Reflection

The learning theory that I most identify with is the Constructivist learning theory that connects previous knowledge with newly gained knowledge. I still feel that this learning theory best descrives the way taht I feel most people learn.

With this theory in mind, I'll be able to adjust my instructional practices to ensure that I help my students to make connections between what they've learned and are currently learning. During guided reading groups I often ask my students to make connections between themselves and the text. The text and the world or the text and other books that they have read. I think that this practice can be easily applied to all learning areas in the classroom.

Two technology tools that I've learned during this course that I'd like to use in my classroom are Voice Threads and Concept Maps. I have already used the Concept Map that I created with my class and am planning to create a Concept Map with them on dinosaurs. I think that using Concept Maps is an excellent tech tool for my students. It's user friendly and something that they, with practice, can use on their own. Voice Threads are another user friendly tool that my students will be able to create, access, and give each other feedback through. I plan to have them respond to each other's Power Point presentations using Voice Threads in February.

Two long term goals that I have are to share the tools I've learned with my staff members and to continue to use these tools and others throughout the years. For my first goal, I've already set up tech in ten sessions during our staff meetings where I will share a different tech tool with my staff each meeting. My principal is very encouraging of this and I believe that my staff will be very receptive. For my second goal, I plan to revamp the units that I teach to ensure that each unit includes the tech tools that I have learned throughout my masters. By revamping my unit plans, I will be able to keep myself on track to include technology in all of them.

Voice Thread

Here is the link to view my voicethread!

voicethread.com/share/779733/

Enjoy!

Cooperative Learning

This week's lesson on cooperative learning was very valuable. Teaching a second grade class, I use a lot of cooperative learning or social learning techniques. Each morning my students have an hour and a half of rotations that they complete. They go to their reading rotation where they read for thirty minutes in a homogenous grouping. They go to their seat work rotation where they complete lessons in small groups. And they go to their exploratory center rotation where they create projects, solve puzzles, and play various games in small groups. At the beginning of the year, I sometimes run in to the issue of one student completing the work while another copies, but I look at that as an opportunity to redirect their behaviors and reteach my expectations.
Social learning theory aligns with cooperative learning. Having students work together, provides them with the opportunities to learn through teaching and allows them to work within their ZPD.

Constuctivist and Constructivism Theories

The use of constructivism (hands-on) learning is a valuable tool that teachers need to use. It's easy to get stuck in the daily grind and teaching through lecturing or small group learning. However, to take the time to step out of the norm and have students create something that applies to what they are learning about is a valuable way to spend your teaching time. I think that we all can recall projects that we created as students and probably can recall the information we used a lot better than information we read about in a text book. These are the types of learning opportunities that I want to provide more of for my students.

Embedding technology into these projects takes learning a step further into the future of learning. Each year I have my students complete a research project and report on Christmas traditions throughout the world. This year, my students will be using the concept map that I created to help them with their research. Seeing my thought processes and expectations in a concept map format will help my students to see where their expectations lie. After we complete this project, the next step in my plan is to create a concept map on dinosaurs for my class' next research project. This will show my students the ease of creating a concept map and the benefits.

There are so many tech resources available to our students, I feel that introducing these resources to them and showing them how to use them will benefit them for years to come. Technology is evolving each and every day. We, as educators, need to help our students evolve with it.

Teaching Strategies and the Cognitive Learning Theory

This week's lesson looked at the world of virtual field trips and concept mapping. These teaching strategies directly link to the Cognitive Learning Theory. Dr. Orey explains that our brains retain information based on how our senses process that information. The visual aid that virtual field trips bring to the classroom is a valuable part of the learning process. The graphic organization of information that concept maps provide give students a "road map" of their studies. Having the opportunity to map out what they are learning helps students to remember information more effectively.

Blogs and Wikis align with these teaching strategies enabling students to interact with each other outside of the classroom. They also allow parents to get more involved in what their child is studying.

This week's teaching/learning strategies truly help to enhance the learning process and support the cognitive learning theory.

References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging

Behaviorist Learning Theory

Looking at the connections between this week's studied instructional strategies ( reinforcing effort and homework and practice) I can see a direct connection to B.F. Skinners Behaviorist Learning Theory. The behaviorist theory looks at consequences of bad behavior and reinforcement of good behavior. Through the instructional stratgey of behavior reinforcement students' understanding of the relationship between their effort and achievement is strengthened through addressing their attitudes and beliefs about learning (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). Students are able to create/use spreadsheets or rubrics that evaluate their efforts and achievement rate. By student's tracking and rating their own successes, they have immediate and meaningful feedback. This strategy aligns with the behaviorist theory by reinforcing students' positive behaviors.

The second strategy of homework and practice also aligns with Skinner's theory. Students are able to see the connection between their homework and practice and the rise in their knowledge and success in class. "Multiple exposures to material help students deepen their understanding of content and become proficient with skills (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p. 188). It is important to differ the amount of homework given in relation to your students' age and ability levels.

Overall, both of these instructional practices should prove successful due to their connections to B.F. Skinner's Behaviorist Learning Theory.

Reflections

The course that I have just completed has challenged me to step out of my comfort zone. I've learned to use new technologies, never created a blog before, and have given serious thought on how to implement them in my classroom. Collaborating with my classmates on the wiki assignment gave me ideas on how I can collaborate with my colleagues, students, and parents of students with the use of wiki pages.
The learning process that I have experienced through taking online classes has been challenging at times. I have never experienced such student centered learning. My entire educational experience has been very teacher centered; listening to lectures, taking notes, reading and regurgitating information. Whereas these courses, provide information that then has to be applied to hands on experiences. As I mentioned, this can be a bit of a challenge. But the challenge is very rewarding with the end product.
Due to this, I have changed my perspective on being a teacher-centered educator. In the past I have been guilty of teaching through whole group instruction. I'm not opposed to this, but recognize that I need to utilize group and individual exploration activities more.
Therefore, I will be setting these two long-term goals to achieve over the next two years. First of all, I plan to utilize more technological resources; such as blogging with parents and students on my classroom website and setting up wiki pages for research projects. This particular goal doesn't pose many obstacles with the resources my school district has already provided. In order to accomplish this goal, I will only need to set up the pages/accounts needed and cut out time to keep them updated. My second goal is to create a more student centered, hands on, learning environment. Rather than having students complete worksheets during independent learning time, I will create projects for them to work on and experiments for them to complete. In order to achieve this goal I will have to set aside time to plan these new activities and collaborate with other teachers that have similar classroom environments. I feel that both goals are attainable and that over a two year period I will be able to transform and improve my teaching skills.

Technology interview

This week I interviewed my brother on his uses of technology in his secondary art classroom. It was interesting to here about the lack of technology resources that he has. I know that our district is attempting to fulfill all of our district's technology needs, but obvisouly has a long way to go. It really made me appreciate being at a new school and being spoiled with all that we have. Here's the link to the podcast interview, Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDV4R8ZaXW4

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills reaction

My reaction to the website Partnership for 21st Century Skills, was what can I do to get my school/school district/state involved?! This website is an awesome resource for anyone in education that needs resources and or data about how to integrate technology in the classroom. I continually hear teachers saying that they want to be more tech friendly but are not sure where to start; I have just found their starting line! I truly am excited to share this website and its valuable information with my staff.
However, I must admit that the website was overwhelming at first. I wasn't sure where to start looking or where to find their mission, etc. After a bit of exploring, I found the information I was looking for and enjoyed their rainbow overview graphics.
The information on the site that surprised me where what other states are doing to provide their students with the technology education that they need to succeed in the 21st century. Another shocking fact was how much other countries are doing and just how far behind the United States really is.
Overall, this website made me want to get more involved as an educator. It provided me with the realities of where our world is headed and what skills our students are in desperate need of. I am further encouraged to get my masters in technology and become a tech facilitator in my school district. I feel that by doing this, I will be able to help guide my state into the 21st century and provide our students with the skills that they need to be successful in our ever-changing world.

Blog lesson

I would like to use blogging in my second grade class to keep in touch with my students while having a student teacher next year. I plan to model using a blog and the proper way to respond to a post. After we have explored this process a few times, I will post questions to my students about the content areas that my student teacher will be instructing. During their computer time, it will be their assignment to check the blog and post answers to my questions. This will be a way for me to maintain knowledge of student progress and needs.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to Technology in the classroom and Beyond! This blog will examine effect practices of technology in a primary setting. Please share your thoughts, opinions, and experiences with teaching using current technologies!