Constructivism/Constructionism in Practice

Through my learning this week, I learned about the constructionist and constructivist learning theories. The constructivist learning theory states that each individual actively constructs his/her own meaning where as the constructionist learning theory is a theory of learning that states that people learn best when they build an external artifact or something they can share with others (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010). Dr. Orey mentioned that many get these learning theories confused and said that there is a difference between the two and the differences need to be noted, especially for teachers. In a classroom, you will take note of the constructionist theories being presented.

As I thought about the constructionist and the constructivist learning theories, it brought me back to my teaching methods recently and had me to ponder over them. As I sat and thought about these two learning theories, I realized that there are instructional strategies that I use in my classroom that would fall under either theory. This week the instructional strategy of generating and testing hypotheses was introduced. As I read about this strategy, it made me think of science, which happens to deal with testing hypotheses. But as the reading stated, this instructional strategy can be used in any subject. As I thought about this instructional strategy and in reference to the two learning theories, I realized that this instructional strategy falls within the constructionist theory. It involves students being able to explain, problem solve, investigate and even allowing them to create. Through this instructional strategy students are able to take part in their own learning and be engaged in the learning process.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Constructionist and constructivist learning theories. [webcast] Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: author

Cognitivism in Practice

This week I discovered many different instructional strategies that integrate technology that I can use in my classroom. As I read through many of them, I realized that I have used many of the strategies in my classroom but not with technology involved. One of the strategies that my students tend to struggle with is summarizing. Summarizing tends to be very difficult for students to understand. To help students in understanding summarizing techniques, it was suggested that Microsoft Word be used. In this program, teachers are able to use a feature that takes a text and provides a summary of it. This is beneficial to the students because they are able to visually see a summary written from a specific piece of text. This correlates with dual coding in the Cognitive Learning Theory. Through this process, students are able to learn the information and began to store it into the long term memory sector.

Another strategy presented in the reading was cues, questions, and advance organizers. I will admit that I have never used an advanced organizer in my classroom partly due to the fact that I have never heard of it until recently. But I have used cues and questions as an instructional strategy just not in the format explained in the reading. When talking and discussing with my students during a particular lesson, I normally have a focus question. As I am teaching the lesson, I am mindful of what questions I should pose to the students based upon the focus question. Although I tend to use questioning a lot in my classroom, I have never incorporated any form of technology with questioning. Through questioning, students are able to create a concept map in Inspiration. With the use of concept maps, students are able to retain information and store it into long term memory. Students begin to store information in their long term memory when, as mentioned earlier, dual coding is involved. This is where students are given a visual picture along with either text or audio. Concept mapping is great for enhancing the Cognitive Learning Theory. As the concept maps are discussed and created with students, it will help me to grasp a sense of those students who understood along with those who are still having difficulties understanding.

Behaviorism in Practice

This week we learned about two instructional strategies that embed technology within them. Those two strategies are reinforcing effort and homework/practice. These are just a few of the instructional strategies that can be used in a technology filled classroom.

As I mentioned in my discussion post, my school "39 Eagle Essentials" which are deemed as our rules. Everyone in the school follows these same rules. One of the Eagle Essentials is that homework must be turned in Tuesday through Thursday. With this rule in place, it makes students accountable for their work which in turn makes them pay attention better in class. My students are told from the first day of school that homework will not be given on material that has not been covered in class. I hold true to this because I want homework to be something that students can freely work on with out maximum help from mama or daddy. As stated in our reading, there needs to be either homework contracts or policies put into place. This helps to minimize disruptions and off tune behaviors because it makes students responsible.

Another instructional strategy mentioned was reinforcing effort. This tends to be extremely beneficial to the students especially if they are getting praised for great effort. In my classroom, I have all students try and they must make an effort to do the problem. I want them to feel comfortable making a mistake- that is how we learn. When we reinforce effort that lets students know that we care about them and believe in them. When students are being rewarded and praised for their efforts, that leads them to want to do well in school and have a mindset that they believe.

Reflecting on My Learning

Throughout this course, I was able to explore many new technologies such a blogs, podcasts and wikis. When I first began this class, I was a bit hesitant about the many different forms of technologies that I would be learning in such a short amount of time. After exploring the different technologies, I realized that many times, the students in my classroom feel just like I do. With this thought in mind, I understood that in order for students to understand the concepts presented in the classroom, that they must be given the opportunity to explore them on their own.

Through this course, I have deepened my knowledge on how to integrate technology into the classroom and how I can make it interesting and engaging for the students but yet still following the state standards. As I explored the concept of blogging, I realized that this would be a great tool that I could use in my classroom. It may not be easy to implement at first but as students are introduced to blogging and are able to explore it, it can be very beneficial to the students and teacher(s).

My perspective on going from a teacher-centered to a learner-centered classroom has not changed dramatically. This is something that is going to take a lot of work on my part for my classroom to become completely learner-centered. Although I do a lot of cooperative groups and learning centers in my classroom, I still do not believe that it is fully learner-centered. This is a weakness for me that I am trying to work on because I know that students learn a great deal from their peers especially when they hear me everyday.

Not only am I a teacher but I am a learner as well. I am constantly learning new things everyday either from my colleagues or from looking up things on the internet. As a teacher, I think that the learning process never stops and we are constantly learning new things that we can implement into our classrooms to better equip our students with the knowledge they need. I hope to continue to stay up-to-date with some of the newest forms of technology and how I can implement and use them in my classroom. I never want to cease learning! :)

The following is two long term goals that I hope will allow me to change my classroom into a more technology filled environment:

1. I hope to change my classroom environment by writing a grant to get a classroom set of iPod touches donated.

*I plan to accomplish this goal by writing a grant or posting on www.donorschoose.org and explaining my reasoning behind wanting a classroom set of iPod touches.

*An obstacle that I will face in being able to reach this goal is having wifi in the school. The school that I currently teach at does not have wireless internet therefore meaning that the iPod touches will not work. I hope that I can convince someone to wire internet throughout the school building in order that these iPod touches be used.

2. I hope to change my classroom environment by beginning to implement classroom blogging.

*I plan to accomplish this goal by starting out at the beginning of the year introducing blogging to my students and allowing them to explore blogs. I plan to work on this with the students throughout the year so that by the end of the year, students are able to actively post on the classroom blog.

*An obstacle that I will face is that many of my students will not have availability to the internet at home meaning that a majority of this will have to be completed at school in addition to teaching the curriculum. I hope to be able to plan time to where, as a class, we can go to the computer lab and work on blogging once or twice a week. Once students get the idea of blogging, I am sure it will be very useful to them and me as well.

Technology Interview of 3rd Graders

This was quite an interesting assignment to me. At first, I was really apprehensive about what I needed to be done and how I should go about completing this assignment. Through the mind of a teacher, I was thinking "how could I possibly interview four of my students for this assignment but yet not take away from my instructional time?" So in other words, I did not want to take away my instructional time in the classroom but I then realized that I was actually learning in the process; that was my instructional time! :) I discovered a great deal about the students in my classroom and the types of technology they use on an everyday basis. I was very surprised by many of their responses. I guess this was so alarming to me because I was not exposed to technology as such a young as age as they are but as the readings for this week stated, students are digital natives and technology is all they know and all they have grown up knowing. This can be seen just from the interviews that I did with four of my students.

The following is the link to my podcast: http://nguyent3.podomatic.com/entry/2011-04-03T09_49_55-07_00

I teach 3rd grade math and science. I teach 28 students. I have 14 in my morning class and 14 in my afternoon class. I chose to interview a male and female from each class. I hope you enjoy listening to their interviews and you also discover a lot about students and technology in the 21st century.

Partnership for the 21st Century Skills Website- Reaction

This website was very interesting to me as I began to explore what all it had to offer. With me teaching in the 21st century, it was exciting to see a partnership that supports 21st century education and the many resources this site had to offer educators. In order for students to be successful in the 21st century, a framework has been established. This framework is based upon 21st century standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction. In order for our students to be successful in the 21st century, as educators, we need to follow this framework.

As I explored this site, I enjoyed watching some of the videos that showed 21st century teaching. As I am a visual learner, this was very good for me because it gave me an example to go by and it showed me what 21st century teaching/learning looks like. I also enjoyed watching the teacher of the year video. I only watched a few minutes of it but what I heard was very intriguing to me. One comment that Mrs. Sara Wessling made was "we must meet students where they are." This is a very true statement. We can not expect students to come to where "we" want them to but yet as teachers, we need to meet them exactly where they can function and learn. I really enjoyed listening to Mrs. Wessling because she made some great statements that many teachers need to take with them into their classroom in order to become 21st century teachers. Another thing she said was that we need to teach to the student and NOT the test. I know that in my own teaching, I am guilty of teaching to the test and not the student. One reason is that I know that I am accountable for the end of the year testing but as Mrs. Wessling mentioned, if I teach to the student then they should be able to take the test because I taught them on their level and ability. This something that I am going to have to work on in my teaching because it seems that everyone is saying, "teach to the test"!

Something that I took away from this site was that in order for my students to come 21st century learners, I need to become a 21st century teacher and that starts with me becoming familiar with 21st century learning and the framework provided. I hope that through this course and the remaining classes in graduate school that I can learn to become a 21st century teacher.

Any suggestions for how to become a 21st century teacher?? :)

Using Blogs in my Classroom

Although I have never used blogging in my classroom, I do feel that it would be a great means of communicate between school and home. If I were to use blogging in this manner, I would post important dates such as test dates and assignments that are due for parents to be up to date. I would also use it to ask for any suggestions or questions that parents may have about things that are going on in the classroom or any concerns they may have regarding their student.

I would also use blogging as a means of displaying all star students either for a job well done in class or great behavior. Through using blogging in this way, I feel that it can increase student motivation because students will be able to see their name posted and the reason they are being displayed as an all star student. I also feel that it will allow parents to get involved in their child's education because it would be every parents dream to see their child's name posted.

I teach 3rd grade in which I teach math and science. This departmentalization is something new for me this year but I do enjoy it thoroughly.