Module 3

Rheingold (2005) states that we can succeed through collaborative efforts and when we all work together as one. I agree with his statement, however I do not think that people have a basic instinct to work together as one or as a group.  In reflecting on my own personal work habits, I am what they call a “loner” or you can say I have a shy personality.  I like working alone because I am able to work at my own pace and work without any interruptions during my thinking.   Do not get me wrong, I can also work well in collaborative environments.   To sum up my thoughts, my first instinct is not to rally together a group to complete a task but to see if I can successfully complete the task independently.   Another point I would like to make is that as humans we also have a competitive nature.  When competition is involved then everything becomes a solo effort.  In my opinion, Rheingolds’ theory is pertinent when survival is at stake, then a person’s basic instinct thrust into interacting and working as a group. 

One technology tool that facilitates collaboration among learners based on the constructivist principles is a blog. Blogs allows students to provide reflections and allow students to make comments to their peers (Palloff, 2005). During third quarter, a fifth grade class I work with was finishing a unit on the Civil War.  My contribution to the unit was to create work stations for the students to engage in as a method to review the content before taking their bench mark.  One of the work stations that I created was labeled the Blogger in U.  The students had to answer the following question: Dear students you have been studying the Civil War over the last 8 weeks.  Reflecting on all of the information that you have learned answer the following question on Mrs. Simmons’ blog. How have the events that occurred before and after the Civil War impacted the way that you live today?  This question promoted higher order thinking because the students had to take all the information that they learned about the Civil War (prior knowledge) and apply it to their life as it is today.

Distance Education supports collaboration as an effective tool for learning. George Seiman, stated that more people are accepting the idea of participating in distance education (Laureate, 2008).  As distance education continues to flourish, new methods of collaboration are being developed and experienced in order to effectively communicate with one another.  In a face to face environment, you are only able to communicate with the participants that are in the room with you.  Collaborating in distance education allows participants to communicate outside of their normal parameters.  Participants are able to communicate with people around the world synchronously (Laureate, 2008).

Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating online: Learning together in community. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Rheingold, H. (2005, February). New-way collaboration. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html.

Module 2 Postings

I posted to Bradley Gogan's and Erica Ellisworth's Blogs.

Module 2 Posting

In the posting Kerr asked the question’” Should we stick to the -isms or be practical and just cherry pick different useful ideas out of the various theories” (Kerr, 2007)?  I think as teachers we are left with no other option but to be “cherry pickers”.  Children come to school now with multiple learning styles and teachers are challenged with accommodating those differences. 

I do agree that the –isms are necessary.  I see them as the foundations to the different strategies and instructional designs we currently use in the classrooms.  Here is another way to look at it.  Think about building a house, you cannot just start installing the roof or attaching the windows and doors without first creating a foundation that will hold up the house fixtures.   Theories are the foundation to the learning.  They are necessary in order for the current instructional designs and strategies to exist. 

This time of the school year is very hectic for teachers and students.  I think it is safe for me to say that almost all of Georgia is probably preparing for the CRCT (The Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests ) test.  This is a statewide standardized test that is used to measure the students’ knowledge on academic content.  I am mentioning this test because I believe that it goes along with comment posted that “Actions which are followed by rewards are often repeated” ( Kerr, 2007). Well looking at it from a teacher’s perspective if the students pass the CRCT the teacher keeps their job.  If the teacher does not then a consequence is passed down.  The reward is that the teacher gets to keep thier job, receive praise, and will continue to work hard each year to make sure that the students pass. 

References:
Kerr, B. (2007, January 1). _isms as filter, not blinker [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html
Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/

Module 1 Postings

This week I posted comments to:
Lauren Dart and Bianca Lochner

Module 1

What are my beliefs on how people learn best?

To start there is not a one shoe fits all when it comes to learning.  Working in the educational system has confirmed that for me.  As I have grown professionally, I have learned the positive impact that I can have in the classroom, by being able to identify the learning styles of my students.  About four years ago, I accepted a teaching position as a Special Needs Kindergarten teacher.  It was during this time in my teaching career that I realized the importance and the impact that differentiated instruction can have on children.  It was obvious to me that not much was expected from me or my students due to the disabilities.  Determined to prove that my Special Needs students had the ability to learn and retain academic content/standards just as well as a non-classified student, I spent endless hours coming up with creative ways to teach the standards to my students.  Yes, I put in a lot of time but it was worth it!!!  With all that being said, there is a quote that I always like to use whenever possible by an unknown author and it says,” All children can learn, but not in the same way or in the same day”.  This quote was the fuel to the burning fire I had to help my student’s succeed. 

What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?

I think that the learning theories play a very important role in the 21^st century and have the stage for how we prepare our children for a technological society.  Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism theories are the foundation to the technology that we use today.  For example, Morrison’s formula of pretest, teach, retest, adapts and test (Saettler, 2004) is still being utilized in schools today.   ALEKS is an example of computer software that utilizes the mastery learning approach. 

Saettler, P. (2004). The evolution of American educational technology. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing.