Final Reflection

In the beginning of the semester, I defined my “Personal Theory of Learning” as project based and hands-on adaptations. I am also an avid reader and I learn in this way also.  I went on to state that if the learner, being myself or a student, does not understand or comprehend the materials to be learned in one way, offering several different ways of learning the material, such as, visuals, reading, discussion or project based learning will help all learners to grasp the material to be learned. (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010a).

Dr. Michael Orey describes Instructional Theory as, “examining strategies for changing the learning environment to facilitate learning.” He describes Learning Theory as, examining what goes on in the learners’ mind during the learning process.” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010c). Instructional theory is based on the learning environment while Learning Theory is based on the learners mind.

This course has deepened my knowledge and understanding of learning theory. I will continue to engage my students in Instructional Theories that promote their learning.  My lessons are project based, as an art teacher this is the best way to help my students in the learning process. I will continue to use visuals and examples of student and professional work; Students will read about the subject, interact with each other through discussion and critiques. Critiques are also done in written form for individual insight. 

I am making gains in the use of technology by myself and by my students. I have more sources to choose from to add technology in my lessons. I can now add concept maps, virtual tours, and voice threads to my repertoire. I have already added the use of concept maps and voice thread in several of my lessons. I am also in the process of searching for virtual tours of art museums and galleries that will help relate my student’s work to that of the real world.

At the beginning of the semester, I considered myself a toddler in the world of technology with little confidence.  I now consider myself to be in grade school now with hopes of going to middle school soon. I have made gains in my school by obtaining a LCD projector that I try to use on a daily basis, so I have met another one of my goals this semester.

I’m still working on that wiki, maybe I’ll make progress on that over winter break.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010a). Program eleven. Instructional strategies, Part one[Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010b). Program seven. Constructionist and constructivist learning theories [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010c). Program three. Instructional theory vs. learning theory [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice

According to the text, the instructional strategy of cooperative learning focuses on having the students interact with each other in groups in ways that enhance their learning. (Pitler, 2007). When explained in this way, you realize that you have been using this strategy in one way or another for your whole teaching career.  

When I reflect on all the different strategies that can be incorporated into education, I realize that at one time or another I have used them all, have combined them, interchanged them, and even discarded parts of some. What is the best way for learners to learn? I do not think there is one strategy that is better than another. The best strategy is the one where everyone learns and for everyone that strategy is different.

Cooperative learning used with technology is probably one of the more successful strategies for the learner.  Students who learn from each other tend to learn more and if you combine technology into their learning, their learning becomes global and far reaching.  I like to think of cooperative learning in the same light as folk art. In folk art, you learn through observation and by doing. The more you do it the better you should get. The same could be said for learning. You observe, you start doing and the more you work with it the more you will learn.

I feel this way about the new technology we worked with this week. Voice Thread. I found this to be one of the more difficult technological pieces that we have worked with so far. One of my difficulties was my computer working very slowly. It took over 15 minutes just for my photos to download.  I was afraid of doing much more than I did in fear of a total melt down.

This is the URL for what I did: http://voicethread.com/share/1551207/

It is based on the problem my school is having on recruiting students to go on extended field trips that are offered through the Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American Studies.  Its purpose is to get more students to join in the fun and learning.

References;

Pitler,H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., Malenowski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.