New Course = New Post

Well, we have started a new class at Walden University. This time will be Distance Learning and I am thoroughly excited to be learning about this topic more and getting more involved in the technology side of things in classes.

I can't wait for the next eight weeks. Have any of you found any new and exciting technologies for the classroom since the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year?

--Jodi

Course Reflection

Throughout the past eight weeks, I have explored learning theories, learning styles, educational technologies, and ideas on motivation. I have never learned so much in such a short time either.  I have grown not only as an educator but also as a learner.

While continuing to learn about how people learn, I have discovered that it is not always black and white. People can learn in a multitude of ways such as through audio, visual, kinesthetic, and many more ways. I have found that sometimes students do not learn in just one way but through all of these styles based upon the content being taught. Through this research and reading, it has become apparent that the way in which I thought I learned is not always the best way to for myself to learn. I need to accept this and allow others to teach me and not be “stuck in my ways”.

Learning theories, and styles go hand in hand as well. Learning theories are different “ideas” on how people learn and sometimes go with certain theories. For example, the cognitive theory goes better with hands-on experiences as does the Adult Learning theory. An educator does not need to hold onto one specific theory but can fluctuate between several depending on the content and age being taught. Kindergarten children will more than likely have a teacher that looks at the Behaviorist theory while those same students in high school may have a teacher that appreciates the Cognitivist theory and then in college a professor who likes the Adult Learning Theory. They are all the same students being taught but with teachers with different content, age of students, and theories. Educational Technology and motivation are very important factors when it comes to learning as well. What will be used and how it will be used is carefully considered by educators and again changes through grade levels and content areas.

The information that I have obtained through this course will help me as I further my career in instructional design in multiple ways. First, it allows me to look at what I believe is a good learning theory but also all the different styles in which students learn. I will be able to apply these to my trainings for adult learners as well as to others in a company. The technology and motivation tools are also very valuable to me as I enter the field of instructional design. The knowledge that I have gained will allow me to develop training and courses with my learners and end results in mind instead of the day-to-day information. It will benefit all in the long run not just myself.

Reviewing how I learn...

In my class my professor has asked me to answer the following questions after 7 weeks of studying learning theories and learning styles. 

•    Now that you have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, how has your view on how you learn changed?

      After 7 weeks of looking at different learning theories, and learning styles my view on how I learn has changed. I have realized that in the first week of this class, I was putting theories and styles together when in fact they are not the same thing. The way I learn is a style but the way I believe people learn and a way of teaching is the theory.  When it comes to how I learn, I still believe that I prefer a certain style such as cognitive. I am always searching for the why in things as well as yearning for hands on experiences and don’t like rote memorization. I dig in deeper to gain a better understanding of the topic. I have done this within this class various times. When it comes to theories, I like the adult learning theory for adults and some young adult but I agree with the cognitive learning theory the majority of learners. Adult learning allows students to look at past experiences to learn and to gain knowledge and the cognitive theory always makes learners as why (which is similar to my learning style).

       

•  What have you learned about the various learning theories and learning styles over the past weeks that can further explain your own personal learning preferences?

                  You can group theories and styles together. For example, cognitive learning and hand on experiences go together along with searches and for adult learning one can play off of past experiences but aslo self-directed learning which helps pair it with multiple intelligences.

                   

·       What role does technology play in your learning (i.e., as a way to search for information, to record information, to create, etc.)?

            I use technology in many different ways. I love to search for information to learn know things especially when I have questions about something and need an answer. I also use it to record information. For example, I use a database to keep track of my students’ grades. I also use it to store information and to create presentations and shared documents with my colleagues and students. Technology can be absolutely amazing but at the same time one has to have a back up plan because technology can definitely fail at times.

Networking & Connectivism

When looking at all of my networks, I am amazed. There are so many connections and these aren’t even all of them. There isn’t enough room, or after I posted I continued to think of even more.

            I have three main networks: People, Social Media, and Businesses. With people, I mainly put all those that I come into contact with through my everyday life such as: teachers, coaches, former teachers (the ones I had in school) and one that I did not put on there should be students. I learn quite a lot from my students. Next would be social media. I included FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Blogs. With FaceBook, I am connected to the people that I not only come into contact with on a daily basis but also those who I talk to occasionally. They do the same towards me as well. We ask each other questions when needed and we all are more than happy to answer.  With Twitter and Blogs, I am connected to many experts on education technology and writing. I can “tweet” them and I will receive replies to answer my questions or at least a direction where to go to find my answer.  When I look at the Business side of this mind map of networking, I see those businesses that I have been apart of in my life. However, there are so many more businesses out there that I have network capabilities with that I did not include.

            When I was a child, the world seem so big but now, it seems so small and so easily accessible. If I need to talk to someone across the world, I can get on the Internet into a chatroom and ask my questions. When I was learning Spanish, I would Skype with people from Spain from the college I went to for study abroad.  Also, I am very accessible by others through my social networking. Any one can reach me (well within my security measures) which I never really thought too much about. This allows me to continue learning even when not in a traditional classroom. The 21^st century technology has arrived and is going far beyond my expectations.

Is Active Learning = Better Learning?

In the article, Brain-Based Teaching: Does It Really Work? by Christie F. Calhoun (2012), whole brain learning is the focus. Calhoun brings in many different resources to support her ideas. Research shows that having students using both sides of their brain during learning activities in the classroom as an effective way of teaching. Calhoun is far from the only author to believe this to be true though.

Slate and Charlesworth also agree with fully engaging that student within the lesson to promote better student learning in their article, Information Processing Theory: Classroom Applications (1988). Again, this article states that going beyond the standard lecture and engaging students in classroom discussions or activities such as reteaching, or hands-on projects help produce better learning. 

While both articles are years apart in their writing, they get across the same idea: Different people learn differently and in order to get to all learners and to enhance learning, teachers need to go beyond the standard in the classroom and truly engage students in their learning. This is where the best learning will take place. Each article gives different suggestions in how to go about doing this which would be beneficial for Instructional Designers when planning their lessons for training. Let students take control of their own learning, this will lead to better understanding. 

References:
Calhoun, C.F. (2012). Brain-based learning: Does it really work?. ERIC - Education Resources Information Center. Retrieved January 19, 2014, from http://eric.ed.gov/

Slate, J. R., & Charlesworth, J. R. (1988). Information process theory: Classroom applications. ERIC - Education Resources Information Center. Retrieved January 19, 2014, from http://eric.ed.gov/

Blog Review

While starting this blog, I came across other blogs that have to do with technology within education such as e-learning and different gadgets to use while teaching in the classroom. To become a great educator, one must be willing to further their own education about how their students learn, here are some websites that will help you do just that.

Review #1:Train Like a Champion gives Instruction Designers and teachers different strategies for presentations. It is easily explored with topics listed down the right side of the blog. You can click on different topics that interest you and be able to read tips about them quickly. From here you can see examples, click on links to take you to resources for things such as powerpoint and slideshare. It is a sight I will routinely go back to for insight into technology, presentations, and instructional design/training techniques.

Review #2: Free Technology for Teachers supplies various technology gadgets and tips from Richard Byrne. There are links for specialty technology such as iPads in the classroom, and Android 4 schools. Byrne covers many different avenues for teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms. He, also, doesn't target one set of teachers either--he provides technology uses for elementary, middle and high school teachers of all content areas. I frequently come back to this website for help in my own classroom.

Review #3: The Innovative Educator also provides different ways to teach with technology; however, she provides many different blogs to help out in this area as well. She covers blogging with students, social media in schools, and many more topics. Lisa Nielsen, the author, is a current computer teacher helping out others. She tells of her experiences of integrating technology into her computer classes which help other teachers learn.

These are only three of many blog and websites to check out for further information on technology and instructional design. You can look on the side of this blog into the "Blogosphere" and check out more. Check back weekly for more sites or possible reviews.

Welcome!

Hi, there! On this blog you will be able to find information on how to incorporate technology into the classroom. There will not only be stories about my own experiences but also links to others as well. If you have suggestions please share them. I hope to provide helpful information to those teachers trying to get technology and 21st Century Skills into their lessons especially at the high school level.