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.
Brandy,
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting that my posting and yours are so similar. You teach middle school and I teach college and we address the same philosophy for success in the classroom. Project based learning is exactly how students pick up the essential lessons for film as well. I can talk until I am blue in the face about compositional theory without an ounce of information retained by my students, yet as soon as I give them a computer to compose an image, a light bulb goes on. I agree with the point that once they use technology they no longer feel like they are learning, they are having fun. The same goes for college students.
I do not have a group for future assignments, so if you are looking for one, let me know and we can look for another individual.
-Marc Boese
Brandy,
ReplyDeleteYou teach middle school, Marc teaches college, and I (a high school teacher) also agree with your assessment of learning - so we've covered almost all of the spectrum. I agree that student's learn in a variety of ways and, although part of our job is to figure out how each of them learns, allowing them to "explore" a topic on their own is probably the most effective way to engage each student. I also liked that you mentioned creating assignments that revolve around real-world problems. LIke you, I believe this to be the most compelling way to frame a lesson and get students to buy in. Excellent post. Thank you.
Adam Authier
Hello Brandy,
ReplyDeleteOpportunity knocks and we as teachers present it to our students. In relation to the three learning styles, I understand that we want to present in the domain that the student is driven by; however, the students must still work to strengthen to the domain that is necessary for a future opportunity - visual. I believe that we have a responsibility to present reality to them and help them to strengthen the visual and auditory areas with technology as well. Although our students have been accustomed to using technology; reality equates to lecture/visual based learning when attending college courses or sitting in military training courses. Consider this - The SAT and ACT tests are the drivers for college entrance exams. Our military branches administer vocational aptitude tests as an entrance requirement. Staff development for employees are online - Atomic Learning. Applications for employment are online. Various certification tests are online. No matter what direction our students pursue, we have to teach them how to be successful using the visual domain, even if it is not their strength area. Learning theory in educational technology can help ensure the student’s success.
April
Any time we are faced with a situation where learning is presented if we are interested in the subject matter the learning is so much easier. By allowing students to explore the topic to create that interest, the learning will be more natural. I also noticed the posts are very similar and I think that we have very similar views of education in this era. Gone are the days of strict desk learning and we now welcome the differentiated learning as a means to enjoy education.
ReplyDeleteI'm on a big kick with testing right now. We have been creating new SMART goals to make sure that our building/district meets a certain number this year. In saying that we all know that learners learn in a variety of ways, but we do not allow the students a variety of ways to show what they have learned. You mentioned that you are not a great test taker and I'm right there with you. I love that with my majority of my education classes from my BS degree up to now I have been able to use my knowledge in a variety of ways and not just by a paper pencil test.
ReplyDeleteMarc--Would love to be in a group with you! It is extremely intersting that we share the same views of teaching and learning, yet we teach such different age groups. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteAdam--I think between the three of us we have covered most learners! My students used to question why they need to do something--but once I started relating all of thier learning to real world scenerios, the questions of "why" stopped. I know as a learner, if I don't see the benefit of it, then I question why I am wasting my time on the subject. Thanks for posting!
April--I agree that we need to strengthen our learners in all areas and I think this can be done with utilizing technology in our teaching and allowing our learners to utilize technology as well. Thanks for posting!
Sherri
I completely agree with the fact that we are "throwing away" the strict paper and pencil ways of learning--and I am sooo excited! We live in a world where technology is all around us--why would/should we expect our students to "check their technology" at the door? This is why so many of our learners become bored in the classroom!! Thanks for posting!
Kellie
As the standardized testing coordinator of my school, which houses over 900 students, I have seen sooooo many students come in with test anxiety. I have to ask, Why in the world would the education department do this to our kids? So many of these kids have that anxiety which does affect their scores--why can't we access them by allowing them to "Apply" their knowledge. It makes no sense to me--maybe someday our government will realize this way of assessment isn't the best!! Thanks for posting!
Brandy