Constructivism in Practice

Constructivist theories allow for learners to lead their own learning through the use of inquiry-based lessons. Inquiry-based lessons are designed for the learner take their learning in a direction that they choose. It typically has an end result that allows the teacher to show what the student has learned throughout the project. The end result could be a number of things, such as a project in Publisher, an Excel spreadsheet, a Word document, a PowerPoint presentation, a blog, a podcast, a wiki, etc. There are many ways for students to show their learning.

I feel that technology lends itself well to a constructivist approach to teaching. Students have information at their fingertips and are able to take their learning where they wish to. Students are able to use the Internet to research information and concepts that they wish to learn more about.

One example of teaching using the constructivist approach that is introduced in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, is generating and testing hypotheses. This can be applied easily to the theory, as it allows students to develop a problem and find a solution to their problem. They have to find the information and a way to solve their problem, which is an example of inquiry-based learning.

Cognitivism in Practice

The book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, discusses the idea of using cues, questions, advance organizers, summarizing, and note-taking as ways to assist students in learning. The book gives great examples of how to use different computer software programs to help teach and produce these different ideas. For example, students could make a graphic organizer using Inspiration to help them organize their ideas. These ideas all represent the cognitive learning theories, which suggest that students are stimulated with different senses and given ways to help move information from short-term memory into long-term memory, as Dr. Orey suggests in his video, Cognitive Learning Theories. By giving students these different ideas, we are giving them tools that they can use throughout life to help them learn and retain information in meaningful ways.

Behaviorism in Practice

Behaviorism is said to be a theory that is not widely used in schools today; however, many of the practices found within schools can be contributed to behaviorist theories. In the book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, there are a few ideas that are discussed that represent behaviorist theories.

One of the classroom ideas that is represented deals with reinforcing effort (p.155). Behaviorist theories discuss reinforcement of positive behaviors. This idea goes right along with that theory, as it discusses having students keep a spreadsheet of their effort on a regular basis. Many students do not realize the important of putting forth effort, which is why it suggests having them track their own effort. The book suggests making a template in a spreadsheet software. This is a great way for students to visually track their effort, as spreadsheet software programs allow people to easily turn the information into graphs.

Another example of classroom ideas that represent behaviorist theories is homework (p. 187). When many teachers assign homework, they assign it as more of a drill and practice type of assignment. This is a behaviorist view, as well. In order to make homework more meaningful, it is suggested that the teacher incorporate more uses of technology (and if technology is not available, some of it can be done without). For example, when doing drill and practice, students could practice making a spreadsheet showing how many they got correct and how long it took them to complete the assignment (p.188). With technology, students can also complete homework in a manner that allows them to collaborate with one another. Through email, blogs, or wikis, students could collaborate from home to complete a homework assignment or a project.

Final Reflection on Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society

"Today's schools are faced with a difficult dilemma that pits a student body that has grown immersed in technology against a teaching faculty that is less facile with the tools of the trade" states Will Richardson (p. 6). Being a new teacher to the workforce, I feel that I have grown up in the era where technology was a large part of my life. However, I still feel that I have a lot to learn in order to best teach my students. This course has helped open up my eyes to many Web 2.0 features that will help my students learn and grow.

This course has helped me to learn and reflect on ways to use blogs, wikis, and podcasts educationally. During the past couple of months, I was able to create my own blogs, wikis, and podcasts. Then, after I created my own, I was able to reflect and discuss with my classmates how to best use these features of the web for educational purposes. Not only has this course shown me about these features of Web 2.0, but it has also made me more curious about what other features are available to use in my own classroom. I have been reading educational blogs and informational sites that help me to utilize technology into my everyday teaching. All of these technology and web-based ideas have helped to enhance my teaching. As I have began to utilize blogs and introduce podcasts into my classroom, my students have become much more intrigued in their learning. They love discussing things in their blogs. They love when I give them time to get onto their blogs or to read each other's blogs.

This course has also taught me to teach in a more student-centered way. By this, I mean that I let the students lead the learning. Instead of myself being the source of the knowledge, I allow the students to find the knowledge. This will help them now only now as they are learning, but also when they are older. They will also teach them to become life-long learners, as I am teaching them ways to find the answers to their questions.

I am going to continue to learn how to better teach my students by continuing my education and completing my master's degree. I am also going to find professional development opportunities that will enhance my teaching. As I do these things, I am going to continue to implement new ideas and teaching strategies and monitor how they impact student achievement.

I am going to set two goals to help me integrate technology. My first goal is to begin using podcasts in my classroom. I want to teach the students how to use podcasts educationally. I have already started using other aspects of Web 2.0, and this is one that I think will greatly help my students in their learning. My second goal is to help education my colleagues on the aspects of Web 2.0 that are helpful to student learning. By helping to educate my colleagues, they will then be able to use the tools available to them while teaching.

Resources:
Richardson, W. (2006). Blogs, wiks, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

21st Century Skills

I recently was researching a website about teaching 21st century skills in schools. The group, The Partnership for 21st Century Learning, suggests that schools need to enforce the skills students will need to live and work in the 21st century. The group discusses on their website that their is a disconnect between the skills taught in schools and the skills needed in our community and workplace. With their partnership, they work to help create a set of skills that allows to students to be well-rounded in all aspects. They discuss the importance of teaching the core subjects, life and career skills, learning and innovation skills, and information, media, and technology skills as an interconnected curriculum. I agree with everything this website suggests in order to help create more well-rounded students who are ready to live in our communities and work in our technologically advanced environment.

I feel that my students are at an advantage when it comes to this. I feel very fortunate that my students have the opportunity to use computers on a daily basis. They have recently learned how to email and blog. My students find these things to be "fun". Through their "fun", they are also learning many things. We are learning how to be professional online through email and blogs, how to edit our typing because others will read what we see, etc. I believe that as more new technologies are created, we need to incorporate them into our teaching, in order to help prepare our students.

Resources: www.21stcenturyskills.org

Using Blogs in My Classroom

I have recently been thinking about how I could utilize this blog in my fifth grade classroom. It seems as though it would be a great tool to help foster more learning and discussion amongst my students. One way in which I could see myself using this blog in my classroom would be to post a discussion question or topic. Then, I could tell the students that their assignment (for either class or homework) is to get on and respond to the discussion question or topic. I could create a generic rubric for students to follow when posting to our classroom blog.

One area that I could see this being a huge benefit would be in my reading class. I try to foster student learning through discussions and this is such a technologically advanced way that the students could discuss their thoughts. For example, we are reading Bridge to Terabithia as a class novel. Right now, we are focusing on the differences in the two settings, Lark Creek and Terabithia. The students could each post a difference they found between the two settings. The would allow not only for me to see if they are understanding the information, but they are also able to read and respond to everyone else's responses.

I am interested in learning other ways to incorporate blogging into everyday learning. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

New to Blogging

I am new to the blogging world, as well as the teaching world. This is my second year teaching fifth grade and I absolutely love it! I feel very fortunate this year to be working in an Emints classroom. In my Emints classroom, I have a laptop, 15 student computers, a printer/scanner, and a SMARTboard/projector. I also get to use the Senteo Response clickers often, and I just recently found out I will be getting a document camera, as well. I have so much technology at my fingertips; it is unbelievable! In order to have all of this great technology, I do have to go through a certification process. This means that I have two years of training, and in just the first year, I have 100 contact hours. It's going to be a lot of work, but worth it in the end!

Other than teaching, I have started working on my master's degree in education through Walden University. (Training plus school means lots of extra work!) I also tutor after school and work at a church on the weekends. I tend to keep myself busy. I also just got engaged over the summer!!! We have our wedding planned for next summer, which means wedding planning during the school year. It is going to be one crazy year!

I have started out the school year trying to get used to working with the students plus the technology. The internet has become a great friend, as I search for great ideas and websites to use in my classroom. I look forward to learning more about teaching, as well as blogging throughout this school year!