Reflection

Although a good part of my personal theory will stay the same there are some aspects that I am going to make some modifications to. Due to this course I have realized that there are so many resources out there and that I need to start using more of them. Although so far this year I have incorporated more technology then in the past I still feel there is so much more I could be doing. Instead of using a web organizer that’s a piece of paper you pass out why not have them use one of the many programs out there like inspiration or webspiration. By making that simple change you have changed the learning process as well as made your classroom a student centered environment instead of teacher centered allowing for maximum learning to take place. Which in the end is all you can hope for.

One adjustment that I have already begun to do is the use of more visuals. Every day I have a do now projected on the board of what they need to do and the learning target for the day. Instead of using words for certain things I now use pictures. For example, on the do now there is a list of things they need to take out, notebook, pencil, and whatever else is needed for the class. Instead of using words I know use pictures to represent those objects. I have noticed that with the use of visuals my students have been getting prepared for class faster and are on task quicker. In my class I am not only used visuals for the do now but to begin a unit which has allowed for students to be able to picture the topic and has helped with them grasping the concept begin taught. With just this minor change I have noticed a great deal of change in my student’s progress and am happy with the success I have so far.

For my long term goals I would like to learn and implement various web sites in order to keep up with the students these days as they are growing up in a world full of technology. The two goals that I would like to work on incorporating more of into my lessons are virtual field trips and the use of my blog page. Although I have used both of them a few times this year I do not feel that I am taking advantage of they have to offer. I hope I can accomplish these goals in order to master them for the next school year.

Voice Thread link

http://voicethread.com/share/888933/

Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice

“Technology can play a unique and important role in cooperative learning by facilitating group collaboration, providing structure for group tasks, and allowing members of groups to communicate even if they are not working face to face.” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p. 140). Being able to be social either through a face to face conversation or through email is an important skill that everyone needs in order to be successful in life. By creating assignments that allow for the students to work on a task while being social with either their own classmates or peers around the world is a great way to not only keep up with the times but a way to promote effective social skills. Kids these days struggle with writing a complete sentence for the mere fact that they are texting or using abbreviation on facebook most of their day. Due to all of the current technology students are struggling with writing a basis sentence. I can’t tell you how many papers I receive that either have LOL or some other abbreviation in them even after I remind them of my no text or instant messaging language. I know that this is not something that is just happening in my classroom but creating an assignment that forces students to be social with others outside of their social network might make students think twice about what they are saying or writing. I also believe that an important skill in life is not only being about to communicate with someone but being about to work collaboratively with someone even if you are not friends. Many of my students will ask to be switched or even have gone as far as to cry about who they are working with. An important life skill is to be able to work with others and to me cooperative learning defines that.


Resources:

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.