After finishing this course I can't say that my learning philosophy has changed much from the beginning I was hen become on the fence between pragmatism and constructivism, which may seem like night and day to many, but I chose Pragmatism. I think it still plays an important role in teaching the foundational information. Once the foundation has been established constructivism emerges.
I think it’s easier for me to release the learner to his or her own experiments and discoveries once they have received some basic knowledge. My goal is to always equip them to go further than they have been taught and make sure they are active during the entire process. I will even go so far as to let them steer or direct the lesson. I want them to reflect on their learning and engage in discussion with one another and seek to solve problems. I then shift from teacher to adviser.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Week 6 Reflection
Our project this week was to create an audio/video presentation or podcast. I opted for a Voicethread presentation. Mainly, because of the editing challenges in podcast. Podcast is good for streaming and downloading but I think it could be a little more user friendly. As a teacher, until it becomes a little less painstaking on the final stretch, I can’t say that I will be using it. Teachers have so little time to do the many things we do using up a bulk of that time to edit a lesson on podcast doesn’t seem appealing. This is especially true for students I teach, they are in kindergarten.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Week 5 Reflection
Initially I took the technology literacy quiz on http://novemberlearning.com/resources/information-literacy-resources/i-information-literacy-quiz/. I thought I’d rate somewhere in the median range. Let’s just say I was WRONG I only scored three points. There is so much I don’t know and so MUCH I need to learn. Good thing I am a devoted life learner!
Our next activity was a MAPping exercise; basically I had to choose one of several what may be considered questionable web sites, and then dissect it. The goal is to determine the author, the purpose, and essentially the validity. I chose http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/. When looking in different search engines altavista, excite and google. I didn’t notice many advertisements; there were only two on altavista. The author’s name is Lyle Zapatopi. The extension and the author’s name in the URL indicate that the site is a personal page. It actually states that openly states that it was developed for paranoid conspirators which doesn’t really support validity. The content on the website doesn’t prove to be very useful. Neither was I able to find any links that would serve as real true resources, but I did find it to be quite comical. What is most surprising that it has been active since 1997 and is still thriving today!
Week 4 Reflection
This weeks posting asked several questions focusing on technology fluency. See my responses below:
I am so ashamed to say it, but yes I have.
Do you go to meetings with your laptop, iPad, or tablet?
Remarkably, no I don’t.
Are you constantly connected?
Yes, unfortunately.
Is the Internet always on whether you are at home or work?
Yes.
Is your cell phone always with you?
Oh, Yes
How many different activities can you effectively engage in at one time?
I teach 22 kindergarteners, I am able to do several.
Do you play video or computer games?
NO! NO! NO!
What generational category do you fall in or are you a mixture of a few.
Gen X and Y This article focused on implications primarily for higher education; however, the characteristics for the Net Gen remain true for students in K12.
What and how do we need to change?
Essentially, the K12 generation is growing up in the age of technology which is why the old classroom can become quite boring technology isn’t integrated into the basic subjects. As teachers we need to be able to attract and engage them in a language they understand.
Madrea BurnsSeptember 21, 2012 12:20 PM
Are you more comfortable composing documents online than longhand?
Yes, defiantly
Have you turned your "remembering" (phone numbers, meetings, and so on) over to a technology device? I am so ashamed to say it, but yes I have.
Do you go to meetings with your laptop, iPad, or tablet?
Remarkably, no I don’t.
Are you constantly connected?
Yes, unfortunately.
Is the Internet always on whether you are at home or work?
Yes.
Is your cell phone always with you?
Oh, Yes
How many different activities can you effectively engage in at one time?
I teach 22 kindergarteners, I am able to do several.
Do you play video or computer games?
NO! NO! NO!
What generational category do you fall in or are you a mixture of a few.
Gen X and Y This article focused on implications primarily for higher education; however, the characteristics for the Net Gen remain true for students in K12.
What and how do we need to change?
Essentially, the K12 generation is growing up in the age of technology which is why the old classroom can become quite boring technology isn’t integrated into the basic subjects. As teachers we need to be able to attract and engage them in a language they understand.
Week 3 Reflection
Madrea BurnsSeptember 15, 2012 9:47 PM (initial posting date)
Which tenent did you most relate to and why?
-As concerning AFL the tenent I most agreed with was the one stating learners self-assess and receive specific, descriptive feedback about the learning during the learning, in my line of work I have found that learners benefit more form direct feedback, they want to know how they are doing and if they are on the right track. Also, I find it is easier to correct a mistake in the begining stages of learning.
What potential if any, do you see for portfolio assessment?
-the learner has the ability to express his/her learning in a way that is tailored to him/her and they are allow creative freedom
What do you think the creation and development of your portfolio will do for your learning?
-It would help me to reflect on how much I have grown as a learner and how and how much more I want to learn.
-As concerning AFL the tenent I most agreed with was the one stating learners self-assess and receive specific, descriptive feedback about the learning during the learning, in my line of work I have found that learners benefit more form direct feedback, they want to know how they are doing and if they are on the right track. Also, I find it is easier to correct a mistake in the begining stages of learning.
What potential if any, do you see for portfolio assessment?
-the learner has the ability to express his/her learning in a way that is tailored to him/her and they are allow creative freedom
What do you think the creation and development of your portfolio will do for your learning?
-It would help me to reflect on how much I have grown as a learner and how and how much more I want to learn.
Week 2 Reflection
Madrea BurnsSeptember 8, 2012 2:23 PM (initial posting datefor week 2)
This summer the topic of discussion in the staff development courses for our district was information fluency.
Information fluency is the ability to unconsciously and intuitively interpret information in all forms and formats in order to extract the essential knowledge, authenticate it, and perceive its meaning and significance.
This idea was emphasize to let the students know the importance of validation of resources. Especially since there are no laws or governing bodies to monitor who can have a site or the content within.
There is actually a page on our site that helps a teacher/learner evaluate the site validity:
http://www.livebinders.com/media/get/MjYzMTIzNw==
This is also a site that will help teachers explain the importance:
http://21cif.com/rkitp/features/v1n4/leadarticle_v1_n4.html
The biggest implication of not being successful at driving the practice of validation home with students is that there will we a generation of misinformed, incredible intellectuals. Mainly because the first resource learners use for information is the internet, without consideration for the soundness of the source.
I do see one major advantage to social bookmarks and that is to maintain and protect my bookmarks from being lost or unorganized. However, I have not chosen one as of yet.
Information fluency is the ability to unconsciously and intuitively interpret information in all forms and formats in order to extract the essential knowledge, authenticate it, and perceive its meaning and significance.
This idea was emphasize to let the students know the importance of validation of resources. Especially since there are no laws or governing bodies to monitor who can have a site or the content within.
There is actually a page on our site that helps a teacher/learner evaluate the site validity:
http://www.livebinders.com/media/get/MjYzMTIzNw==
This is also a site that will help teachers explain the importance:
http://21cif.com/rkitp/features/v1n4/leadarticle_v1_n4.html
The biggest implication of not being successful at driving the practice of validation home with students is that there will we a generation of misinformed, incredible intellectuals. Mainly because the first resource learners use for information is the internet, without consideration for the soundness of the source.
I do see one major advantage to social bookmarks and that is to maintain and protect my bookmarks from being lost or unorganized. However, I have not chosen one as of yet.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
EdTech
Education Technology
The ability to utilize technology in order to engage and expose students to teaching and learning that is ETHICAL, meaningful, SAFE and more tailored to fit their generation
Today’s Learner
Today's learner is bored at school. They need more stimulation. Generally, this is a world that that surrounds students with stimulating information and entertainment that involves some form of technology. Then with they get to school that is usually not the case. Even in the poorest of homes there is at the least a television. Other have even more like video games, computers e-learners and etc.
The Reality of EdTech
Teachers that are teaching 21st century students are not 21st century teachers it makes the connection and communication more difficult at times. Students don’t always find the teacher engaging and the teacher can’t understand why it’s so hard for the student to pay attention
The other reality is that depending on the economic status and social situation there may minimal technological contact and the same goes for those schools and districts that may be budget strapped.
Potential Impact
Teacher becomes more of a facilitator and the students learn to work in a more collaborative fashion. Students become more motivated. Their technology skills become more enhanced.
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