Course Reflection

Looking back at my week one “Personal Theory of Learning”, I see that the two large ideas that I was trying to expand was to have my students expand their problem solving skills and to allow a hands on learning environment.  One modification I would like to add would be to also create a student centered learning environment.  With this course I was able to learn the difference between an instructional tool and a learning tool.  With my desire to create a student centered learning environment I need to make sure that how I am introducing new technology is in a way that it is a learning tool and not as an instructional tool.  In other words I have to remember to have my students use the technology.  Then and only then will it be a learning tool.   

            With this idea I will always make sure to have my students use the technology as much as possible.  I will be getting a whiteboard or smart board next semester and will be introducing it in all of my presentations of new art projects.  So I must remember to allow my students to use the whiteboard so that I am using it as a learning tool and not as an instructional tool.  If I can get my students using the tools there will be a much higher level of students engagement going on in the classroom.  I also look forward to be able to my overhead projector and elmo to introduce new projects to my classes in a way I would not have to have my back to them like I would normally when working on the board.  This would help with my classroom management during the year.  Once again knowing how to now make my classroom a student centered learning environment is a tribute to this class.

            I just want to restate the want to allow my students to use as much of the technology in my classroom as possible.  So I do not make the mistake to only teach with instructional tools instead of teaching with learning tools.  It is so easy to fall back and just lecture to the class as to how to create the art project and give them time to work.  I want my students to learn how to incorporate the technology into their art work.

Cooperative Learning &Social Learning Theories

Cooperative Learning &Social Learning Theories

Cooperative Learning is the topic for this week.  Cooperative Learning is broken down in the simplest terms as having your students working in groups.  Your students will be able to talk to each other as to what they have just learned.  They have just learned something new; they have then processed that new information and are now putting it into their own words.  That is a great learning strategy because if they are able to put it into their own words they will be more apt to remember it for a much longer time, or will be able to retrieve that information at a later date much easier than other students.

The idea of social learning is very similar to cooperative learning.  With the idea of social learning you have students working to construct or build an artifact then engaging in conversation with their fellow students.  The one big key component to both theories is the idea of students talking to one another.  Putting new knowledge into their own words.  If feel students will always get more out of it if they are hearing it from their peers.

I have not personally worked with many forms of web based technologies or other forms of social networks.  I feel Wikis is still a great tool for students to communicate and collaborate with one another.   I read about Flat Classroom Project (www.flatclassroomproject.org) in the weeks reading.  It is a project that allows students to collaborate at a global magnitude.  With so many different types of software or interfaces that allow collaborating between students it is so important to try a few to get an idea what will work in your classroom.  We as teachers need to be open to new ways of reaching our students.

I have also created a voicethred as part of my assignment please check it out.  I hope I did it right I was having some problems with it so let me know if it works. 
 

Resources

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., & Kuhn, M. (2012).  Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. (2^nd ed., pp. 73-80).