After completing the course studies, I feel that all of what I wrote in my Personal Learning Theory still rings true. I still feel it is important to teach to the abilities and intelligence strengths of all of the students rather than teaching in a way comfortable for the teacher. However, I would like to start changing the way I use technology in my classroom. For the most part, I use technology as a teaching tool (a way for me to present information). While that is a good strategy, it is not the most effective way to use the available technology. I would like to phase in more lesson plans that use technology as a learning tool (a way for students to get hands on use of the technology).
An immediate adjustment I would like to make is the use of group work. Nearly all of my projects are individual at this point. I would also like to get more of my technology into the students’ hands. One lesson idea I have been planning as a result of this course will put both of those adjustments into action. Very soon I would like to assign a research assignment based on styles of art. This project idea was addressed in a previous paper. Students are put into groups and each group assigned a style of art. In the group, they create a power point presentation that they will use to teach the rest of the class about their style. The assignment is essentially a jigsaw activity where the students use technology to both research and present their information.
One long term plan I have set for myself is to expand the art related technology that is available to me. I have looked into a program called Frames which is a way to make stop motion claymation movies. Another piece of technology I would like to expand is access to digital cameras. Our school has one very old camera. I would like to organize a fundraiser that will help me buy some of the updated technology that I’d like. As a second long term goal, I would like to give my students more ownership of their learning and more choices in their projects. I have a set curriculum of terms (I.e. Color families or elements of art) but not a set way to teach these items. In order to put this goal into action, I need to work on creating many more lesson plans. This way, I can give my students a choice of 2 or more projects for each element of the curriculum I am trying to teach. By giving my students these choices, they are more likely to find a project that will appeal to the strongest intelligence of each student.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Social Learning Theories
According to Dr. Orey, social learning theories state that students will retain information better if they are required to understand and re-teach the information. They also learn better if they are collaborating in groups and learning from one another (Laureate Education, 2009). We researched some activities and strategies to put this theory to use this week. Voice thread in particular is the technology based strategy for social learning. Voice thread is an interesting program to learn but I am unsure how useful it will be in my classroom. I teach art in an elementary school, which means I see the students for 50 minutes, once a week. Perhaps if I taught at the highschool level and had 90 minute blocks every day, this would be a more practical tool. It is a shame that time prevents me from fully exploring some of the resources that are available. However, this does not mean that social learning will never occur in my room. In fact, I have a lesson plan where students use a claymation process to make a short video online. It is a project that lends itself very well to social learning while still having the students use and think about art processes. A quote that really stands out in my mind this week is, "Cooperative learning is not so much learning to cooperate as it is cooperating to learn" (Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., Malenoski, K., 2007, p. 143)
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Social Learning Theories. [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore, MD: Orey.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Social Learning Theories. [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore, MD: Orey.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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