I think people in general, learn best when they “do”. In other words, I think hands-on learning, having the learner “do” something, is better than just talking or reading about it. But I believe it is more than just that. Depending on the level of the student (ie: elementary vs. high school), I think that having the student do some reading about the topic first allows an introduction to the topic and provides background and some basic knowledge. As an instructor, then presenting the material in a manner that relates to the students’ lives and ideas they are familiar with, helps to make a connection from the “academic” portion to “real-life” and then having the students “do” something with that knowledge and connection helps to solidify what they have learned.
In my elementary school, I have the students once a week for 45 minutes, so I skip over the reading part as it would most likely not benefit them. Instead, I move straight to the talking/explaining about the topic along with a demonstration. Then we move to a “follow along with me on your computers” type of hands-on activity. We end with an independent activity designed to show their understanding as well as a connection to “real-life”. For instance, now they know how to do simple word processing, we will take their animal reports they are writing in class and type them up for their final presentation.
I think if you can make the connection for the student between what they are learning and real-life application it has more meaning for the student. Otherwise, it is just another set of facts or information that they wonder, “Do I need to know this for the test?”
The purpose of learning theory in educational technology is to guide the educator in teaching the student. I believe in a combination of Constructivism and Connectivism. As George Siemens discusses in his 2009 vodcast, “What is learning for me?” (Thank you Bradley Gogan for suggesting this link in our course discussions this week.), learning needs to involve making connections. How is what I am learning applicable to other aspects, areas, or people in my life? I put this knowledge together; construct it, as I go. Then I look for areas in which it can be applied. If the knowledge is not applicable to me or my life, as in how to make a racecar engine have better performance, then the learning or knowledge is of little value to me and will be lost. Making the connection, that it is key.
I identify with Siemens’ metaphor of educators as “curators” (2008, p. 17) in his paper “Learning and Knowing in Networks: Changing roles for Educators and Designers”. I believe I am here to guide and fill in the blanks for my students. To allow them to explore on their own, to figure out and discover as we move along. And when they need guidance, explanation, or a push, I am there to provide it. To me, all of this involves constructing knowledge with the student and making connections with what they are learning and their own lives.
George Siemens has many resources on the internet from books, to vodcasts, to blogs and websites. Two in particular that I like (they are connected to each other) are:
Connectivism: networked and social learning
http://www.connectivism.ca/
elearnspace: everything elearning
http://www.elearnspace.org/
References
Siemens, G. (2008). 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
Siemens, G. (2009). What is learning for me? Vodcast retrieved from http://www.howcast.com/videos/114131-What-Is-Learning-For-Me-George-Siemens
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For Module 1, I responded to the following blogs:
Bradley Gogan
http://gogans.blogspot.com/
Lauren Dart
http://ldart7105blog.blogspot.com/2011/03/week-1-blog-post.html#comments
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Christine,
ReplyDeleteI agree that relevancy in learning is key. Why would we want to teach our students about underwater basket-weaving? Would that be relevant? Certainly not here in the middle of Texas! You mentioned making the connection for the students. Do you feel they get any more out of it if they make their own connections, or would the results be about the same? I am interested in your thoughts on that topic.
In my own blog I included a video of Sir Ken Robinson in which Sir Robinson suggested that the current education system can dampen a child's spirit. Do you see this and if so, how would you suggest we go about changing that?
Thanks for the insightful post!
I agree with you regarding the importance of equipping students with the skills that allows them to connect learning with real-life experiences. New technology tools alter the way in which we teach, learn, and function. Thus, the challenge facing educators is appropriately applying learning theories to their practice, ensuring that students gain the necessary skills to flourish in a digital age.
ReplyDeleteGood examples! I like the approach of jumping in and working through a task and then letting students work through the task again. The hand's on approach tends to work for most subjects. What do you do, though, when you have a task that students are not mastering and cannot see the connections, what do you do?
ReplyDeleteI work with adult learners, so using the approach of connections generally works with them. I am curious, though, how you rethink those connections with elementary students.
Erica
Christine,
ReplyDeleteLet me begin by saying I love how your blog "looks." It is very pretty.
Now, onto the educational technology part. I also identified with Siemens’ metaphor of educators as “curators” (2008, p. 17) in his paper “Learning and Knowing in Networks: Changing roles for Educators and Designers”. I think that so many teachers today just tell their students the information which needs to be learned and some act more as dictators in the classroom. I have worked with some teachers like this, and they struggle to find success with their students. However, I also, like you feel like I am more a "guide" in the classroom. Problem-based learning has helped me serve as more of a guide and let the students learning flourish independently. I encourage students to push themselves and not just settle for "good" because they can achieve great.
I look forward to reading your blog more in the future!
Lauren Dart