Module 4

The vast array of tools available to facilitate learning is amazing. When ever I need to learn something new I first start at Google and enter a pretty generic search criterion so that I can find out what some of the basics for that concept. This helps steer my research and depending on what I need it for is where I will go next! If it is for a presentation for my students or colleagues I might create a prezi so that they can see the information presented in a more dynamic way. Once I have demonstrated the new technology like prezi or gloster I then will have my students create something using that technology so that they have access to new ways to present their ideas.

I am a visual learner so I like prezi, gloster, and United Streaming because they allow me to see what is going on and help me build a picture of what needs to happen. I know not all of my students learn in this manor so I try and come up with other fun things for them to do!

The Internet has drastically changed what I do when I have questions! When I was younger I used to go to my parents and ask endless questions because I thought they knew everything. My mom always told me to go look it up, like I had the resources to do that! She would then take me to the library where the librarian and I would search the card catalog to find a book that might have the answer. My dad on the other hand would just make up an answer on the spot that sounded so real that I always bought and I would then share my new found knowledge with the rest of the world. It had to be right my dad told me so! I know can verify very easily if what comes out of my dad’s mouth is truth or fiction much easier now and I make a fool out of myself way less often!

Module 3

Five Guiding Principles of Constructivism:
1. Pose problems of emerging relevance to students.
2. Structure learning around primary concepts.
3. Seek and value students' points of view.
4. Adapt instruction to address student suppositions.
5. Assess student learning in the context of teaching.

(http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/index.html)


Rheingold talks of the ways in which humans have interacted for thousands of years. The ability to problem-solve had to have been developed over time and has evolved as humans have. The ability to problem-solve is one of the founding principles of the constructivist philosophy. In using technology to help students learn to communicate it allows them to foster relationships with people all over the world. They can begin to learn that some problems they face are universal to all children and some are unique to their part of the world. But the skills necessary to solve any problem no matter where you are are very similar.

Helpful Sites
Concept to Classroom – I liked this site because it really broke down in layman terms what constructivism is and isn’t really about. It also gives a great bulleted list of the 5 guiding principles of constructivism. Which are:


References:

Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Rheingold, H. (2009) Way-new collaboration retrieved from
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html