced through the effective use of this technology as the students will be able to have discussions about images related to course content. Students who hesitate to contribute to class discussion will have time to prepare their thoughts. The walls of the classroom are virtually eliminated as students can contribute to the voice thread from any computer with internet access at any time of day. Another technology that I am excited to take full advantage of is Microsoft Word. Many of the advanced features of Word were presented in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (2007). The Track Changes and Insert Comments features on Word can allow for students to receive feedback on their writing. Students can also receive feedback in Word by utilizing the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Scale to see what grade level their writing was done at. Other features in Word that I want to familiarize my students with are using the reference tab in creating a bibliography, working with citations, and using the program for research. These applications of Word can enhance student learning by offering comments on their work, providing feedback, summarizing, and researching.
Portfolios have been an integral component of my classroom for several years. They provide students with a collection of their best work and demonstrate the learning that has taken place. My experience in this course has shown me that my students may be better served by creating their portfolios online. This can be accomplished through the use of a blog. It will take me a year or so to work out all of the fine details of this endeavor but I will begin by providing the students with a rubric of my expectations for their portfolio. Student will be able to scan images, upload digital photos, and create links to voice threads, etc… as they compile their artifacts. Compiling portfolios online will allow for the students to comment on each other’s work, offer suggestions, seek input from people outside the walls of the classroom, and to work on them anywhere. Another goal that I have in regards to technology integration is to create a webpage for myself where students can access their classroom pages. I will begin this endeavor by starting with one or two classes and working up to all of them. On each classroom page I will list upcoming deadlines, downloadable files, technology tutorials, helpful links, and a link to a blog where students can ask questions. This will be a large job for me but will be a big step in creating a kind of global classroom that can meet the needs of my students. Providing technology tutorials will be very helpful to my CAD students in using our software. This kind of a site will also be very beneficial to students who have been absent while blogging will allow for the students to assist one another. This goal will also allow me to create a more environmentally friendly classroom with students submitting assignments electronically.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program five. Cognitive Learning Theories [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA:ASCD.
Standridge, M. (2002). Behaviorism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved April 30, 2009, from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
Monday, June 1, 2009
Social Learning and Voice Thread
Voice thread is a great technology that supports connectivisim and social learning theory. This tool allows for people to upload images, video, or other graphics and to comment on them. Networks of information can be created among the people who comment on these images. I created a voice thread that I could use in my Engineering Design Course as a review of multiview drawings. The thread can be viewed and commented on at: http://voicethread.com/share/523939/ This is a very difficult concept for students to grasp and could serve as a great review for them. I can also forsee students creating their own thread that demonstrates their rationale for the location of dimensions in their multiview files. I can envision many applications of voice thread in my classes but this is just one example of how I could use it.
The social learning theory is one that I have tried to incorporate into my own classroom. It is structured around the components of culture, collaboration, and context. I find it somewhat difficult to seperate from constructionism as I often have students work in teams to create an artifact. "Cooperative Learning" is an instructional strategy that supports this theory while embedding technology. The discussions that students have with one another while working cooperatively are vital to this theory. This strategy provides an opportunity for students to problem solve, think creatively, and support one another. Some technological tools that support this strategy include the use of blogs, wikis, and document sharing applications. These tools can really aid in the communication among the team while spreadsheets, PowerPoint, and podcasts are tools that can be used in the creation of artifacts. In today's society it seems less important to be able to recall trivial facts and much more important to know where to find the answers and how to work with others and technology in doing so.
The social learning theory is one that I have tried to incorporate into my own classroom. It is structured around the components of culture, collaboration, and context. I find it somewhat difficult to seperate from constructionism as I often have students work in teams to create an artifact. "Cooperative Learning" is an instructional strategy that supports this theory while embedding technology. The discussions that students have with one another while working cooperatively are vital to this theory. This strategy provides an opportunity for students to problem solve, think creatively, and support one another. Some technological tools that support this strategy include the use of blogs, wikis, and document sharing applications. These tools can really aid in the communication among the team while spreadsheets, PowerPoint, and podcasts are tools that can be used in the creation of artifacts. In today's society it seems less important to be able to recall trivial facts and much more important to know where to find the answers and how to work with others and technology in doing so.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Constructivism in Practice
This week I had the opportunity to explore several strategies that incorporate technology and correlate with the constructionist /constructivist learning theories. In order to understand this correlation, I first needed a clearer definition of these theories. Lever-Duffy and McDonald (2008) points out that for constructivists, “knowledge is unique to the individual who constructs it” (p. 16). The distinction between constructivism and constructionism was defined more clearly by Dr. Michael Orey (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). He clarified that constructivism is really more of the study of how each person constructs their own knowledge while constructionism focuses on the actual act of building or creating something.
The use of educational technology lends itself beautifully to the constructionist learning theory. This is clearly seen in the strategy of project-based learning. This strategy allows students to utilize technology in nearly every aspect of the project. The internet can be used in collecting research for the project. This research can be compiled onto spreadsheets and/or database programs. A wiki could be used as a means for a group to collaborate and communicate on the project. PowerPoint, podcasts, and publishing software are just a few of the technologies that could be used to present the solution to the class. Many of the stages of project based learning provide an opportunity for creation of an artifact that can demonstrate the knowledge that the individual or group has gained.
Project based learning is really exciting to me. Many of its benefits are pointed out by Mark Nichol in his article “Why Teach With Project Learning?: Providing Students With a Well –Rounded Classroom Experience.” There are numerous reasons that really attract me to this type of learning experience. Project learning provides a great opportunity to shift the classroom focus from being teacher-centered to student-centered. The students can really develop a sense of ownership in the work that they are doing and take great pride in it. The artifacts that they create are truly one of a kind and can demonstrate the learning process that the student or group experienced.
Some other great technologies to assist students in the creation of artifacts include Publisher, word processing programs, Excel, and PowerPoint. Publisher is a great tool for students to create brochures, newsletters, calendars, etc… These documents look very professional and can really support the learning that has taken place. Excel can also be used as an embedded technology as it was demonstrated in generating and testing hypothesis. These technologies can definitely be used to enhance the learning process.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program seven. Constructionist and Constructivist Learning Theories[Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.
Lever-Duffy, J. and McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations. In Teaching and Learning with Technology (3rd ed. pp.2-35). Boston: Pearson.
The use of educational technology lends itself beautifully to the constructionist learning theory. This is clearly seen in the strategy of project-based learning. This strategy allows students to utilize technology in nearly every aspect of the project. The internet can be used in collecting research for the project. This research can be compiled onto spreadsheets and/or database programs. A wiki could be used as a means for a group to collaborate and communicate on the project. PowerPoint, podcasts, and publishing software are just a few of the technologies that could be used to present the solution to the class. Many of the stages of project based learning provide an opportunity for creation of an artifact that can demonstrate the knowledge that the individual or group has gained.
Project based learning is really exciting to me. Many of its benefits are pointed out by Mark Nichol in his article “Why Teach With Project Learning?: Providing Students With a Well –Rounded Classroom Experience.” There are numerous reasons that really attract me to this type of learning experience. Project learning provides a great opportunity to shift the classroom focus from being teacher-centered to student-centered. The students can really develop a sense of ownership in the work that they are doing and take great pride in it. The artifacts that they create are truly one of a kind and can demonstrate the learning process that the student or group experienced.
Some other great technologies to assist students in the creation of artifacts include Publisher, word processing programs, Excel, and PowerPoint. Publisher is a great tool for students to create brochures, newsletters, calendars, etc… These documents look very professional and can really support the learning that has taken place. Excel can also be used as an embedded technology as it was demonstrated in generating and testing hypothesis. These technologies can definitely be used to enhance the learning process.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Program seven. Constructionist and Constructivist Learning Theories[Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.
Lever-Duffy, J. and McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations. In Teaching and Learning with Technology (3rd ed. pp.2-35). Boston: Pearson.
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