MD 6 Blog

MD 6 Blog

     I have experienced both online and face-to-face classroom environments.  Learning online allows me to be in control of what time during the day I can attend class.  Technology allows me to be able to communicate with my peers using Skype, email, or discussion boards.  I am able to review over lectures and materials that are given in class.  When I received my bachelor’s at the University I did not excel as I should have.  Learning in an online environment helps motivate me to attend class because I am not on a time schedule and I am not judged based on my appearance.  Through technology I have learned about different programs that I utilize in my classroom and my computer skills have improved as well. 

     My philosophy of learning is that everyone can learn.  Every student is capable of learning in an environment that promotes active learning.  I keep the students actively engaged in the learning process.  Students complete hands-on assignments through cooperative learning groups to enhance their learning.  The theory of connectivism states that students should be able to connect prior knowledge to content that is being taught in the classroom (Siemens, 2008).   Learning is a rewarding experience and all students should see a level of success in every grade and subject.  

     It is critical for all teachers to be able to reach all students and it is non-negotiable for a teacher to let a student down because they are unable to teach them.  All students can learn.  With the use of technology and Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences teachers have different resources in order to be able to reach the students and engage them in learning.  “A property of all human beings; A dimension on which human beings; and The way in which one carries out a task in virtue of one’s goals (Gardner, 2003 p.g. 8).”   

References

Gardner, H. (2003, April 21). Multiple intelligences after twenty years. Paper presented to the   

     American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL. Retrieved from http://www.consorzionettuno.it/materiali/B/697/773/16/Testi/Gardner/Gardner_multiple_intelligent.pdf

Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for

     educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from

http://itforum.coe.uga.edu/Paper105/Siemens.pdf

Module 5 Blog

MD 5 Blog 

New Technologies.

The school that I currently work at has limited technology.  Even if there are computers in the classroom teachers might not be able to pick up a signal.  I have been introduced to new apps through common core training and classes with Walden. I recently introduced Remind 101 and todaysmeet.com.  These apps allow you to communicate with your students in and out of class.   Remind 101allows teachers to communicate with students and parents to remind them about assignments that are due.  Another new technology that I introduced to the teachers was wikispaces.  I have introduced this to my students this year because I had a lot of absences which caused the students to miss out on lectures.  Wiki’s allowed them to read the lectures and get their homework assignments.  

The attitudes that the teachers exhibited were complaints of the lack of technology in the school or all of the students not being able to utilize this at home.  Todaysmeet.com allows students to communicate with teachers while in class, but they have to use their smart phones or their other technology devices. 

To get their attention during a staff meeting I used the media projector and started using todaysmeet.com teachers started using this during the meeting.  This exercise also showed relevance because teachers and the administration saw how there was minimal disturbances during our meeting and thought that this would be something good to use during class.  They felt the need to use this app as well as Remind 101 to help build parental support in the classroom.  I am not sure that they are utilizing the programs but they did seem interested in what the outcomes should be. 

Reference

Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of Learning for Instruction. Boston: Pearson Education.

Blogs I Responded To: 

Lynda Marshall:  http://lyndamarshallsblogpage.blogspot.com.au

Lori Dodd:  http://loridodd.blogspot.com/

 

MD 4 Connectivism Mindmap

Social Networking Sites:  Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter

Personal Learning Networks:  www.simplek12.com  

www.teachingchannel.org

Correspondence:  Blogs and Wikis

People:  http://todaysmeet.com

How has your network changed the way you learn?

I was first introduced to blogs and wikis when I started with Walden.  They have allowed me to collaborate with other students and to build on the knowledge that I have about a subject.  Information is being shared in a collaborative setting.  I have created a wiki for my high school students so they can participate in class outside of class.   Networking allows me to experience learning other than in a traditional classroom setting, this is an experience that I would like to share with my students.  I also feel that this will better prepare them for college.    

Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?

The digital tools that best facilitates learning for me would be blogs and wikis.  Blogs and wikis allow me to communicate and correspond with other students in my class.  Through wikis this correspondence allows me to correct my mistakes and critique others.  I also attend webinars on how to implement common core in the classroom with simplek12 and teaching channel.  These webinars have been helpful especially on how to implement technology in the classroom.  Teaching using technology allows students to stay connected with others as well as enhance their knowledge about technology and content.  

How do you learn new knowledge when you have questions?

To teach effective lessons and to keep up with the new emerging learning questions should be asked in order to gain information.  Learning new knowledge comes from building questions.   Questions should start with being simple and forming more complex questions.  Repetition also helps when new knowledge is being learned.  I use today's meet with my students.  A new page is created whenever a new lesson is being taught and students are allowed to use their phones and computers to type in their questions.  We use open discussion during class to answer the questions.  This is also available to them for about four hours after school. 

 

Students I responded to:

Joseline Castonos:  http://castanosblogs.blogspot.com/

Lynda Marshall:  http://lyndamarshallsblogpage.blogspot.com.au