Module 1 Responses

Module 1 Blog
http://rogeronblog-roger.blogspot.com/2011/09/module-1.html?showComment=1316385595273#c7196519974572749317
Response:
I love your statement about imagination! It is part of our brain that we stamp out at too early of an age. Our creativity is also laid dormant at an early age too. Maybe video games are so appealing to everyone because of the unleashing of our imagination.

BCollins-Learning Theory and Educational Technology
http://bcollins-learningtheoryeducationalte.blogspot.com/2011/09/module-1-blog-topic.html?showComment=1316385209013#c4681460070019176692
Response:
Any time we are faced with a situation where learning is presented if we are interested in the subject matter the learning is so much easier. By allowing students to explore the topic to create that interest, the learning will be more natural. I also noticed the posts are very similar and I think that we have very similar views of education in this era. Gone are the days of strict desk learning and we now welcome the differentiated learning as a means to enjoy education.

How Do People Learn Best?

Everyone learns differently. To help explain this I like to use the Theory of Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner. The developmental stage of any child is individualized, learning at different stages. According to Gardner, intelligence is not alone or one factor that can be easily measured. Learning is done at different stages based on the individual learning aptitude of each student. This theory challenges traditional learning which is uniform not catering to individual needs.

This theory can be applied different ways such as embracing each student's own individual using the theories approach to embracing that style to having students embrace all learning styles as a way to differentiate their learning. The New City School has been using the theory of Multiple Intelligences since 1988 with great success producing material and training teachers in practical applications of the theory in the classroom.

Technology can be used to help differentiate learning for all individuals to achieve desired learning goals based on each students needs. Students can use multimedia to create many different ways of engaging student in learning embracing their own style of education.

References

Harold Gardner Multiple Intelligences in Education http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm

New City School http://www.newcityschool.org/Home.aspx?ContentID=1

Static Vrs Dynamic

Learner Engagement

Disclaimer:  This video presentation is a course project and is not a real presentation.  Richard Byrne was not a speaker at this fictitious event. 

Strategies and Tools

Learner Engagement is always a hot topic in education.  Education has allowed for the use of technology as a means for engagement in our classrooms.  We are using these tools as a way to collaborate with others world wide and this collaboration will only continue to grow.  Siemens (2007) and Durrington, Berryhill, & Swafford (2006) both agree that collaboration is essential to the growth of online learning. 

As we look to the future of education, we can see the use of these technological tools to develop 21st century learners in a world filled with technology.  Education and collaboration can only grow with the help of technology bringing us forward in educational opportunities.

References:

Durrington, V. A., Berryhill, A., & Swafford, J. (2006). Strategies For Enhancing Student Interactivity In An Online Environment. College Teaching, 54(1), 190−193.

Siemens, G. (2007). George Siemens - Curatorial teaching.”Retrieved on April 21, 2011, from http://learnonline.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/10-minute-lecture-george-siemens-curatorial-teaching/.

Individuality and Collaborative Learning

My experience collaborating in groups online has been mixed. I love taking classes and see working in groups as an opportunity but not without its challenges. Working with others creates an environment to learn from others. Each of us has something to contribute because of our knowledge and experiences. I will admit it is easier to work alone but not nearly as interesting. Often members of groups do not want to contribute for various reasons and this leaves the rest of the group questioning the finished project of the collaboration. As Seimans states, a collaborative learning community is essentially all working together. When one member of the collaboration is not contributing, a prompt by the leader is sometimes warranted to add to the collaboration. I was interested to hear Seimans use blogging as a way to collaborate but maintain a social autonomy. I love blogging and have since created two other blogs and I think because I am in control of the blog and my own destiny, I am more comfortable collaborating.

Assessing collaborative learning is not as difficult as one might believe. We do a very good job assessing our own work and work of others when it comes to collaboration. Feedback builds the scaffolding needed for the base of knowledge and this comes from feedback. As an educator that uses online educational software, I do not find the need to look critically at a student’s time spent on the assignments or the time used to take a test; the outcome is that they are learning. Assessment on the knowledge does not have to be validated in a traditional grading format but proof of knowledge can be seen as a higher level of thinking.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Learning Communities [Video program]. Available from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4930712&Survey=1&47=8482003&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Engaging Learners

As I do my research on engaging learners, I stumbled on this video from TED. Ali Carr-Chellman speaks about engaging boys in education and as a mother of an eight-year-old boy in the public education system, this speech really hit home and I wanted to share.

Ali Carr-Chellman: Gaming to re-engage boys in learning