EDLD+5364+Wk+1-2


 This week we explored learning theories, and some of the issues that arise from these theories. In the reading from the book "Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works" organized charts with instructional strategies and technology categories charted out in an easy to read format for creating a lesson was shown. In the Web 2.0 reading we saw a view of the world of education and business in which technology is driving progress. Technology is restructuring how businesses are working and what educational institutions are teaching. After this weeks readings, I am excited by the many tools that are available to teachers that are free. One of the main points that I came away with this week, is the importance of clear objectives and purpose for technology use. This week we had 6 readings. They came from the following sources:

//**"Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works" By Howard Pitler, Elizabeth R. Hubbell, Matt Kuhn, and Kim Malenoski **// "How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School"// http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=6160&page=194
 * //"Learning as a Personal Event a Brief Introduction to Constructivistism" http://www.sedl.org/pubs/tec26/intro2c.html

** //**"Social Networking Technologies in Education"**// by Dallas McPheeters http://www.techlearning.com/article/16250


 * //"If I Teach This Way,Am I Doing My Job?Constructivism in the Classroom"//** By Debra Sprague and Christopher Dede http://www.iste.org/content/navigationmenu/publications/ll/llissues/volume_27_1999_2000_/september10/if_i_teach_this_way,_am_i_doing_my_job_constructivism_in_the_classroom.htm

=Things Learned:= This week through the assigned readings the Constructivist theory, Connectivism theory, and the Cyborg Learning theory were explained.
 * //"Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools"// By Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum ** p. 7-44

**The Cyborg Learning theory** -**//"Cybernetic organisms containing elements of both the human and the machine"// (Dallas McPheeters, p. 2) (also see video Cyborg Life: Kevin Warwick) **
=__** Week 2 **__= This weeks readings were interesting and informative with research information and new tools available for teachers to use. In the article __//Technology-Enriched Classrooms: Effects on Students of Low Socioeconomic Status//__ by Michael S. Page, he shared the conflicting results that have made the justification for technology in the classrooms to be disputed. Some people felt that weak results made this big investment not worthy. It was encouraging to read futher and see the gains especially in the area of self-esteem, mathematics, and special needs. While the findings showed increased achievement they were more clearly effiedent in low socioeconomic students. Also student interaction was a factor for increased success due to the learning enviroment that promoted collaboration.
 * //In a pre-1985 research concerning computer-based instructions, it was found that computers were paritcularly effective with low-achieving students (Parry, Thorkildsen, Biery, & Macfarlane, 1986) (Michael S. Page, p. 393)//**

I was espescially interested in the article about UDL- Universal Design for Learning. This is a framework that incorporates new approaches to learning with technology. With UDL the teacher is described as a guide. My favorite quote from all of our readings was this one from the article //__Teaching Every Student: Chapter1-UDL: "Intersection of Initieatives" UDL: The "Intersection of Initiatives"__// Rose, D., & Meyers, A. (2002) http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/chapter1.cfm


 * [It will be] to advise, guide, and encourage students wading through the deep waters of the information flood. [Educators] will thrive as mentors, tutors, backseat drivers, and coaches. They will use the best skill they have . . . to nudge, push, and sometimes pull students through the educationally crucial tasks of processing information: analysis, problem solving, and synthesis of ideas. These are the heart of education, and these are the activities on which our time can best be spent. (O'Donnell, 1998, p. 156)**

This article talked about new research in the way we learn. The article found that though a student may have a disability in learning in one area that in another they make look //"extraordinarily skilled"//.

WEEK 3 (Continued on next page)