Reflection: Technology and my Learning Theory

Eight weeks ago I reflected on my personal theory of learning based on observations of theorist B.F. Skinner, Howard Garner, brain research, and most of all my personal experiences of teaching and learning. Howard Gardner believes that each and every person possesses a total of nine distinct intelligences and depending on the person, some are more dominant than others (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008). B.F. Skinner believes that students will learn to perform tasks correctly when positive reinforcement is used(Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008). Dr. Patricia Wolf in regards to brain research says that learning takes place when meaningful connections are formed within the brain (Laureate Inc, 2009). Personally I believe that all of these theories are correct and when placed together spell out the formula on how learning takes place. After eight weeks of my class, “Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology,” at Walden University, I realized that I would not make any modifications to my personal learning theory, because this learning theory is based off of the overall process and differences that exist within the learning process. What I did learn throughout this course was how to effectively use technology and other techniques on how to better implement strategies on how to teach toward this personal learning theory of mine.

We live in the age of Technology and I believe technology should be a huge instructional tool within the 21st century classroom. Dr. Orey talks about an instructional tool vs a learning tool (Laureate, 2009). One change that that I would make is to try to find a way to transfer as many of my instructional tools into learning tools. Students learn better when they can physical touch something and interact, rather than just sitting back and listening to a lecture. One piece of technology that I use all the time is my SMARTboard. When I first started using the SMARTboard six years ago, I used it primary as an instructional tool, because I thought it would take to much time out of the class to teach the students how to manipulate it and I did not want it to get broken. Over the years, I realized that the purpose of having technology in the class is so the students can use it and they should be able to interact and experience it. One of my long range goals is to take all of my SMARTboard files and adapt them into student centered learning tools.

Another long term goal that I have in regards to technology in my classroom, is to take more advantage of the resources I have available to me. In my utopian classroom, every child would have a macbook pro equipped with, “Music Maestro,” “finale,” “garage band,” and other various music software. Now I could complain about how I do not have the necessary resources, or I can take advantage of what I do have. I have a SMARTboard, two extra PCs, and I’m getting 2 iPads next year. There are lots that can be accompmlished with this technology. I’ll keep asking my administration for more, but I will work with what I have. The key to implementing this strategy is to take baby steps along the way. A teacher is not only a teacher, but is also a learner, and I believe there is a lot to be learned with and from my students.



Resources:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Brain research and learning: Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Technology: Instructional Tool vs. Learning Tool: Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Understanding the brain: Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

VoiceThread for Music

This a VoiceThread that I created that will help me solve one of the major issues that I deal with when teaching recorders in my music class.

http://voicethread.com/share/1192089/

Technology and Social Learning Theories

Social learning theories deal with how students learn through interaction with each other (Laureate Inc, 2009). There are many benefits to a social learning theory, such as they promote social interaction, they build social networks, students feel safer because they have a group to rely on, grades increase, and working in a group provides instant feedback (Kim, 2001). Personally, the main benefit that I can see is how social learning prepares the children for their future. They need to work on class projects that are similar to the way adults perform tasks in real life.

The book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (2007) explores many resources that directly correlates to the learning theories. For instance, the first resource from the chapter, “Cooperative Learning,” is about creating a multimedia video to present to the class. Making a video requires a lot of organization, preparation, and the many components call for a collaborate team to complete. Through this process of collaboration, the students will be engaged, they will work together, they will receive constant feedback from one another, they have a team to rely on, and they will gain a higher depth of knowledge about the actual presented material.

Other resources from the book include interactive games, web quests, website creation, and even something as simple as ichat or Skype. I think that it is amazing that students can essential collaborate face to face via Skype without having to leave their house. When I was in school, the teachers shied away from collaborative projects that were not completed exclusive within the school day because if I needed to meet with a peer after school, my parents had to drive me to his/her house. Now imagine the luxury of just turning on a computer at a given time and collaborating face to face with multiple members of your group. The possibilities are endless.


Resources:

Kim, B. (2001). Social Constructivism.. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/

Laureate Education Inc. (Producer). (2009). Social learning theory [Motion Picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology Baltimore: Author.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.