Module 4

• How has your network changed the way you learn?
I like getting information from others and sharing with others. I always have tried to get answers for myself than asking others. I find now after doing this assignment that I have many networks that I learn from and didn’t realize I did. I have found out just how important it is to work together. Also, as I have aged I realize more than ever before how important all these networks are. I must say that I get more information from the internet and people from all over the states and the world to learn new things to adapt to the rapidly changing world we are in technologically.

• Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you?
The Walden University online courses have been an excellent learning opportunity for me. Being able to do things on my schedule and being able to deeply think about the assignments has been an enormous asset for me. Recently I have found wiki’s and blog’s to be very helpful in learning and sharing.

• How do you learn new knowledge when you have questions?

When I have questions I look it up on the computer or go to someone that I feel may know the answer. The internet is my main choice to answer questions I am not sure of. I need a lot of memory on my computer because I multi task a lot and have many windows open at the same time. I have never thought about how I learn new things until this class. I know that this will aid me in becoming a better teacher and challenging my students and prepare them for their future. I have learned that when I learn new things I combine it with my prior knowledge creating new knowledge.

Module 3

Do you believe that humans have a basic instinct to “interact and work as a group,” as Rheingold proposed in his discussion of the evolution of Wikipedia as a collectively developed encyclopedia?

I enjoyed watching Howard Rheingold's "Way-New Collaboration" it was wonderful. The concept of sharing is wonderful but, I believe that humans have a basic instinct to interact and work as a group. Ask your question does everyone want to build their own castle and live by themselves. I think not. Wikipedia is a great example of how people around the world are working together to create the best information source on the internet. I have worked with some teachers that have found things to raise scores in the classroom and don’t want to share with others. However, with all my years as an accountant in the manufacturing industry we were all about working together so that time wasn’t wasted on two people doing the same work. I work in an environment where teachers are very competitive and protect what works for them and doesn’t share with others. This is very hard for me to accept. I try to teach my students how to work in groups. I believe that we can train others by showing them how great working in groups is. For the last five years I have fought a click in first grade. They are learning that a TEAM means “Together Everyone Achieves More” this is a work in progress but we are getting there.

While I believe that it is in our nature I believe that sometimes that human basic instinct is not nurtured and we get the “lone wolfs” as we have been hearing about in the news lately from the shooting in Arizona.
How can technology facilitate collaboration among learners based on constructivist principles?

Technology provides us with the tools to do just about anything we want to do and accomplish. These tools can help individuals to collaborate and work together sharing and discussing issues that they are interested in or researching. Being able to communicate with people in other countries is perhaps one of the greatest things available today through the use of technology and social networking across the globe.

Constructivist principles allow learner to create learning experiences that are authentic and real world learning. With this new technology driven world cooperative groups of learners that band together and join forces, can eventually solve world problems as well as medical issues. The amount of learning and social impact on the world is endless. Recently I read something that the Human Genome Project would not have been solved so quickly if it had not been for technology and a collaborative cooperative approach at solving the human genome.

Rheingold, H. (2005) Way-new collaboration” [video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html

Module 2

After reading the two blogs I started to think about the role of -isms play into today’s education and how things haven’t changed much is the last 10 years in regards to theories on how students learn, we are still contemplating how students learn and what the best approach for teaching our diverse students is.

I agree with Kerr (2007) comments that, “ –isms do not stand still they evolve and move on.” In meeting our student’s needs we can’t stand still we must continue to move looking for different ways to meet the needs of our diverse learners. Teaching after all is labor intensive in an ever evolving and changing world.

I agree with Karl Kapp (2007) comments that a younger age the behavioral approach is most effective in student learning. I believe that at a younger age children learn best through the drill and practice repetition.

Kapp (2007) suggests that as we age the way we learn changes from behavioral to cognitivism and than constructivist approach. I can speak from my experience in that I retain information longer when I have time to think about the information and process it and match it with other knowledge that I already have.
As educators we must be aware of what every theory is and which theory will best meet the needs of our students learning. While in deed this is labor intensive it is very important. There are so many factors in the teaching and learning environment and understanding what they are and how they intermix is the key to success.

References:

Kappa, K. (2007, January 2). Out and About: discussion on educational schools of thought. Retrieved from http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational.html.

Kerr, B. (2007, January 1). _isms as filter, not blinker. Retrieved from http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html

Module 1 Blog Post

What are your beliefs about how people learn best? What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?

I believe that people learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process. I believe that they take ownership of their learning and thus want to be successful. When a student takes control of their learning they are more apt to try new things. I believe that the more students are involved in discussion and learning the more they retain. Recently I have started using peer tutoring more than ever before with my students that haven’t mastered kindergarten skills. I have found that they are more willing to work in a small group with peers than with me. I have also learned that they pay more attention to their peers than to me. I guess they feel more comfortable with them because they don’t grade them. I am concerned because of new special education laws and systems told to keep their special education numbers low more students are falling through the cracks than ever before. Students learn in a variety of ways and the only way to ensure that every student’s in your class is learning is to teach in a variety of different ways, auditory, visual and kinestic. Through all my years in education and professional development we have been taught to teach by what research says using hands-on activities, small group discussions (centers), whole group, peer tutoring, simulations, charts, videos, podcasts, video casts, and illustrations among numerous other things to actively engage the learner regardless of their learning style. The purpose of learning theory in educational technology is to guide our instruction in the classroom. Learning theory in educational technology is a tool to aid the teachers in doing a better job at meeting the needs of their students. With changes in special education assessment and less and less students qualifying more than ever before teachers are being forced to look at new ways to reach the diverse students that they have in the classroom and using educational technology is the way to do it. We in the USA are behind in many areas of education and I believe it is because we teach only one way and our students learn a variety of different ways and in this technological driven world we are far behind because often we don’t utilize the technology that we have available to do a better job.

According to Driscoll(2005),we must plan instruction for two types of learning: the acquisition of knowledge and the experiences of learning by doing.

Accroding to Siemens(2008), The role of the ediucator and the process of instruction has changed due to pressure from educational stakeholders. Educators are seen as a "master artist observing the activities of students." Siemens(2008)states, A "network administrator assisting students in forming connections and creating their learning networks." Siemens(2008)states," a concierge directing learners to resources or learning opportunities that they may not be aware of." Siemens(2008)states, "a curator with expertise with advanced knowledge of a domain and guides and encourages learner ecploration."

How Students Learn Websites:

What We Know About How Students Learn http://www.columbia.edu/cu/tat/handout1.html

Innovative Learning
http://www.innovativelearning.com/teaching/teaching_methods.html

References:

Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf