The most striking eye-opener that I had about the teaching of literacy skills to my students is that it is possible with the little ones. A common stereotype about kindergarten is that we read and play blocks all day. That is not the case now days. We have a very strict curriculum that requires our students to pass a comprehensive list of standards by the end of the school year. A lot of people, including long-time teachers think that 5 and 6 year-olds are incapable of learning how to use technology. After taking this course, I am fully aware that my students can learn these skills with proper guidance. I leave this course taking with me the skills to teach these strategies to my students and other ways to incorporate technology into my classroom. I have learned that it does not take a lot of money and that I am fully capable of teaching these new literacy skills with the tools provided in my classroom and schoolhouse.
My main professional development goal is to bring these skills back to my school and help other teachers learn ways to incorporate technology into their classroom. It is important to challenge our students and this is the perfect way. I now have the strong desire to incorporate new literacy skills into my classroom and help teachers improve their teaching as well. I have loved hearing the stories from my classmates and learning how they use technology in their own classrooms. I feel that sharing these ideas is the best way to learn and grow as a teacher.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Reflection
I have always believed that providing children with a positive, hands-on learning environment is beneficial to their learning. As this course is wrapping up, I will carry with me a lot of new strategies and ways to incorporate them in my classroom. I realized the importance of incorporating technology in my classroom and how to better prepare my students for the future. I also became familiar with the behaviorist learning theory as I often related it to my teaching pedagogy.
I enjoyed learning new ways of incorporating technology into my classroom. Two technology tools that I found interesting and will bring back to my own classroom are concept maps and voicethread. Using concept maps with my kindergarteners will help me in introducing new concepts and relating different ideas. With the younger students, I often have to start very basic and build from there. Although it would take a while and a lot of adult help, I think my students would enjoy creating a voicethread. Some people think that this would be too hard for a kindergarten student but I believe that they can do anything they are taught.
My two most important long-term changes that I would like to make regarding technology integration are to be more involved in professional development opportunities and to get out of my "routine" of lecture and use more of the technology that I am familiar with. Achieving these goals are easy if I put my mind to it and step outside of the box. It is easy to start the school year with your usual routines and continue on with what you are most comfortable with. I feel that if I took the opportunities of different trainings that we are offered throughout the school year as "optional" I would be able to learn new things to incorporate in my classroom. I would also be able to share new ideas with my colleagues. Throughout this course and previous courses I have taken, I have learned several ways of incorporating technology in my classroom. I want to take advantage of this and enhance my student's learning.
I enjoyed learning new ways of incorporating technology into my classroom. Two technology tools that I found interesting and will bring back to my own classroom are concept maps and voicethread. Using concept maps with my kindergarteners will help me in introducing new concepts and relating different ideas. With the younger students, I often have to start very basic and build from there. Although it would take a while and a lot of adult help, I think my students would enjoy creating a voicethread. Some people think that this would be too hard for a kindergarten student but I believe that they can do anything they are taught.
My two most important long-term changes that I would like to make regarding technology integration are to be more involved in professional development opportunities and to get out of my "routine" of lecture and use more of the technology that I am familiar with. Achieving these goals are easy if I put my mind to it and step outside of the box. It is easy to start the school year with your usual routines and continue on with what you are most comfortable with. I feel that if I took the opportunities of different trainings that we are offered throughout the school year as "optional" I would be able to learn new things to incorporate in my classroom. I would also be able to share new ideas with my colleagues. Throughout this course and previous courses I have taken, I have learned several ways of incorporating technology in my classroom. I want to take advantage of this and enhance my student's learning.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice
Social learning has become a large part of instruction now days. Whether we realize or not, we all use social learning in one way or the other. In my classroom, I think it is important for the students to learn from each other. Even as a teacher, I learn from my students every day. Several of my students' assignments are completed in cooperative learning groups. Especially at the young age of 5 and 6, it is important for students to learn to work together. In the real world, we have co workers and we must work with them and come up with solutions in a presentable manner. When working together, students learn to be leaders and followers. This also allows my students an opportunity to work on their social skills.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Constructivism in Practice
Dr. Orey stated, "Constructivism is a theory of knowledge stating that each individual actively constructs his/her own meaning" (Laureate, 2008). When reading about generating and testing hypotheses, I found that this strategy correlates with the constructivist views because the students are using problem solving and higher-order thinking. When Dr. Orey spoke about constructivism, he stated that learners "create ideas" that they can build upon (Laureate, 2008).
Constructionism is a "theory of learning that states people learn best when they build an external artifact or something they can share with others" (Laureate, 2008). I liked the example of the powerpoint that Dr. Orey discussed in the video. He states that powerpoints can be used to teach or construct information on a topic. This correlates with the constructionist theory because students are able to build upon their learning. I use powerpoints in my classroom very frequently and find that children really enjoy the technology and are engaged in the lesson. I also provide my students with rubrics for each project that we begin. I feel it gives the children a goal and they know exactly what I expect. This is especially helpful for the younger ages.
Project-based learning is most closely related to the constructionist theory because the student controls the assignment. They are able to share the information with others and make the appropriate accomodations.
After reading this week's learning resources, I was able to have a better understanding of ways that students learn best. I feel that my classroom follows more of a constructionist view as I allow my students as much control as they can. I work to teach them to be leaders and independent learners.
Constructionism is a "theory of learning that states people learn best when they build an external artifact or something they can share with others" (Laureate, 2008). I liked the example of the powerpoint that Dr. Orey discussed in the video. He states that powerpoints can be used to teach or construct information on a topic. This correlates with the constructionist theory because students are able to build upon their learning. I use powerpoints in my classroom very frequently and find that children really enjoy the technology and are engaged in the lesson. I also provide my students with rubrics for each project that we begin. I feel it gives the children a goal and they know exactly what I expect. This is especially helpful for the younger ages.
Project-based learning is most closely related to the constructionist theory because the student controls the assignment. They are able to share the information with others and make the appropriate accomodations.
After reading this week's learning resources, I was able to have a better understanding of ways that students learn best. I feel that my classroom follows more of a constructionist view as I allow my students as much control as they can. I work to teach them to be leaders and independent learners.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Cognitivism in Practice
Cognitive learning refers to "how one thinks" (Duffy & McDonald, 2008,p.20). In this week's learning resources, Pitler,Hubbell,Kuhn,& Malenoski refer to cues, questions, and advanced organizers as ways to "enhance students' ability to retrieve, use, and organize information about a topic" (2007, p. 73). This relates to the cognitive learning theory directly by describing ways that students learn best. Teaching students to use organizers will help them retain information. I believe that breaking down the information makes it easier to "digest". When I begin a new unit, we typically create a KWL and review and discuss it daily.
"Summarizing and note taking focuses on enhancing students' ability to synthesize information and distill in into a concise new form" (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p. 119).My kindergarteners learn best from hands-on activities and visual lessons. Often times we take notes on the ACTIVboard and read and discuss daily as a class. Since the children are just learning to write, I mostly do the writing. At the end of each day, we sit on the carpet and summarize our day. Repeating what we have learned for the day helps children retain the information taught. We usually make things into songs which really helps the children.
Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
"Summarizing and note taking focuses on enhancing students' ability to synthesize information and distill in into a concise new form" (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p. 119).My kindergarteners learn best from hands-on activities and visual lessons. Often times we take notes on the ACTIVboard and read and discuss daily as a class. Since the children are just learning to write, I mostly do the writing. At the end of each day, we sit on the carpet and summarize our day. Repeating what we have learned for the day helps children retain the information taught. We usually make things into songs which really helps the children.
Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Behaviorism in Practice
I have to be honest when I say that I agree that behaviorism belongs in today's schools. Whether we realize it or not, we all use some form of behaviorism in our teaching. I use a combination of positive reinforcement, consequences,and behavior modification. I have spent a lot of time with my mentors and learned a lot about behaviorism from watching them. Dr. Orey stated, "human behavior is learned" (2001, p.1). This is true as our students learn from us as well as their mistakes.
The Reinforcing Effort strategy relates to the behaviorist learning theory. People gain success through their effort. This week's learning resources state the importance of effort and achievement; therefore, the effort put forth is based on what that person chooses to do in order to achieve success. I have always believed that I have to work hard to achieve success. I have never had anything handed to me and have always worked hard for everything that I have.
The Homework and Practice strategy also relates to the behaviorist learning theory. Students are given homework as remediation; therefore, they must apply what they learned at school into their homework. The rewards involved include successful learning and better grades. When I was in high school, I went through a stage when I did not want to do my homework. My grades that semester were not the greatest! Homework is the time for students to show what they have learned.
The technology resources correlate to the instructional strategies and behaviorism because they are used to reinforce what the students have learned. Behaviorists believe that external stimuli causes a behavior. In this situation, the technology resources would play the role as the external stimuli. The resources help to evaluate what the students have learned.
The Reinforcing Effort strategy relates to the behaviorist learning theory. People gain success through their effort. This week's learning resources state the importance of effort and achievement; therefore, the effort put forth is based on what that person chooses to do in order to achieve success. I have always believed that I have to work hard to achieve success. I have never had anything handed to me and have always worked hard for everything that I have.
The Homework and Practice strategy also relates to the behaviorist learning theory. Students are given homework as remediation; therefore, they must apply what they learned at school into their homework. The rewards involved include successful learning and better grades. When I was in high school, I went through a stage when I did not want to do my homework. My grades that semester were not the greatest! Homework is the time for students to show what they have learned.
The technology resources correlate to the instructional strategies and behaviorism because they are used to reinforce what the students have learned. Behaviorists believe that external stimuli causes a behavior. In this situation, the technology resources would play the role as the external stimuli. The resources help to evaluate what the students have learned.
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