I have learned a great deal of information throughout this course. My personal theory of learning that I developed during week one of this course has mainly stayed the same; however, I feel that I can now add so much more to how children learn.
My teaching will go through certain adjustments as a result of this course. The first aspect that will change is that I plan on using more technology that I have learned about in this course in my classroom. I learned in this course that even though my school might not have all of the technological capabilities that I want, there are still many different technologies that I can take use of without costing the district any money. For example, I plan on using Voice Thread in my classroom for different projects I may introduce. Since I know that this is easily available and now have the skills to use Voice thread, I plan on introducing this to my students soon. I can see how students would love being able to state a problem they are having through Voice Thread, and then being able to get feedback from fellow classmates about how to solve their problems. I feel that using this technology will add to the social learning theory that we learned about during this course. Students will be more involved using this technology and it will be very beneficial.
The other piece of technology that I plan on using more often is PowerPoint. This can be used in a variety of ways, including using it as a teaching resource to display information that I am teaching, as well as having the students use the program to show me what they have learned. PowerPoint is a program that I am now very familiar with and plan on introducing the many ways that we can use it in the classroom to my fellow teachers.
One of the goals that I now have leaving this course is to continue to learn about more technology tools I can use in the classroom. In this course we learned about just a few of the many different tools that are available that can help our students learn. One specific technology that I have heard about and hope to learn more about is using programs that deal with Webcams and how it can help students learn. I can do this through continuing to be successful in this course and also taking workshops at my school that outline how to use this technology in my classroom. The other personal goal that I have is to continue to learn more about the best ways to teach students in my classroom. I want to learn more about the best strategies to having students retain the information they are learning about and the technology that will assist in making them successful students.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Social Learning Theory
Michael Orey describes many different social learning theory strategies throughout his video in our resources this week. He describes the benefits of using the social learning theory in any classroom and the best way to deliver this theory. I agree with many of the aspects of his argument in that it is important for students to be social when they are learning in a classroom. I do, however, believe that teachers should be teaching through many different ways in order to accommodate all of the learners in their classroom. The social learning theory is one good way of teaching a lesson, although not the only good way.
One of the strategies Michael Orey describes is called the "Jigsaw Strategy". I liked the way he described this because sometimes in a classroom when students are working together in a group, only a few do all of the work and then the slackers get the same grade. During the Jigsaw Strategy, each student is assigned a specific thing they need to research. Once they have done their research they get with the other people in the room that have researched the same thing. Once in the group the students need to work together to make sure every student knows how to teach their group about their subject. After that, students get back with their original group and teach each other what they needed to specifically research. This seems like a much more fair way of having students be in groups and insures that everyone is participating equally.
This seems like a good way of implementing the social learning theory in a classroom. There are many different strategies teachers can use while trying to use this theory. When students are social while they learn, they feel a sense of accomplishment and engaged in what they are doing.
One of the strategies Michael Orey describes is called the "Jigsaw Strategy". I liked the way he described this because sometimes in a classroom when students are working together in a group, only a few do all of the work and then the slackers get the same grade. During the Jigsaw Strategy, each student is assigned a specific thing they need to research. Once they have done their research they get with the other people in the room that have researched the same thing. Once in the group the students need to work together to make sure every student knows how to teach their group about their subject. After that, students get back with their original group and teach each other what they needed to specifically research. This seems like a much more fair way of having students be in groups and insures that everyone is participating equally.
This seems like a good way of implementing the social learning theory in a classroom. There are many different strategies teachers can use while trying to use this theory. When students are social while they learn, they feel a sense of accomplishment and engaged in what they are doing.
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