Reaction Paper

Based on my experiences, I would now say that I think the discussion is an effective learning tool. Through this class I was able to learn about different learning styles and how to incorporate them into the classroom. At first I was very skeptical about interacting with other classmates this way, but it turned out to be very beneficial. 

One of the difficulties I experienced in participating in online discussions was just voicing my opinion or critiquing other classmates. I think that the smaller audience made it easier for me to say what I was thinking or sharing what I had read about a certain topic.  It was also difficult when I had a question and having to wait hours before getting a response. I was lucky in the fact that I had a very responsive group and so this was very seldom ever an issue.  I learned through the discussion that I can have varying opinions on topics and on how to do classwork. I think that critiquing my classmates was difficult at first, but after realizing that our critiques were only to help one another I was able to offer more constructive criticism. This helped me to look at my groups lessons and compare to mine and see ways that I could improve.

I think that the online class was beneficial to me because I was able to work on my own time and soak in more of the material that I was studying. If I had questions or wanted to discuss what I had read I was able to do that and get feedback. The guidelines that were set up at the beginning of class insured that I would get feedback.

Overall, I feel like I gained a lot of knowledge through this online class. I enjoyed learning about Power Point, Webquest and Publisher; all of which I had never or rarely used before this class. This class have broadened my views on computers in the classroom and I will be certain to use what I have learned when I begin to teach.

Reflection on Social Constructivism

Through designing a Webquest and Power Point I felt like I really gained a better understanding of how the teachers role in guiding and assisting in the classroom is so important. Although this assignment was one of the more challenging, I feel that this teaching method is probably the most beneficial to the students.

I really enjoyed getting to create the Webquest and hope to one day be able to use mine and also my other classmates Webquest in the future. I think that these plans are very adaptable and could be used in various ways. I think that these lessons will help students to become more independent when working on a goal of creating PowerPoint pages or newsletters for their classrooms.

Reflections on Cognitivism

In reflection on the discussion and lesson plan on cognitivism I realized there is so much more we can do with technology than I ever realized. With technology, there is a wide array of tools available that clearly reflect the principles of cognitivism. Nowadays, software is so evolved that a user can adapt it to his or her liking in almost every way to improve his or her experience! When a student is given a proper cue, or prepares a summary in the proper way, connections are being made right away. Brainstorming and concept mapping software produce great visual representations of the cognitive theory of learning as well. We are making visual connections using this software that represent the exact connections that we are also creating in our mind and that replicate the network model of memory.Virtual field trips are another great example of cognitivism in practice. Students are able to make important visual connections to a particular event or place that they will be able to recall quickly because of the engaging and fascinating experience they just had. There is no doubt in my mind that students today respond much better to the use of tools that stimulate more than one of their senses, which leads to better connections and deeper learning.

Through our group discussions and creating PowerPoint slides I feel like cognitivism is a great way for a student to learn. There are so many different ways to have a child use what they already know about a subject and elaborate on that to allow them to store it in long term memory. The key is making sure you teach it well enough and provide enough stimulation so that this happens. For this reason I think it's important to incorporate different learning strategies into the lesson plans to make sure you are reaching every kind of learner. Although I feel like taking the cognitivist approach to learning is a good method, I would not personally rely on this teaching method alone.

Reflection on Behaviorism

I found out through the Behaviorism course materials and discussions that this learning theory is definitely used in classrooms every day. Not yet having taught in a classroom I can still see how these principles are used. With this learning theory the system is based on rewards and punishments. Behaviorists believe that if you provide positive reinforcement or rewards whenever students perform a desired behavior then it will result in them performing the behavior on their own. This can be used a number of ways…for example the teacher could reward the students with a party for good behavior or on the other end, if the students are bad the teacher can take away certain privileges.

I think that through the discussions and lesson plan critiques I will definitely be able to use the information I have received and apply the behaviorist approach to my classroom when I become a teacher. I have a great group that has been very insightful in showing different ways to apply this to your lesson plans. Most were in the subject of Mathematics, so I have gained some very useful tools to use in the future.

Judging off of what I have learned so far I am looking forward to the next learning theory, which is Cognitivist theory!!

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First Blog

My name is Alicia. I am back in school after almost 10 years to get my Master's in Elementary Education. Nervous, but excited!