Reflect on the “Personal Theory of Learning” you developed in Week 1. Summarize any modifications to your personal theory of learning you have made as a result of your learning in this course.
This course has reinforced many of my teaching practices as well as sparked an interest in learning about different ways to teach and how my students best learn. During week one I created a personal learning theory. As I look back on the assignment I can see that I use several different learning theories. Constructivism, behaviorism, and cognitivism (Orey, 2009) all play a role in my classroom. I will continue to strive toward active learning for my students. This constructivist model (Orey, 2009), in my opinion, is a key component in engaging students in authentic learning experiences. I will try to emphasize even more the different modes by which students learn. After taking this course I realized how much more I want to step back and allow students to construct and create meaning. I would like to give my students even more opportunities to work collaboratively, as well as find different ways to help them conceptualize material.
Describe any immediate adjustments you will make to your instructional practice regarding technology integration as a result of your learning in this course. Identify two technology tools you would like to use with your students and how the tools will support or enhance your students’ learning.
This course has not only increased my knowledge of learning theories, but also the technologies that support them. I feel confident with my ability to use technology when teaching. I now want to move towards handing the technology over to my students. I have already started using PowerPoint presentations more with my students. I used them as a teaching tool, but I now use them more readily as a learning tool. My students are so eager to design and present their work using PowerPoint. The students are able to cultivate a skill that they will more than likely need as they enter the working world. They also learn how to work with one another, troubleshoot, synthesize information, and present information. Another easy to use and relevant tool that I learned about during this course was VoiceThread. I would also like to start using this tool in my classroom. So often students do not get to share their ideas or projects in class because of time constraints. I would like to start using VoiceThread as a way for students to post their work and receive feedback from peers, teachers, parents, and administration. I think this tool will create great pride in student work, as well as help the students see the benefits of social based websites that go beyond networking.
List two long-term goal changes you would like to make to your instructional practice regarding technology integration and outline a strategy for achieving them.
Overall I hope to continue using technology as a teaching tool, but want to increase my ability to use it as a learning tool. As technology continues to grow and advance I want to be prepared to grow along with it. One long term goal that I have is to stay breast of online tools that I think will be beneficial to my classroom. As I went through this course I was exposed to so many free online tools that I never knew existed. One can only assume that these kinds of programs will continue to be developed. I want to be able to take advantage of these tools and become proficient in using them, so that my students can use them. There are several tools that I learned about in this class that I would like to learn how to use more effectively over time. I plan on reviewing those I learned in class as well as committing time to seeking out other tools through collaboration and personal searches.
I would also like to continue learning about the functions of the brain and what kinds of technological tools are available. I believe I can achieve this goal through personal research of scholarly articles as well as through collaboration with colleagues. A subscription to an e-newsletter may be another good resource for staying abreast on brain research and complementary technology tools.
I am once again grateful for yet another class where I was able to learn and grow in my profession. This course exposed me to technology tools, strategies, and theories that I know I will use in my classroom. Now more than ever, I want to work towards using relevant technology, and more importantly, placing that technology into the hands of the students.
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.
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