Constructionist

The strategies described in this weeks resources are directly related to the constructionist theory. All of the instructional strategies are alligned with the idea of children creating something. Through the use of projects and investigations students are provided with oppurtunities to explore what they are learing in a way that makes sense to them and builds background knowledge along with ideas that are not always connected from teacher to student. The projects that students engage in also allow for children to make connections with different information. The resources that did not directly have something that students could create did have a library of useable resources that could be used by students in learning about thier topic.

Cognative Theory

The activities in this weeks reading directly connect with the Cognitive Theory by incorporating the process of making connections. The Cognitive Theory is all about elaboration, forming connections to produce long term memories. In both Chapters 4 and 6 the activities discussed incorporate creating visual connections through the use of tables, and note taking. Ms. Douglas from Chapter 4 had created a cueing and questioning activity in Kidspiration exposing students to visual and auditory instruction engaging their sensory processors and creating connections for students on the topic of bridges. With these activites creating clear connections to other ideas or "Nodes" in graphic organizers ther is a definite corrolation between the activities in teh reading resources and the Cognitive Theory.

Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., Malenoski, K., Pitler, H.(2007) Using Technology with Classroom Instructions that Works.

Behavorist Theory

I believe that the Behaviorist Theory is evident in most of the instructional strategies discussed this week in the resources. The homework and effort activities correlate working hard the desired behavior with success, the reward. The activity also associates now working hard the undesired behavior with failing, punishment. The reward and punishment are all part of the behaviorist theory. Also the use of media such as games provides immediate feedback for the child in the activity that they are engaged in with by providing correct responses desired behavior with chants, reward or redirecting them back to review the incorrect response, punishment. All of these activities display a form of behaviorist theory some are more noticeable than other but all display the basic belief that the immediate response to a students work correct or incorrect makes a difference in their learning.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program four. Behaviorist Learning Theory [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore: Author.

New Start

This is the blog that I have used previously and hopefully I can continue to use it through this course.