CONSTRUCIVIST

In week 4, our resources introduced us to constructivism theory and how it corresponsdes with the previous weeks conceptual mapping tool.

Dr. Orey summed this concept up the best when he said, in it’s simpliest form, this theory is getting kids to build stuff. The best example was assigning students to build PowerPoint presentations in regards to materials that they are covering in that lesson.

What I found to be most interesting with the conceptual mapping tool is that it forced me think about what I really wanted the students to learn and how we were going to get there. I love this tool; the application itself was easy to use and forced me to brainstorm outside of the box. This is an application I would love to introduce to my 8^th graders. What a great way to organize your thoughts academically and even personally.

One of the most important things that I learned is the goal of trying to teach the student something new that we be embedded in their long term memory, which should be done by association in order for the brain to retain in long term memory. Which actually takes us to one of our first discussions regarding how the brain works.

USING COGNITIVE TOOLS TO ENAHNCE LEARNING

Just when I think my small little brain can’t handle any more information, we are introduced to another awesome tool. I just introduced to a fun new mapping tool called Spinscape.

What I found is that I had great ideas for the big picture but forcing me to create the supporting details really forced me as a teacher, to think about what it was I really wanted them to learn.

Not only do I think this is a great tool to teach with but if I teach the students how to use it for project research, they might also experience what I did. I found myself asking more questions .

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING THEORY

In our second week of studies, resources discuss the principles of behaviorist learning theory. My classroom structure is closest to this theory. My objective is to teach student-keyboarding skills, to be fluent in Excel application and to be fluent in PowerPoint presentations. I have only a quarter with each group; very limited amount of time and it was suggested that homework is not assigned outside of my classes. I feel the best way for most of my student to learn is through practice. Practices results in reinforcement, hopefully displaying a new skill learned.

My curriculum is designed so that each lesson, practice what we’ve learned previously and then adds one new skill. By the end of the quarter these skills become automatic for the student. Unsung Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works suggest that student should track their effort by using a rubric or checklist when working on projects. (Palter Hubbell, Kuhn and Milanese, 2007). This suggestion is something that I would like to incorporate in my assignments. The keyboarding class that I teach, allows students to work at their own pace completing exercise in a checklist fashion. The application is called Microtype for Mac. It is similar to the application mentioned in our resources.

For all other subjects I believe homework is based on behavioral principals. Homework is for practicing, if you do well you are rewarded and if not normally there are some kind of consequences.

EDUC 6711

Welcome to my personal blog!

This week we begin a new course, 6711, and I'm happy to see some names I recognize and I'm excited to correspond with those I don't recognize.