Reading the materials from this course led me to discover new information on how I learn. In week 1, based on the readings from Ertmer and Newby and from past experiences, I wrote that my primary learning mode is behaviorism. Although I still utilize the simplicity of observable behaviors and the effectiveness of reinforcements for my own learning and benefits, I realized that I also learn, and have learned, from other theories. Reading about the Constructivist and Social Learning Theories gave me my "a-ha" moment for this course.
According to Ertmer and Newby, the constructivist theory "equates learning with creating meaning from experience, "(pg. 62). The journal article also mentioned that what's true for an individual may not be true to others. These two elements of the constructivist theory, previously unknown to me, explain specific learning I have experienced before. Part of my multiple subject credential program introduced me to strategies on how to teach and reach students with special needs. Although the information presented made sense, I was not able to internalize the meaning and the importance of the strategies until I was experiencing it. Even though I learned the information about a year before my experience, the meaning wasn't constructed until I was put in that situation. My experience working in a Title I school also led me to believe the point of view that working in a low income community is more difficult than working for a more affluent community true. Teachers on the opposite end might see my statement false, but in reality we are all correct...an example of constructivist theory.
According to Beaumie Kim, in social learning theory the learners build knowledge during social process and when participants are engaged in social activities. This learning was especially true for me during my two years in BTSA. The after school sessions that were conducted once a month provided the participants the opportunities to learn from support providers through small groups, informal, and formal conversations. Such social activities also gave me the chance to extend my skills by interacting with more knowledgeable members of that particular environment, an important element of the social learning theory.
Technology plays an important role in my learning due to the fact that it is a part of my professional, educational, and personal life. For my learning, the primary role of technology is to search for the most useful and reliable information, anywhere and anytime, without wasting valuable time. According to Lim "Internet technologies allow learners to access up to date information anywhere and anytime" (pg. 16), and this statement is highly applicable to me. I find myself constantly searching for information through my phone, or connecting to a wi-fi in a coffee shop, in able to do so, and with the goal of accomplishing it in acceptable time. The main key is for the information to be useful and reliable, and I believe that such efficiency comes with time, practice, and guidance from knowledgeable peers and professors.
Technology also assists me to store my learning. Being able to access a library without worrying about getting there, or closing time, led me to search and use more information for my learning. Having the ability to store huge amount of outputs from the internet, and take the information with me where ever I go without carrying a single piece of paper, has impacted my learning significantly. 21st century technology also enables me to manipulate the stored information by organizing them in a manner that would allow me to retrieve them in seconds.
Ruther Romey
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Connections to Facilitate Learning
Working on this application made me realized the connections and resources I constantly use, and the ones I don't use enough, to facilitate my learning. As I was composing my mind map I discovered that I don't take advantage of the printed materials that are available for my benefit that could assist me with my learning, and even with my profession. Publications such as California Educator and NEA were previously used by me for leisure reading, but paying more attention to the articles this week, I realized that the topics are something I should be more aware of.
My network changed the way I learn because it connects me to other resources that supplements and complements my skills and knowledge. Whatever skills and knowledge that I lack, or need to improve on, my network provides me with guidance and support. For example, when I first received my SmartBoard I had no assistance on my site because I was the first one to get the device, but through a posting I put on the district website, I received the support I needed from teachers who work at different school sites. With the new skills I acquired I will be able to help teachers on my site who will soon get their SmartBoard. Based on the support and skills I need to improve, my network also changed the way I learn because my sources enable me to organize and map out who I need to collaborate with.
The best digital tool that facilitates my learning is the World Wide Web. Just like some of my peers, I do my work when family responsibilities are satisfied, which could be late in the evening or early in the morning. During those hours my human network are most likely not available, hence I rely on tutorials from youtube, Walden site, and specific blogs to assist me with my learning. For example, I worked on my mind map at around 5:30 A.M. and my wife was still asleep to assist me with the file conversion, so I relied on my e-resources to complete the needed task.
When I have questions I gain the knowledge by using at least 3, or all of 4, of my network resources. The order in which I use my network to gain that knowledge depends on the topic, complexity, and the degree of accuracy I need. When I have questions about a literacy strategy I would want to first gain that knowledge from my human network, then e-resources, and finally from printed materials.
My personal network supports the tenet of connectivism by utilizing "technology, social networks, and information" (Siemens). Also according to Siemens, "So much of our work is distributed. Our knowledge literally is distributed across other networks of human beings, technological devices, and other ends" and my network is set up where I am a learner, while also providing support to others.
My network changed the way I learn because it connects me to other resources that supplements and complements my skills and knowledge. Whatever skills and knowledge that I lack, or need to improve on, my network provides me with guidance and support. For example, when I first received my SmartBoard I had no assistance on my site because I was the first one to get the device, but through a posting I put on the district website, I received the support I needed from teachers who work at different school sites. With the new skills I acquired I will be able to help teachers on my site who will soon get their SmartBoard. Based on the support and skills I need to improve, my network also changed the way I learn because my sources enable me to organize and map out who I need to collaborate with.
The best digital tool that facilitates my learning is the World Wide Web. Just like some of my peers, I do my work when family responsibilities are satisfied, which could be late in the evening or early in the morning. During those hours my human network are most likely not available, hence I rely on tutorials from youtube, Walden site, and specific blogs to assist me with my learning. For example, I worked on my mind map at around 5:30 A.M. and my wife was still asleep to assist me with the file conversion, so I relied on my e-resources to complete the needed task.
When I have questions I gain the knowledge by using at least 3, or all of 4, of my network resources. The order in which I use my network to gain that knowledge depends on the topic, complexity, and the degree of accuracy I need. When I have questions about a literacy strategy I would want to first gain that knowledge from my human network, then e-resources, and finally from printed materials.
My personal network supports the tenet of connectivism by utilizing "technology, social networks, and information" (Siemens). Also according to Siemens, "So much of our work is distributed. Our knowledge literally is distributed across other networks of human beings, technological devices, and other ends" and my network is set up where I am a learner, while also providing support to others.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Instructor Humor and Student Learning - Walden Library
On week 2 discussion board I mentioned that humor, along with other strategies, is a strategy I use to actively engage students. Based on my experience, the humor strategy emotionally involves all my students because laughther is a form of positive emotion. Although an excerpt, I was thrilled to read the journal entry An Explanation of the Relationship between Instructor Humor and Student Learning: Instructional Humor Processing Theory. The entry discusses that instructors who use appropriate humor result in increased student learning.
This is a valuable source because it gives educators an innovative way to support student learning. This source is also useful because it talks about specific types of humor to use in the classroom. Being a popular and funny teacher does not automatically result to positive student learning. The article states that in order for the humor to make a positive impact, it must be related to instructional content.
This is a valuable source because it gives educators an innovative way to support student learning. This source is also useful because it talks about specific types of humor to use in the classroom. Being a popular and funny teacher does not automatically result to positive student learning. The article states that in order for the humor to make a positive impact, it must be related to instructional content.
Brains - Practical Classroom Applications of Current Brain Research
Brains.org is designed not only for educators, but also for parents and individuals who simply want to learn about the topic. This site is valuable because the articles it displays about the brain varies greatly. For example, brain and caffeine, brain and commercial influence, and brain and rewards/punishments.
The article Stress - a land mine for the brain (http://help4teachers.com/stress.htm), by Dr. Kathie F. Nunley, greatly ties in with our learning materials for this week. She states that "...stress is an inevitable part of the education process, research shows that it can actually undermine the learning process." This information caught my attention because there were a number of times that my students saw the stress in my body language, and in return I also noticed that some of them emulated my mood. Also during stress, the memory systems are negatively influenced, thus causing problems with our problem solving skills and decision making abilites, and according to Dr. Nunley stress cripples our short term memory which causes difficulty in retrieving previous information.
Being aware of the implications of stress could make us better teachers, parents, and students. The information on stress should also lead us to practice stress-relief activities such as walking, taking deep breaths, and even drinking cold water or tea. We should always try to remember the negative results of large amounts of stress when we are teetering between "good stress" and "bad stress."
The article Stress - a land mine for the brain (http://help4teachers.com/stress.htm), by Dr. Kathie F. Nunley, greatly ties in with our learning materials for this week. She states that "...stress is an inevitable part of the education process, research shows that it can actually undermine the learning process." This information caught my attention because there were a number of times that my students saw the stress in my body language, and in return I also noticed that some of them emulated my mood. Also during stress, the memory systems are negatively influenced, thus causing problems with our problem solving skills and decision making abilites, and according to Dr. Nunley stress cripples our short term memory which causes difficulty in retrieving previous information.
Being aware of the implications of stress could make us better teachers, parents, and students. The information on stress should also lead us to practice stress-relief activities such as walking, taking deep breaths, and even drinking cold water or tea. We should always try to remember the negative results of large amounts of stress when we are teetering between "good stress" and "bad stress."
Brain and Learning
The brain connection website is a valuable source for brain related research. Based on this week's learning, brainconnection.positscience.com also suggested that "there could be connections between brain function and educational practice." Through experiments and research that have been conducted the past 20 years, more evidence are validating the efficiency of brain-based education. Eric Jensen, a leader in the field of brain-friendly instruction also contributed to this site by stating that the brain is involved and connected with all the activities that teachers and students do. As a teacher, I have experienced this claimed by Eric Jensen. As soon as the students walk in the classroom my first objective is to wake up their brain, and I do this through cup-stacking (clicl link to read about benefits of cupstacking http://www.jmu.edu/kinesiology/hpainstitute/pdfs/SpeedStackingRationale.pdf). Cupstacking or Speed Stacking trains both sides of the brain, and it is fun, and the students get involve. Cup Stacking is now a part of the curriculum in the school site I work. We are required to practice it for 15 minutes a day, and the students get to show off their talent in a school wide tournament 3 times a year. In my professional opinion, I believe that cup stacking is a more effective way to start the day. Engaging the students in daily 6 problems, or Daily Language Review, as soon as they walk in the classroom half asleep is the thing of the past. Eric Jensen also mentioned that some students walk in the classroom disconnected, and if we do not try to connect them right away it could lead to frustration.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Useful Blog Sites
Edublogs
Edublogs is a user friendly blog for students and teachers. This particular blog has plenty of options for its users. The users are able to discuss relevant topics with its diverse community made up of students, teachers, district officials, professors, and even government officials. Use of e-newspapers, podcasts, videos, and photos makes this blog-site stylish and current.
This blog-site will continue to serve me, and others, as an ongoing resource as I continue to work on my courses in Instructional Design and Technology by keeping me connected with other professionals within the same field. Shared experiences and strategies in the blog discussions will also give me the opportunity to learn from others about real-life work situations.
Feel free to read my first entry, my username is pro20to1 http://pro20to1.edublogs.org/
http://edublogs.org/
IDEAS - Instructional Design for E-learning Approaches
This blog-site is a useful resource because it has plenty of relevant articles and discussions that could serve both instructional design students and professionals. The blog provides links to theories, models, and recommended readings to better our knowledge and skills in the field of e-learning.
http://ideas.blogs.com/
eLearning Technology
This particular blog-site by Tony Karrer discusses on the job issues about e-learning technology. This is an excellent resource to use because the postings display an abundant range of topics that pertain to Instructional Design and Technology, such as the use of Flash, on-line exams and tutoring, and webinar tools. This blog will also be beneficial to me by keeping me up to date with the recent developments in technological devices, softwares, market trends, and corporate practices.
http://elearningtech.blogspot.com
Edublogs is a user friendly blog for students and teachers. This particular blog has plenty of options for its users. The users are able to discuss relevant topics with its diverse community made up of students, teachers, district officials, professors, and even government officials. Use of e-newspapers, podcasts, videos, and photos makes this blog-site stylish and current.
This blog-site will continue to serve me, and others, as an ongoing resource as I continue to work on my courses in Instructional Design and Technology by keeping me connected with other professionals within the same field. Shared experiences and strategies in the blog discussions will also give me the opportunity to learn from others about real-life work situations.
Feel free to read my first entry, my username is pro20to1 http://pro20to1.edublogs.org/
http://edublogs.org/
IDEAS - Instructional Design for E-learning Approaches
This blog-site is a useful resource because it has plenty of relevant articles and discussions that could serve both instructional design students and professionals. The blog provides links to theories, models, and recommended readings to better our knowledge and skills in the field of e-learning.
http://ideas.blogs.com/
eLearning Technology
This particular blog-site by Tony Karrer discusses on the job issues about e-learning technology. This is an excellent resource to use because the postings display an abundant range of topics that pertain to Instructional Design and Technology, such as the use of Flash, on-line exams and tutoring, and webinar tools. This blog will also be beneficial to me by keeping me up to date with the recent developments in technological devices, softwares, market trends, and corporate practices.
http://elearningtech.blogspot.com
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