(Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Prensky, 2001) states that, “today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach”. There has been many times throughout the past 3 weeks that I have thought that same about this course. That university has changed since I graduated in 2006 and that I am in over my head
So in reflecting upon these past 3 weeks of the ICT course, from learning about wiki's, creating a blog, making a voki, collaborating with a fellow student to create a PMI study on constructivism learning theory, taking questionnaire’s about my own learning style, negotiating my way around moodle, participating in mobile phone wiki using bono six thinking hat theory, discussing and evaluating Bloom’s Taxonomy, the engagement theory and Tpack learning frameworks. What can I say other than it has been a steep learning curve. A steep learning curve that at times has been really enjoyable learning, about new technologies, theories and programs that I will be able to implement into my classrooms to, frustrating at other times where I have found myself taking many hours, learning first how to use certain programs and then procrastinating about whether or not I am completing the tasks properly.
One example of this is when I had created my blog and was in the process of writing my first blog post when my computer went dead and at the time I thought I lost my all my work. So I diligently went back to re-writing my first blog post and upon completing it and pasting it to my blog wall. I was then negotiating around the site to see learn about other functions that the site could offer and how I could make my blog more user friendly, only to find out that it has an auto save feature and there was no need to re-write my blog post at all. Lesson learned the hard way this time, computer 1 Chris 0
Whilst creating my blog I found this interesting program called a Voki where you can create an avatar, alter there voice and appearance. I recently attended a seminar about Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace and the entire presentation was done by a similar program to the Voki. Using this program for the entire presentation, when you have a monotone computerized voice delivering information failed in this case to engage the audience. I notice many people around the room starting lose focus. I feel it could be very useful for introducing small sections of information or to initially capturing the audience’s attention. This has greatly reinforced my belief in using multiple intelligence sources.
In creating the PMI study on the constructivism learning theory. The activity itself had underlying elements of the constructivism learning theory. The theory states that “people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on these. It heavily promotes social and communication skills that emphasize collaboration and the exchanging of ideas.” (What Is Constructivism 2004 n.d).
Fellow GDLM student Michaela Garrett and I had to collaborate with each other and essentially construct our own understanding on the learning theory. Then categorize sections of information into pluses, minuses and interesting points. During this collaboration we used skype chat, txt messages and email. This made me reflect on the way that students in remote areas or home school students can use this technology to enhance their own learning processes. Skype could possible be set up where a teacher could teach an entire lesson or even an entire day via skype, the student and the teacher could interact virtually the same way as if he/she was in the room.
In evaluating the other PMI studies on the Wiki with regards to the different learning theories: Behaviorism (black box) and Cognitivism (brain-based) I feel that not one individual learning theory is the answer but teaching involves implementing a combination of all three.
I have recently been at the Queensland Fire and Rescue Academy
The Mobile phone wiki using bono six thinking hats also had a strong emphasis on the constructivism learning theory. Everyone collaborated with one another processed all the information, and then come out with their own theory. This is the basis of higher order thinking. Where you can critically deconstruct information and come up with you own opinions or theories.
My own learning process throughout this course so far I believe has been based around the constructivism learning theory, where I have had to essentially become my own teacher especially because I am doing this via the flex option. Central Queensland University
Reflecting back on all that I have learnt over the past weeks I believe that ICT's are going to play an ever increasing important role within the classroom, particularly in my two teaching areas of Physical education and Business studies. Technology is the new frontier in education. It is HERE and NOW but we as teachers need to underpin the use of technology within classroom with relevant tried and tested learning theories.
References
· Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Prensky. Marc (2001) Retrieved in the 12th of March 20011 http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
· What Is Constructivism (2004) retrieved on the 12th of March 2011 http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/index.html
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