Final Post

At the Start of this course I believed that a large part of my teaching strategy consisted of the behaviorist theory but now I will be implementing more of the constructivist approach utilizing the technology methods that I have learned. In the past I had engaged students in activities where they were to create something. In the future I plan to have projects that are more frequent and engaging using the technology I have used in this class, thus providing for deeper understanding of the content. Multimedia presentation of lessons and the student ‘s use of the technology allows for more practice, more hands-on involvement, and more critical thinking for the students. In the future I will be focusing on engaging the children in activities in which they will have the opportunity to use technology to create evidence of learning. Dr.Orey, discussed that the constructivist theory allows students to be “actively engaged” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2008a). I also agree that students learn and understand more by building and creating things.

There are a few changes that I will implement immediately such as the use of Voice Thread. I am really excited about using Voice Thread in my classroom with students. To start using Voice Thread in lessons I will work in a small group with 4 to 5 students. I will teach the first group of students to use the Voice Thread program over a period of time until I know that they are comfortable to use the program on their own. Then I will assign them to a partner with a new assignment. I will continue this pattern until all the students are able to use the program easily and efficiently. When students are able to use the Voice Thread program I will begin creating assignments for students on a regular basis. Teaching a small group of students who then can be the “professionals” to help or train classmates will help make future lessons for the whole group easier as they will have the opportunity to ask peers for assistance and not just me. Another change I would like to make is to turn the use of power points into an independent project for students to use in addition to the ones I create for lessons. I am currently working together with the school technology teacher to provide students will the skills that they will need to be successful with using power points as part of their assignments. After this course I am hoping to continue to research and locate different forms of technology that I would be able to successfully implement in my class. I will continue to meet with the technology specialist and attend professional development classes on technology topics to keep current on the ever changing technology tools that can be used in the classroom. I will also start implementing the new technology I learned about by using the strategies listed previously. The train the trainer technique minimizes the task of implementing a new program of technology skill for the whole class. I have really enjoyed this class and the tools that I have been exposed to, that I can implement in my classroom.

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

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program seven. Constructionist and Constructivist Learning Theories [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Natural Resources

Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice

The learning strategies discussed both in the media and text this week, directly correlate with the social learning theory. All the activities discussed incorporated the need for students to work together to be successful with a project. The activities would also provide students with the opportunity to communicate, display trust among peers, demonstrate leadership, apply decision making and problem solving skills. If students are working together to create a multimedia material such as a video they will need to be able to collaborate to piece together each students ideas to create a finished product. In having students depend on one another to be successful there will be more thought put into the cooperation among the group members.

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.