Reflection for Course 6711

After looking back on my “Personal Theory of Learning” I feel this class has confirmed my beliefs. In my “Personal Theory of Learning”, I said “My personal theory on how students learn is that most students learn when they enjoy what they are doing” (Application 1). Throughout this course, Dr. Orey talked about using collaborative assignments, visuals, technology, and artifacts to make learning interesting for students. I had the same beliefs during my “Personal Theory of Learning” and feel I was right in line with teachings of this class.

One adjustment I am planning on making at the beginning of the school year is to use more technology in my classroom. I have always liked to use collaborative lessons, but I don’t use technology as much as I would like to. This course has given me many ideas about how to use technology in a collaborative way. Two types of technology that I plan on using more are blogs and clickers. In my application 7 lesson, I have developed a current event blog that will let students discuss in a collaborative environment using Web 2.0 tools. The other technology that I am planning on using is clickers. I am planning on using them to review for tests and quizzes. I used the clickers once this past year and they were a big hit with the students. Dr. Orey says “Technology as a learning tool includes students using technology as active learners” (Laureate Education, 2009). That is what clickers do. Every student can use the clicker to answer questions given to them, which gives them a sense of having to know the information not just waiting on someone else to answer. That is how I am planning on using technology for the upcoming school year.

Two long-term goal changes that I would like to make are to make my technology use more collaborative and more frequent. Many of the lessons that include technology in my classes of the past were very single student centered. I would like to get students into groups to complete assignments and projects. Along with having more collaborative technology lessons, I would also like to include technology more often. I like to think I use technology a lot in my class, but I want to get to the point were I use technology almost all of the time. I believe my students will enjoy my class a lot more if they get to use technology more than any other class, but I will also feel like I am preparing them and my self for the future. Those are the long term goals that I feel I can make as my teaching career progresses.

The major need for my classroom!

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Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice

Dr. Orey says the social learning theory should be "students actively engaged in constructing artifacts and conversing with others" (Laureate Education, 2009). I like my students to see my class as somewhere that can come to talk and learn about social studies. I like to use projects and lessons in my class that incorporate technology. I try to incorporate technology and the social learning theory because they go together very easily. Some lessons that Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski (2007) include in their book that use collaboration, Using technology with classroom instruction that works, are web site creation, multimedia (videos), blogs, wikis, shared bookmarking, web-enables and multipayer simulation games. All of these activities can fit into the social constructivism view of Dr. Orey "work not only being student centered, but peer centered" (Laureate Education, 2009). Technology activities in the classroom can be highly peer centered. Students tend to learn a lot more in a collaborative setting. One reason is because students get to teach each other. Dr. Orey says "Teaching others helps the learner develop a deeper understanding of the content" (Laureate Education, 2009). Students who are working in groups and using technology are not only learning more, but are being trained for the 21st century work place. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski (2007) say "To be prepared for the fast-paced, virtual workplace that they will inherit, today's students need to be able to learn and produce cooperatively" (pg. 139). I feel by using the appropriate lessons I will be preparing my students for their lives.

Lessons like web site creation, multimedia (videos), blogs, wikis, shared bookmarking, web-enables and multipayer simulation games are all collaborative lessons. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski (2007) say "Technology can play a unique and vital role in cooperative learning by facilitating group collaboration, providing structure for group tasks, and allowing members of groups to communicate even if they are not working face to face" (Laureate Education, 2009). As my teaching style and the technology available develops, I feel my class will get more collaborative. Right now I would my class is mostly collaboration, but not to the level that I want it. I believe being able to use blogs, wikis, and multiplayer simulation games will make my class even more of a learning experience for my students. I have tried to use all three of these assignments in the past, but my school has not let me use them. The county that I teach in is currently creating a blog site that is monitored by the county and safe for classroom use. I hope to be using this in the fall. I also tried to use a multiplayer game called "Peacemaker" before, but my school woulndn't purchase it for me and it was too expensive for me to purchase it. All of these lessons would be great to use in my class to promote the social learning theory.