Learning Theories and Technology

     When I first began reading and analyzing how people learn a few weeks ago, I decided that I learn in many different ways depending on the material being processed. I came to the conclusion that it is important for me as a teacher to know how the brain works to the best of my ability, however, I will never fully know how each of my students learn best for each subject or project. Therefore, I must use many different teaching strategies and not only remember that students learn differently than each other, but each student has a different learning style when learning different things. "To teach effectively, you've got to know how students learn and you have to know, in particular, how they think and what's going on inside their heads" (Ormrod, J. 2011). I agree with Dr. Ormrod, however, this is generally. In order to teach effectively, you've got to know how students learn, in general. You have to know how they think generally. I attempted to understand how people learn by studying the different learning theories. Understanding how people learn is a generalized subject. Everyone learns differently at different times and when learning different subjects. If we want to know how each students learns each subject, we would have to study each student very carefully for a long period of time. As teachers, we don't have the time or resouces to do so. Therefore, we study generally how people learn and try to use different strategies to impact, engage, and assess each student. When I teach a concept using a certain strategy or method, I then assess the students learning. If some students don't seem to get it, I help them individually using a different strategy. Or, if my initial strategy didn't seem to work for most students, I'll revisit the concept using a different method. The dynamics of a class helps me decide which strategy will possibly work best for that group.

     On the website, http://www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/edtech/strategy.html, there is a list of different teaching and learning methods that are very popular and effective: collaborative learning, cooperative learning, discovery based learning, engaged learning, problem based learning, and whole language approach. There are many other strategies as well: whole group discussion and/or debate, small group discussion and/or debate, story telling, interactive media engagement, games, polling, socratic discussion, project based, and so on. I am learning about new strategies and how I can apply them to my teaching, including many new methods using technology. I have learning how big of a role technology plays in my teaching and learning. I use the websites, online articles and journals and blogs to research information, opinions and theories on instructional design and technology.

     Now that I have a better understanding of how students learn in general, I can now make better assumptions on how I can help individual students understand a concept better. I can also use the new teaching and learning tools relating to technology to understand my own learning and apply it in the classroom.

Ormrod, J. (2011) An Introduction to Learning Laureate Education, Inc. 2011

Teaching and Learning Methods and Strategies Retrieved from
http://www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/edtech/strategy.html in June 2011.

Connectivism in the Digital World

     With new ways to learn and gain information hitting us from all directions at a fast speed, it is only natural to want to use these new resources (well, some of them). Students take control of their own learning and make new connections with others who will strenthen the learning process (Dembo, S. 2011). When I was in school before technology was so advanced and we had all the tools and ways to use connectivism like we have now, I relied on being able to get to study groups without having many other ways to find information or learn from others. It was just a small group of people who I could brainstorm with. Now, the amount of brains and websites I can learn from is never-ending.
     Out of the many digital tools out there, the ones I use the most are informational websites. Since my time taking classes online, I use much of my time reading articles and finding theories and information to support my claims. This is also how I gain new knowledge when I have questions. However, learning from others on discussion boards is also a way I gain knowledge. I ask others what they think of a topic and with discussion boards, I can get many opinions, facts and theories all at once. Digital tools such as these make learning happen at my pace. And as Dembo states, students take control of their own learning and find the tools and connections that work for them. We are now much more proactive in our own learning instead of reading out of one textbook and all hearing one lecture in a course.
    My personal learning network supports the learning tenets of connectivism by giving me new information and new strategies for teaching, learning and organizing thoughts and theories. For example, recently, I have used new programs and websites that I have not used before but since others have exposed me to these resources I am thinking of ways I can use them in the classroom and then share my newly found resources in my teaching and show my students how they can use these programs in their own learning, such as Jing and Spinscape).  The more ways we can deliver material to students, the more students we will reach and the easier they will learn. Also, if we give our students the tools to take control of their own learning, learning will be fun and exciting. Giving students choices instead of "making" them learn is a much more effective way of teaching.

Dembo, S., (2011) The Networked Student in Plain English Retreived from http://www.teach42.com/2008/12/06/the-networked-student-in-plain-english/ in June, 2011

Connectivism Mind Map

http://screencast.com/t/ba0banoR

The Brain and Learning

How the Brain Learns Best

            The article titled How the Brain Learns Best is particularly resourceful because the author, Dr. Perry, correlates brain function and teaching. “In a series of special features, we will be looking at how the brain works and what this can tell us about your teaching. First, however, it is important to remember that all learning is brain-based. Through the process of education, we are trying literally to change the brain — not the pancreas, spleen, or lungs. Indeed, education is practical neuroscience” (Perry, B.D., 2011). Perry re-emphasizes the importance of teachers’ knowledge of how “the brain senses, processes, stores and retrieves information” (Perry, B.D., 2011). For me, Perry’s article reminds me how quickly students brains “seek novelty” (Perry, B.D., 2011). When listening to empty facts that are not “functionally interconnected” (Perry, B.D., 2011), the brain will fatigue within minutes and the students will start to daydream or look elsewhere for stimulation. Students need to be able to connect the facts to something they already know. As Dr. Ormrod asks, “to what are people paying attention? What kinds of things draw their attention? In what ways do they think about something? What kinds of meanings do they attach to something? How do they interpret something? What do they think about in terms of, what can I do with this information?” (Ormrod, J., 2011). As a teacher, I need to focus more on how I can ensure the students are connecting the material being taught so they actually learn it.

Perry, B.D., How the Brain Learns Best Retrieved on May 12, 2011 from                      http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/brainlearns.htm

Ormrod, J., (2011) Information Processing and Problem Solving Laureate Education Inc.

Teacher Tap

     The website, Teacher Tap is a place to find resources for educators and librarians. This particular article is focused on brain-based learning. The article re-emphasizes the learners need to connect emotions with material being processed in order to learn it. When teaching children, this is extremely important. In my experience, emotion, motivation and learning are interconnected. If a student doesn't think he can do well in a class, he doesn't even try. I hear, "I'm not good at art" all the time. I grade only on effort and meeting the requirements of each assignment, and not natural skill. I base my grading on each student's ability to complete the task. But still, every once and a while, there is a student who lets her thoughts and emotions about art and her opinion about her inability to draw or be creative or use good craftsmanship in a composition. Of course this happens in other subjects as well. For me, I had extreme negative emotions connected to math. I felt very behind and "dumb" in math class. I felt that no matter how hard I tried, I still didn't "get it". "Even though they put out effort, they are never successful and fail to achieve their goals. As a result, they begin to feel stressed out by school and start to feel helpless and hopeless" (Lawson, C. 2011) 
        This article also has many links to other resources related to brain-based learning, which are very useful to educators, such as, myself. 



Lawson, C., Ph.D. (2011) The Connections Between Emotions and Learning Retrieved from http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/articles/connect_emotions.php on May 15, 2011.


Teacher Tap Retrieved from http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic70.htm on May 15, 2011.

Instructional Design Resources for the K-8 Classroom

CLIVE ON LEARNING

"There is no question whatsoever that social media is transforming our personal and business lives."

(Shephard, C., 2011)

The way in which we advertise, communicate and express ourselves is with social media. Young people are interested in the same type of outlets. In the kindergarten through eighth grade school setting, social media and technology must be embraced by students, teachers and parents alike. Social media is the best way to share new ideas, debate issues, and to quickly update peers on new developments (Shephard, C., 2011).

Many teachers have attempted to resist the changing world with the use of new technologies as learning and teaching tools, however, innovation is a positive aspect of organizations, therefore, educators must embrace the new ways to teach children and get them interested in the material. Clive on Learning is a useful tool for educating teachers on the importance of social media and how teachers can use what students are already interested in to get them more engaged in the class, the material, and the community of learners. Students can share ideas quickly, debate, post comments, etc. These are all ways young people are used to communicating and being expressive. Why not bring it into the school and use it as a learning and teaching tool? It doesn't mean we do away with face to face interaction or do less small group discussions, it simply means using another strategy to get students to learn a subject and relate it to their own lives.  

http://clive-shepherd.blogspot.com/2010/09/four-roles-for-social-media-in.html

10 WAYS TO LEARN IN 2010
"Wow. There are so many cool ways to learn online now. The whole world is a school. This list is meant for continuous learners and for procrastinators looking for distractions in the coming year" (eLearning Coach, 2010).

In 10 Ways to Learn in 2010, you will find ways you and your students can learn and find information on the web. For teachers of children, the blog helps us know what is out there to suggest to our students and for use in the classroom as teaching tools. The more ways a classroom teacher can present material, the better. People learn differently and it is our job as educators to use as many strategies as possible to engage students in what they are learning and connect it to their lives. As we teach our children how to find information to write a paper, research a topic, or present an idea, we must make it fun and intersting to them by giving them the tools they need to complete the project and have fun doing it!
http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning2-0/10-ways-to-learn-in-2010/

EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL IMAGES
The links listed here are perfect for visual art teachers and designers to show students how important logo design is and how to expressively create a meaningful, successful logo. Or, for social studies teachers who want to show interesting examples of change throughout history. Images used for instruction are crucial when trying to get students to really understand the material. "And it has a huge impact on what we can do as teachers, whether it's teachers in the classroom or instructional designers who are teaching online, it has a huge impact on how we design instruction—not only on the order in which we present material but the ways in which we present it, the things we ask students to do with it, the questions we ask of them. All these things are going to get them thinking in certain ways. And we want them thinking in the ways that are going to help them not only understand the material but also remember it better, apply it to new situations, and so on" (Ormrod, J., 2011).
http://effectiveimages.blogspot.com/2011/03/appying-design-principles-actions-and.html

eLearning Coach (2010) 10 Ways to Learn in 2010 Retrieved May 6, 2011, from http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning2-0/10-ways-to-learn-in-2010/


Ormrod, J. (2011) An Introduction to Learning Laureate Education, Inc.

Shephard, C. (2010, September 28) Four Roles for Social Media in Workplace Learning. Retrieved May 6, 2011, from http://clive-shepherd.blogspot.com/2010/09/four-roles-for-social-media-in.html

Wilcox, D. (2011, March 1) Effective Instruction Images. Retrieved May 6, 2011 from

http://effectiveimages.blogspot.com/2011/03/appying-design-principles-actions-and.html