I am so excited! While reading the book I came across a web based activity that links students all over the world for the purposed of exchanging information. The link to this is
http://www.iecc.org/
I found a class in Australia with students the same age as mine, so we will begin to match up the students to correspond and exchange information. I have visions of collaborating on some group projects with the children - I can't wait.
I will be using Skype to set up some voice to voice collaboration with the students. My goal is to have the children learn more about Australia AND to be able to communicate more about their own lives.
I also discovered the amazing technology in my new Garmin navigational device. I can program in any location (even Europe) and head out - this amazing device will take me turn for turn right to the front door of the destination. If I decide to take an alternate route for some portion of my trip, the Garmin will patiently tell me that it is recalculating. I love this device - it makes me much more willing to strike out to areas I am not familiar with. Lindsay - I am now ready to come to your house!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
What is learning?
I think this is a question that every educator needs to ask themselves. I really thought about this for a long time and even checked the dictionary just to see what it said.
Learning- defined in the dictionary is to gain knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience. I had to think about this because as with most definitions in the dictionary we don't understand the definition they give us. The first part that I noticed was the part about "to gain knowledge or understanding". If this definition had stopped at to gain knowledge I would not have considered that learning because students can memorize and gain knowledge but have not done any true learning. I feel that true learning comes in the understanding. Students have to understand what they are doing to have long lasting learning. For example students can memorize multiplication facts but if they do not have the true understanding then I feel they have not really learned but memorized. Those memorized facts will likely not be long term knowledge but short term. But with understanding, the knowledge is long term and they can apply that understanding to other similar problems. I guess I am saying you can not have true learning without understanding. I also thought about how student memorize all of the information in science and social studies but if they do not have understanding of why these things happened or what was happened to cause things then I feel they have truly not learned. Another member of my group also helped me think about not just the understanding that students have to have but the application of the knowledge makes learning occur. If we constantly "TEACH" students things but never give them time to practice or apply this learning then they will more than likely not have permanent learning. Most of our learning comes from our experiences.
Learning- defined in the dictionary is to gain knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience. I had to think about this because as with most definitions in the dictionary we don't understand the definition they give us. The first part that I noticed was the part about "to gain knowledge or understanding". If this definition had stopped at to gain knowledge I would not have considered that learning because students can memorize and gain knowledge but have not done any true learning. I feel that true learning comes in the understanding. Students have to understand what they are doing to have long lasting learning. For example students can memorize multiplication facts but if they do not have the true understanding then I feel they have not really learned but memorized. Those memorized facts will likely not be long term knowledge but short term. But with understanding, the knowledge is long term and they can apply that understanding to other similar problems. I guess I am saying you can not have true learning without understanding. I also thought about how student memorize all of the information in science and social studies but if they do not have understanding of why these things happened or what was happened to cause things then I feel they have truly not learned. Another member of my group also helped me think about not just the understanding that students have to have but the application of the knowledge makes learning occur. If we constantly "TEACH" students things but never give them time to practice or apply this learning then they will more than likely not have permanent learning. Most of our learning comes from our experiences.
Tech lesson plan critique
As we looked at lesson plans this week I thought about how I wished I had this type of time and could review every lesson plan as thoroughly as I reviewed these. In looking at the one I reviewed I looked at the objectives that would be met and what technology I would be using. It was evident to me that this plan was very good and would accomplish many teaching points that need to be accomplished. As I read other lesson plan reviews from members of my group I also was very interested at how they chose and critiqued their lesson plans. I thought the number of topics that were intergrated in these lessons where amazing. When teachers complain that there is not enough time to teach everything then I can't help but think about these lesson plans were several objectives are being covered at one time which saves teachers time. I think teachers are going to have to think about lessons and the objectives that are covered. There is hardly a time that I think one objective should be covered in a lesson...we need to intergrate many objectives. I also thought the websites that were given to us were wonderful sources for lesson plans. I had used the Alex one before but not the others...they are great!
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