Constructivism Through Technology

As a reading teacher, one of the ways I like to incorporate constructivism through technology is through book reviews. Many times as a classroom reading teacher I go to web sites to find suggestions for books, content matter, reading levels, ect. I often ask my students to pretend that they work for Barnes and Noble and that they have to write a review of the book we just read. They have to tell whether they liked it, would suggest it to others, and give a short plot summary…without giving away the story, just like we read online. However, I always have them write these reviews up in their journals but why not have them work up their reviews in a word document and then past to a website like barnesandnoble.com to the readers review section. They could see their very own work on a real website; which could be helpful to someone else deciding on that book.

Cognitivism in Practice...can you smell the learning?

The class that I teach, Guided Reading, walks students who are struggling with literacy through many strategies that help them to become more fluent readers who understand what they read. One of the very first, almost primary strategies we teach is chunking. Chunking is breaking words in to smaller parts often were syllable breaks naturally occur. Although this concept is very elementary for a struggling secondary reader it can be tricky. One of the ways that I help students to ‘experience’ chunking is to keep a small white board on my reading table; when a student comes to a word that they cannot read, I give them the white board and have them guide us a through a mini lesson on chunking that word.

It is through the use of technology, of using concept mapping and advanced organizers that help students make connections and to remember. We have to remember that kids need to hear several times, see it too, use effective graphics, give them experiences.  If we roll more of these concepts into our everday teaching, our students will have a richer educational experience.

Behaviorist Learning Theories

In my own classroom I extensively use the behaviorist learning theory with classroom management. It lends itself perfectly and frankly most behaviors take place because there is some sort of reaction either positive or negative.




Our school district has used connected math a math program where there is not a lot of practice and drill. Kids are introduced to larger concepts and then use a lot of self discovery. It is obvious to me that this approach with math does not work because too many of my students come to seventh grade and do not know things like multiplication tables and basics formulas simply because they didn’t get any ‘drill and kill’ with these essential facts. I think certainly behaviorist theories work well in the math classroom. Anything really that has to list a set of instructions or use an ordered set of procedures. Some things just need rote practice to become more fully learned. Often as teachers in my district we will use online tutorials to increase our computer skills or when learning a new computer program. I think as teachers we all use different learning theories in our classrooms and the behaviorist theory has its place.

Test

Test

So Long Summer School...

As part of my Masters program through Walden University please allow me to reflect on a few pieces and parts of my learning. The way this course has helped me to develop my own technology skills as a teacher is I wasn’t aware how interactive the web is. This new interaction is called Web 2.0. Web 1.0 presented information to the viewer; Web 2.0 allows the user to interact not only with the website but with other people using that site as well. Talk about a connected world! For me this has allowed an analogy to become to clear. My teaching used to be Teaching 1.0, where I presented and the students ‘got it’. Fear no longer! I have become a practitioner of Teaching 2.0, an interactive style where students interact not only with me at the teacher but with other students.
Staying plugged in with new technologies, taking classes, knowing what my students are up to as far as the newest technology will help me to stay fresh and up to date with what is happening in technology, but also this will transfer to the classroom where I can further help my students with increasing their achievement in all areas of school.
Two long term goals I have for transforming my classroom environment will be to apply for grants to secure a mini-lab for my classroom. Just three or four lap tops with internet access would allow literally the world to be at my student’s finger tips!!! Another goal I have in to finish this Master’s in technology degree and be an inspiration for my fellow teachers who maybe apprehensive about going to this new ‘Teaching 2.0’, to help them see the joy students have through self discovery and to see exactly how this style of teaching can produce a whole new style of learning.

Podcast

Well....here it is! My first Podcast...check it out! Shayne

http://www.podcastmachine.com/podcasts/1475/episodes/6899

21st Century Learning

Currently I am enrolled in a master’s program through the Walden University. Through this program I discovered a website, Partnership for 21st Century Skills. www.21stcenturyskills.org. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills urges business, education, and government leaders to join this effort, think strategically about implementing 21st century skills into learning, and work long-term to create an education system that best prepares today’s students for tomorrow’s workplace. P21 Leadership States design new standards, assessments, and professional development programs that prepare students with the 21st century skills they need to be successful in school, work, and life. To become a P21 Leadership State, a state demonstrates commitment from the governor and chief state school officer and submits an application to P21 that describes the state’s plan to revise standards, create assessments and implement 21st century skills professional development programs.
This very good website marries the ideas of how to implement what our employers need with what our students are learning. I found it a good resource and a sort of wishbook for what our schools and classrooms might look like to better prepare out children to compete not only in our workforce at home but in this ever expanding, ever smaller global community workforce. Please remember, I said wishbook. Without support or mandates from the US Federal Government, it is difficult to hold local schools to these standards. Currently only eleven states are currently part of this partnership. It is interesting to me that NCLB set certain standards for education but states are free to arrive at these. I think when we are all on the same page nationally then truly the playing field will be more level…certainly groups like Partnership for 21st Century Skills are stepping out to help make this happen for our young people.