LaKeisha's blog post was very interesting. It made me think and consider a couple of points I may have taken for granted. Maria also had a very intriguing post.

Learning in a Digital World

It is non-negotiable to not embrace the fact there is more than one best way for people to learn. Technology has a great impact on learning and will enhance the learning experience. However, it is not simply technology, but several components working in unison. But it all starts with one person. Driscoll (2008) states constructivist theory rests on the assumption that knowledge is constructed by learners as they attempt to make sense of their experiences.  For example, this blog allows me to share ideas, thought, and observations I have. Case close and my learning could end. Fortunately, technology steps in and a two-way exchange of global knowledge exploration is at my fingertips.

 My philosophy on learning is a take-off from the quote contributed to Ben Reilly of Spiderman fame. With learning comes great responsibility. Learning is power. For instance, Is the world flat? Thanks to the contributions of many people and the sharing of ideas this idea was proven inaccurate. Word of mouth proved to be a wonderful option. We do not have to follow in step, but like minds can agree and disagree. It is a wonderful thing to share information for the greater good of society.

I thought this blog comparing constructivism and behaviorism might make a few people scratch their heads

Retrieved on May 25, 2011, from http://bakeramitchell.com/2011/05/20/behaviorism-vs-constructivism/

Module 5 part 2

Gary's blog was funny. He has teachers at his school who was there before calculators were used. It seems like it took an act of Congress for changes through the use of technology to happen.

module 5

Kathi's blog response for module 5 was very interesting and of course I thought I had so interesting thoughts I should share with her.

new technologies

First, you have to understand I’m not the first person in line to use technology. However, I’m basically lost when my technology is not operating. My experience with colleagues who have low self-efficacy is generally situations they simply refuse to even attempt to use technology. For example, I understand the overhead projector was probably cutting edge technology when Jane, Dick, and Spot were all the rage but there have been great strides in visual presentations.

For the last few years, educators have complained about districts blocking Youtube videos. I have always been pretty stubborn so I would stay up nights trying to find ways to safely save videos to show at school. Finally, I discovered Microsoft Moviemaker. Why give others the credit when here was technology just perfect for creative inspiration? I thought the potential provided so much upside I created a small presentation for a faculty meeting. Even though I was greeted was initial enthusiasm, many of my colleagues did not share my vision. They were concerned about time commitment, skill requirements, and just an overall lack of interest.

Changing the motivation of my colleagues to encourage success would definitely start with creating a more engaging and hands-on presentation. A practical demonstration should do the trick. It would be important not to oversell because the next step could be a failure if I am unable to generate interest because of a failure to provide a relevance my colleague can connect with. We are all educators, but everyone has a particular button to push. Allowing my colleagues to be a part of the of the process during the walk through should generate the positive vibes needed to spark their belief in the idea I am sharing. Finally, the end result should conclude with buy in.

This is an interesting blog I discovered which I feel provides some keen insight. The blog can be accessed at the link http://chrismason1.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/technology-use-plan/

Here is another blog to read and gather further information about fostering support for increased usage of technology in schools can viewed at he following link http://ncara.edublogs.org/2011/03/17/collaboration-the-key-to-successful-use-of-technology-in-schools/

Connectivism

My networks have helped me by providing access to tools which enhance my skills. There are several tools I concentrate on because they provide the simplicity and quality- enhancing traits to help my students make their own personal connection to my content. One of the greatest thing I can contribute to my network contacts is I know my successes and near-misses are shared by others and together we are making a difference.

The digital tools which facilitate learning for me are resources which provide opportunities to be creative. For example www.blabberize.com provides an oral study guide with a visual twist to help trigger my learning curve. This website has many short videos I can browse to use or to get suggestions.

When I have questions about new knowledge I go to the youtube web site. It seems as though there is a visual presentation on almost every possible situation. This is an exaggeration, but the site has millions of learning videos. For example, I was watching a movie with a scene of how to opening a car door with a tennis ball and for fun I searched for the video and it was actually posted. When my little video helper is of little help, I try searching blogs or various educational sites such as EDUCASE and Kathy Schrock.

Here’s a link to browse my suggestions http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/

I thought this blog provided some very interesting information to consider

http://www.netfamilynews.org/?p=30288

Module 3

Jasmine and Gary were the two blogs I provided responses to. Each was very enlightening with very knowledgeable insights.  

Collaboration

The information on collaboration can be found at the following link

http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/collaboration/MAW_WP.pdf

Rheingold’s video was very funny. It funny how easily new innovations can be viewed at fresh innovations.

I believe there is a basic instinct in humans to interact and work as a group.  Of course, this does not mean an individual cannot be anti-social or prefer to spend time alone.

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs provides a detailed explanation of the impact of belonging. Working as a group could be a one time event, but humans repeat the action. Even when the end result of a group activity is disastrous, this will not prevent individuals from visiting group ventures in the future. Humans are like moths attracted to the intoxicating light of working with others.  

How would technology help me facilitate collaboration among learners based on constructivist principles? There are many subtle ways the wonderous web 2.0 tools can help, but I will just offer three.  I have decided to create a study guide to help my students understand how various forms of government impact citizen participation. An interactive component of the resource would be much more engaging and provide a learning experience students can connect with. Technology can help me in various ways to ensure the information exchange is two-way and relevant. For instance, I could Google Docs to share spreadsheets, Vyew to capture a screen or Thinkature for visual communication.

Here is a link about homo sapiens. It has a very interesting point to consider from the first line.

http://human-macroecology.blogspot.com/

I came across this next blog as I thought of how to answer the prompt

How can technology facilitate collaboration among learners based on constructivist principles?

http://andrewhickman.edublogs.org/2011/02/22/constructivism-and-constructionism-in-the-classroom/

Here is a video of a social studies classroom with students taking ownership of their learning environment

http://youtu.be/p6pFMPSWBds

(2006, March). [Meetings around the world: The impactof collaboration on business performance]. Retrieved April 13, 2011 from http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/collaboration/MAW_WP.pdf
 Rheingold, H. (2008, February). Howard Rheingold on collaboration [Video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html

module 2 posting

Jamie's blog was interesting. I thought I had added the second posting as required. Fortunately, I am a follower of Jamie's blog, so locating my response was not that difficult.

module two posting

I became a follower of my classmate Lamont's blog, but did not see my posting. Of course, I am not happy since I thought my original posting was pretty good. But not to worry I have fixed this small glitch.

module one posting

I became a follower of two of my classmates.
The link for Sullus' blog is http://sullusteagueeduc-8845.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
The link for LaKeisha's blog is http://sullusteagueeduc-8845.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.
I responded to Gary's blog. His blog can be found at the following link
http://mraedcu8845.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/module-1/#comments
I responded to Kathi's blog. Her blog can be found at the following link
http://klmiddleton.blogspot.com/

Cognitivism as a Learning Theory

Where should I start? There are at least 50 different ways to learn across this great country or at at least that many BOE which believe it has the right way. Kapp's blog was short, but his response to another blog comments I thought was a solid position. I believe you should apply different theories to fit the situation.

The blog responses to Kerr were in the same neighborhood. They pointed out the multiple theories do not neatly fit into any particular mold. I agree because our learning comes from our experiences and no two are alike.

The theory each has its own perspective on learning, so one would expect people to share various spins. The very existence of these blogs only confirms how diverse learning can be.

As pointed out in the assignment, there are much one can read on line. The following is a post I came across. Retrieved on March 31, 2011 from http://hotelvictor.yuiin.com/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-a-viewpoint/

What are my beliefs about how people learn best?

Is there truly one right answer to this inquiry? I believe the ways people learn are simply too numerous to place a reliable number any two people can agree upon.  For example, there are some situations in which my learning is enhanced by visual presentation. Many years ago I joked with my older sister I learned how to drive from racing go-carts. If you spend any time on our roadways, it seems many drivers method of learning could best be describes as a combination of video game simulation and bumper car drills.

 Driscoll (2005) states learning is a persisting change in human performance or performance potential. Learning theories provide a rationale for this action. So what is the purpose of learning theories in education technology? The digital age changed the playing field , but the rules are still the same.  Siemens provides insight comparing four theories and the application to education technology is an simple taransition. It is only when one views technology as as a new and complex evolution would you begin to see incompatiablity.

I love reading the postings in this blog. This particular one was about a concerned parent and the ineffective preparation her child received from her school. Also included are recent posts. One in particular provides details about Secretary Duncan's assessment of how the majority of schools are failing to properly educate our students.
 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2011/03/15/preschool-mom-sues-big-playroom-didnt-equip-child-for-ivy-league-ranks/

This is another great blog to visit.
http://www.joebower.org/2011/03/should-students-be-paid-to-learn.html

The authur of this particular blog shared his views of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation on student learning. The links  to additional blogs from the blog were extensive and extremely captivating information to read.
I have included a link to a video clip which will interest any and all who has wondered if teachers help raise test scores. Recent comments from individuals such as Bill Gates indicate the answer is a resounding yes.
http://bcove.me/4ntj4uaz

Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education

Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf%20