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

Module 3

Humans have a basic instinct to interact and work as a group.  Rheingold began his discussion with giving comparison of individuals and businesses in the past competed with others.  Humans desire to have some type of relationship with others for new forms of wealth.  The desires for this wealth are more food or basic daily, social desires, and social contact.  As humans our actions are determined by these desires. 

Technology facilitates collaboration among learners and teachers by providing instruction visually, audibly, and hands on learning.  Technology is a new way of learning and teaching.  It allows teachers to access student’s prior knowledge of information to learn new information.  Collaborative classrooms provide an opportunity for collective knowledge to be shared among teachers and students.  Students are able to set goals, design their learning task and visually monitor their progress and students are able to view their assessments. 

 The link that I found that supports collaboration as an effective tool for learning is http://www.cisco.com/web/about/citizenship/socio-economic/docs/Metiri_Classroom_Collaboration_Research.pdf  This article is based on the need to educate students on the importance of collaboration and working together.  This method provides them with workforce skills that can be utilized in their future. 

 

 

Reference

Rheingold, H. (2008, February). Howard Rheingold on collaboration [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html

Module 2 Blog Post    

 

This blog is my response after reading both articles from Kerr and Kapp and Downe, discussion on cognitivism and behaviorism. There are still different views on how these learning theories should be addressed in a school environment.  Based on the articles opinions are stated on the different -isms and how learning occurs in the classroom.  I have been teaching for four years and I believe that all three work together.  Kapp stated in his response to cognitivism “I have always depicted cognitivism as a response to behaviourism and also as a philosophy of learning and of mind to which I stand essentially opposed (Kapp, 2007).”  A students behavior does affect how they learn.  I have worked with students who were honors, regular education students and those who are in the alternative school setting.  I believe that all theories occur in the classroom it depends on the students that are present.  “Since no two people are alike, we will never get to a point where one -ism will serve all (Kerr, 2007).”  

Reference

Kerr, B. (2007, January 1). _isms as filter, not blinker [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html 

Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/

I responded to these peers:

http://monicagragg.wordpress.com

http://kwagoner7105.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Beliefs about how people learn

Module 1 Blog Topics

1.       What are your beliefs about how people learn best? What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?

I have been working with children for about twelve years.  The way people learn is how they process information that is being taught.  There are seven learning styles that determine how people learn:  Visual (spatial, Aural (auditory-musical, Verbal (linguistic), Physical (kinesthetic), Logical (mathematical), Social (interpersonal), and Solitary (intrapersonal).  (http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/)  Schools are now trying to implementing technology in all of their classrooms to support the different learning styles.

Learning is a discipline that one person develops and teaches on their own.  Even with technology students will have to want to have the desire to learn.  I also believe that it is how the content is being delivered.  Teachers tend to teach lessons on how they perceive students should grasp the information.  Schools want more rigorous lessons that provide higher order thinking questions.  Students who struggle in school tend fall on the downside of these rigorous lessons. 

Reference

http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/