Constructivist/Constructionist Learning Theories

WOW!, we have come a long way in educational theories. During my experience over the past 11 years I have seen many theories and strategies for learning come and go. It seems to me that the educational guru's are always trying to reinvent the wheel. I know that must sound negative but, I feel that these theories and I must state again "theories" are just that. The leaders in education use these theories time and time again, over and over but with a different twist each time. Now with technology becoming a demand in education, governments, districts, administrators find themselves jumping on the band wagon. I am all in favor of the implementation of technology in my classroom, but until they allow everyone with same opportunity and funding it is going to be impossible.

Constructionist learning is a theory I have been using for quite a while. This theory allows for freedom in the learning environment without restriction. It allows students to build upon prior and future knowledge and an avenue to which they can express what they know and have learned. I teach at an At-Risk high school. My students have a chip on their shoulders about education and they come to us primarily with a bad attitude. Our staff is always looking for new ways to present our curriculum to our students and strategies that our kids will be successful at. In my school we have very limited access to computers. Our lab has 15 working stations which is divided by 8 staff members with an average of 25 students per class. Other than our staff computers this does not leave us much time to create lessons that involve the use of technology. In a perfect world though, I am all in favor having a technology based curriculum and have a variety ways for each of my subjects I could use these theories in.

One idea I had would be for my students in my advanced physical education class that is primarily weightlifting and conditioning to incorporate technology via a spread sheet for their fitness journals. After a period of time I would have them chart their results and have them form a hypotheses of what their results will be by the end of the course. They could accumulate their data and make projections and formulate a conclusion for their final project. Students could also research diets, supplements and other physical fitness strategies or exercises to improve their own fitness. I already am using something similar, but not with the assistance of technology. I agree this would give my students a much easier and exciting way, plus it would give a break from gym.

Cognitivism in practice

In cognitive learning, the individual learns by listening, watching, touching, reading, or experiencing and then by processing and remembering the information. When using a virtual field trip or a concept map together a cognitive learner may seem to be passive but, the student is actually quite active. Throughout the trip and mapping, the students are processing and remembering new incoming information without the pressures of a normal classroom environment. The students entire experience ignites the cognitive learning which enables the student to create and format data that may include symbols, values, beliefs and norms. Because cognitive learning involves many aspects of human behavior by taking a virtual trip it will allow them the opportunity to explore and spark their senses in an outside environment. This correlation between these two strategies and cognitive learning should promote a positive and formidable learning experience.

Behaviorism in the classroom

I would have to agree with Dr. Orey on his perspective of behaviorism in our classrooms and with use of technology. He made some valid points about how operant conditioning still is going on within the learning environment, even though psychologist has deemed it a dead issue. I was thinking on the ways that I use operant conditioning and recently our school has developed a privilege list for those students who carry C's in all their classes, have perfect attendance and have not had a behavior write up. These students who achieve this are rewarded with certain privileges for example, access to the break room, mp3 players during non-instructional time, computer lab passes and cell phone usage at lunch. Our school itself has an established a behavioral atmosphere that students are conditioned to follow if they want a positive reward.

To continue with the discussion, I know in my classroom I find that I use behaviorism in my lessons on a daily basis. As I give out instructional assignments for example a worksheet on why the Roman Empire fell, the students may not receive the next worksheet about the Byzantine Empire until they have 75% or better. Students are allowed to re-submit their work until this grade is achieved. Now I do not do this for all assignments but, if I feel that the information is an important part of the section that's when I use this type of conditioning. For those students who do get the a 75% or higher in the first try they are rewarded verbally and their names immediately are posted on the board. I use these types of experience like a game show. It can be very exciting at times and the students encourage those who do not make it the first time. It becomes one big peer tutoring lesson and those kids strive hard to get their names announced and posted on the board.

As far as technology goes, Dr. Orey "hit the nail right on the head' when he talks about using mechanism like tutorial videos, text, or animation to condition students when they are using technology. Again, our district is introducing a new credit recovery system that clearly demonstrates this type of higher learning through technology. This on-line learning experience is a classic case of behaviorism. Students in order to move on to the next section of the course will only be rewarded if they pass that section. These students will be led through a series of tutorials and then will be conditioned by passing at an acceptable rate in order to continue through to the next section. Of course there will be some negative responses to the stimulus if they do not reach the accepted level to move on, but hopefully this will motivate them to try harder to reach the next positive reward.

I personally love the idea of using technology as way to condition students in a positive manner. I have used web-quests that I have designed or have borrowed from other instructors. In world history web-quest are a very positive tool not only for learning the material but to give students a positive experience with technology. I usually turn them into a light hearted competition and the students are put into cooperative teams. Each students is given a particular role so they have ownership with their teams. I have also used time lines and concept maps in a similar fashion. Each have there place throughout my history classes and it is a good break from the usu all routine.

Final Reflection

At time this course was very nerve-racking for me. I. e. wikis, blogs and podcast. I have spent a varied amount of time developing some technology usage in my classes but, this class has opened my eyes to some new ideas and plenty of different paths to go down. This class has forced me to come out of my comfort zone and enter into a world of numerous possibilities. Throughout this course, I felt a bit overwhelmed by all of the various web tools that can be used with my new friends the "digital natives". Sometimes old habits are hard to break for us the "digital Immigrants" but, old dogs can learn some new tricks. I know that the more and practice that I get working with the 21st century learner and the tools of a advanced digital world, I will feel more comfortable in this world of technology.

I am slowly becoming a believer that technology is very influential and a necessary tool to deliver lessons that are suitable for my students. Each time I utilize the computer to access the different tools for learning I am amazed at how much useful information there is for me to use. This class has allowed me to try and even install these different ideas in my classroom.

The statement "You have come a long way baby" has a big impact for me with this course. I now know that technology has endless possibilities for me to use as a teacher. It keeps me current personally and professionally. i can reference help form my classmates online who may have different ideas to try. Accessing new trends in my field can be exciting to say the least. It is though unfortunate, that my school district has not reach the level of technology that other may have but, they are beginning to update and use funds to keep up with fast pace world of technology.

The best part of this course I enjoyed and plan to incorporate into my curriculum was wikis. It was great finding all the new and up-dated information available to teachers and students. I used many of these when I was searching for lessons or strategies to use in my classroom.

This class has been an eye opener and I am excited to start using these new ideas to provide a better modern day experience for my digital native students.

Podcast Technology Survey

http://www.gabcast.com/index.php?a=episodes&id=29253

21st Century Learning

As I viewed this web-site, I noticed a big push towards learning on a different frontier. I was impressed by the support that was given by its members and the mission that they are trying to achieve. I feel that they really trying to reach out to us and allow us to think outside the box when it comes to education. We must not think like dinosaurs anymore when it comes to educating are children of tomorrow.
As educators of these children, we must have a more worldly process which will allow our students to become better citizens an in ever growing non-industrial society. The site is trying to make us aware of what the focus of learning should be in the 21st century not the 19th, or 20th. Our world is changing and it is time for us in the United States to catch up with our neighbors throughout the world or we will definitely be falling behind.
I live in the state of Michigan and we all have heard or seen the BIG THREE auto makers are falling behind and the world market has basically passed them by. The focus now at least in our state has to change its philosophy and look to other resources and other means for economic growth if we are going to survive. It has to start with the education of our youth of tomorrow to see that this is met and for us as citizens of Michigan can move beyond the old industrial image that it has taken on.

Blog in the classroom

I feel that teachers can use blogs to set up homework assignments or list missing work. I know several teacher who have set up their own web-sites that their students can enter. I think setting up a blog would allow students to converse openly about their concerns or give feedback about certain assignments or classwork. Teachers can post daily topics that students could check and respond to for extra assignments or part of the daily or weekly lessons. Basically it would set up very similar to what I am doing at Walden university.