Chapter 3 Blog

The first thing that I learned from this chapter was the impact that immediate feedback can have on students learning. This allows for students to make corrections right away instead of storing wrong information in their memory. It also allows for debugging which helps students to store knowledge in their long term memory. I also learned that it is effective to set time limits while students are doing class work. This is important because it does not allow time for students to become bored with the material and will make them focus more on the content to complete it in time. The final thing that I found to be interesting was how teachers can use instructional games in their teaching. Games can be used in place of worksheets, to teach cooperative group working skills, and as a reward.

To use the immediate feedback as a teacher would be very helpful in students success. I would have them take practices quiz’s or tests online to allow for them to see what areas they are efficient in and what areas need work. Secondly I would use games in the classroom to keep the students interested and play games like jeopardy to keep them learning and offer rewards if they are showing success in the class.

One question about the material I have is about the immediate feedback. How do you keep students from just clicking answers and not taking the material seriously?

Chapter 2 Blog

Something that I learned from the Chapter 2 readings is the difference between Objectivists and Constructivists. Objective believe that knowledge has a separate, real existence of its own outside of the human mind and Constructivists believe that humans construct all knowledge in their minds by participating in certain experiences. I also learned about Kirshshner, Sweller, and Clarkand their statement that talks about how minimally guided instruction ignores the fundamentals of human cognition and overloads the working memory. The third thing that I learned was from Bruner and how he felt about how active participation and how he believed it to be best achieved by providing discovery learning environments that would let children explore alternatives and recognize relationships between ideas.

Ways that I thought that the principles could be included into teaching include the following. First would be to follow the constructivist model of learning. This could be achieved by getting as much student involvement in class as possible to allow for as much growth as possible whether it be through using engaging technologies or groups assignments. Second I could use the proposed model that Bruner Came up with. This may be achieved by allowing students to explore information outside of the classroom whether it be on the internet or through books to allow them to gain a larger knowledge base so that they can begin to recognize relationships in materials.

One question that I do have about the material is when you give students learning assignment to do on their own, how much guidance do you give them to ensure that they are getting something out of it?

Chapter 1 Blog

 Something I learned from this chapter was how technology can be used to motivate students. This can be done through a number of different ways. Firstly students can be supported by manual operations during high level learning. This means that students may be more motivated to learn complex skills like writing compositions or solving math problems when tools through technology help them to do the low level skills involved which may include making corrections to written drafts or doing arithmatic. Another way teachers may use technology to motivate their students is by engaging them through production work. This means that students who learn by creating their own products with technologies such as word processing, multimedia, hypermedia, and other technology products show higher engagement in learning and a greater sence of pride in their achievements. The third thing I learned from the reading was the meaning of the Digital Divide. The Digital Divide is a discrepancy in access to to technology resources among socioeconomic groups.

To connect these new ideas to the classroom I think it would be very important to use the available technology to motivate students as much as possible. This may be achieved by allowing students to write essays using word instead of havin them hand write. An issue that I may run into as a teacher is the digital divide. As a teacher I will need to be aware of this by not relying completely on technology but to incorporate it when nesissary and available.

One question that I have about the material is when using manual operations that give aid to students, how may it effect them when they are required to do things with pencil and paper (ex. writing essays or working out math problems)?

chapter 1

Three new things i learned while reading this chapter...

Two connections to my teaching are...

One question i have about the material is...