WHAT IS GOOD FOR ONE, IS NOT GOOD FOR ALL!!!
Cognitive theory concentrates on how and why a person learns. The learner is simply viewed as an information processor--much like the computers in front of us. As a teacher, we input the information into our students minds, they process that information and then give us the output we desire. This process is repeated no matter what the standard may be........
In my opinion, there has been so much emphasis put on state standards and passing "The Test" that many of our teachers have forgotten the importance of teaching our students utilizing a variety of strategies/methods. When we are teaching our students we need to teach them using real-life scenarios--something they can take from our classroom and effectively apply to their daily lives. Within our classroom we have learners at a variety of levels, so how are we supposed to teach all of these learners the same standard? It will require some planning on the front end--but with differentiated instruction, the teacher will be able to do just that (no matter what level of learners you have). You simply take the standard at hand, and break it into "three different levels of learning". One level being for your upper students, the next for your average learners and finally for your below standard learners. With this type of planning and instruction--all learners can be met at their current level and we can spend more time working on the concept of "Growth" for each student, no matter what level of learning they are at.
As I stated earlier, there is so much emphasis put on "The Test" whether it be from the state or federal government, that we aren't able to consider each student as an individual and that each person learns completely different. At some point we have to look at changing the concept that all students will be able to meet all standards and instead concentrate on these students learning how to apply the learning in the classroom to their daily lives. We need to make a shift from inputting the information, allowing the learner to process the information and then give us the desired results, to one that allows the learner to explore the standard being taught, process the knowledge they gained from the exploring/researching, and then using that knowledge to produce a solution for the standard that was presented. If we can make the shift from the teacher being the one "giving the information" to the student "exploring the information" then I believe our students will become more thought provoked, successful members of society.
The following blogs were reviewed before making this post:
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html
http://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/
Monday, September 19, 2011
Module 1 Comment Blogs
I commented on the following two blogs for the first module:
Marc Boese
http://mboese.blogspot.com/
April Carpenter
http://april-carpenter.blogspot.com/
Brandy
Marc Boese
http://mboese.blogspot.com/
April Carpenter
http://april-carpenter.blogspot.com/
Brandy
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Module 1 Blog Topic
1. What are your beliefs about how people learn best? What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?
My beliefs of how people learn best is when they are allowed the opportunity to learn the topic using a variety of methods and are able to demonstrate that learning in the method they feel most comfortable. As a middle school technology teacher, I have found that my students learn the topic best if I allow them to "explore" the topic, work on the standard and then they are assessed using project-based learning. There are lots of learners that aren't good "test takers" (much like myself) but if you assess those learners using project based learning and ask them to produce something using their learning--you will see that the learner was able to grasp the concept and apply it to their daily lives. If you make learning real-life for the student and you allow them to take control of their learning, and allow them to see immidate results, you will see that the learners are more excited about learning and will be less likely to shut down when given a "job".
Today's students learn in a different manner than we did when we were their age. We can't expect our students to "check their technology at the door" and be successful. We need to allow them to explore the subject at hand using a variety of this technology. When we allow this type of learning, the students don't realize they are "learning" they see it more as "fun". We must face the reality which is, our students will be bored with lecture based learning, let them explore the topic using technology and be assessed using technology while we, as the teacher, serve as more of a facilitator within the classroom.
Learning theory plays a part in educational technology by providing various ways students can learn and the teacher can utilize that knowledge to help with differentiated instruction, which in the end helps ensure success for our students. Reality is that all learners do not learn the same way and will not be successful in the classroom if we think they do. There are lots of ways to teach the same standard to all of our students but using a method that allows the student to understand and apply that standard in a way they can benefit from it.
My beliefs of how people learn best is when they are allowed the opportunity to learn the topic using a variety of methods and are able to demonstrate that learning in the method they feel most comfortable. As a middle school technology teacher, I have found that my students learn the topic best if I allow them to "explore" the topic, work on the standard and then they are assessed using project-based learning. There are lots of learners that aren't good "test takers" (much like myself) but if you assess those learners using project based learning and ask them to produce something using their learning--you will see that the learner was able to grasp the concept and apply it to their daily lives. If you make learning real-life for the student and you allow them to take control of their learning, and allow them to see immidate results, you will see that the learners are more excited about learning and will be less likely to shut down when given a "job".
Today's students learn in a different manner than we did when we were their age. We can't expect our students to "check their technology at the door" and be successful. We need to allow them to explore the subject at hand using a variety of this technology. When we allow this type of learning, the students don't realize they are "learning" they see it more as "fun". We must face the reality which is, our students will be bored with lecture based learning, let them explore the topic using technology and be assessed using technology while we, as the teacher, serve as more of a facilitator within the classroom.
Learning theory plays a part in educational technology by providing various ways students can learn and the teacher can utilize that knowledge to help with differentiated instruction, which in the end helps ensure success for our students. Reality is that all learners do not learn the same way and will not be successful in the classroom if we think they do. There are lots of ways to teach the same standard to all of our students but using a method that allows the student to understand and apply that standard in a way they can benefit from it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)