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/