Sunday, May 3, 2009
Course Reflections
I found this course very interesting. At first, I was very unsure as to how it was all going to work. However, with time, it all came together and made sense. I think that the course was effective in learning about constructivism by doing and experiencing constructivism. We had to research and discover for ourselves what constructivism is and how it works. It was a different approach to an online class, and I thought it was beneficial to learn by doing.
2. Please evaluate the emphasis on collaboration in writing the WikiBook Chapters.
I personally have a hard time with group collaboration simply because everyone’s schedules are different, and everyone’s work ethic and work timing are different. It was hard when I was ready to write the chapter, but no one else in my group had contributed yet to the Sandbox. However, it does teach you to be flexible, and patient with others. Communication is key in collaborating with others, and I think that makes a difference in the final product.
3. Please comment on your experience of others (e.g. WikiBook editors, external experts, other Internet surfers) observing and / or critiquing your writing in the WikiBook.
I enjoyed looking at other’s work in the WikiBook. I was able to be informed without having to do the research for that specific chapter, which was nice. I also appreciated other people’s thoughts and ideas as the chapter author on how to make improvements. It is nice to have another eye to look at your work. As long as the critiques are constructive, it is an important tool to have.
4. Please compare the experience of doing research and authoring a textbook for a class (like this one) versus the traditional way of reading and studying an assigned textbook for a class.
I would much rather do the research and author as opposed to read and study. I have to do the research and write myself. There is no skimming and finding an easy way around reading the chapter. By authoring the textbook I am more knowledgeable about the content than I would be had I been assigned to read and study a textbook.
5. As a result of your experience in this class, are you more likely or less likely to assign collaborative wiki writing assignments in your teaching situation? Please explain the reasons you are more or less likely to do so.
I don’t know if I am more or less likely to assign these assignments. I think I would lean towards less likely, but only because of the age of students I teach. I think that it is a powerful learning experience, and is a great way to combine technology with that. My experience has been ok. However, with fourth graders, it would take a lot of work and preparation. They are just learning how to keyboard and make presentations. Fourth grade is the first time that they have to research and write a five paragraph essay. To add a collaborative wiki writing assignment would be very overwhelming for them, and truthfully, there is not enough time in the day.
6. Please comment about building quizzes and answer keys, and on grading your peers. Did you learn or gain anything valuable from these experiences? Please explain.
Building quizzes and answer keys was ok. I think it is important to have some way to show that you read the material in the chapter. However, I don’t think I necessarily gained a lot from it. As a person already in the classroom, I make up quizzes and rubrics for my students all of the time, so it was not that difficult of a task for me personally.
7. What are your suggestions for improving the design of this course?
My main suggestion for improving this course has to do with the blogs. It was very hard to keep up and find resources and write reflections. The blogs are a good idea, but I think that students should post information on it when they are doing their research for their chapter only. Whatever sites or articles they find will be more useful to them, as opposed to just randomly putting articles just to make sure you have enough.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Reflection Entry 18
http://www.uoregon.edu/%7Etep/resources/crmodel/model/index.html
Reflection Entry 17
http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/Directory/Tools/web.html
Monday, April 6, 2009
Resource Log
http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/Directory/Tools/web.html
http://www.uoregon.edu/~tep/resources/crmodel/index.html
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Web_authoring.html
http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/www.html#essential
http://webhelp.ucs.ed.ac.uk/docs/goodpractice.html
http://web.ebscohost.com.library3.webster.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=6&sid=15ae27e8-1ffb-4b08-983d-e710982e3902%40sessionmgr9&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLGNvb2tpZSx1cmwsdWlkJnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=ED466449#db=eric&AN=ED466449#db=eric&AN=ED466449
http://www.emeraldinsight.com.library3.webster.edu/Insight/ViewContentServlet?contentType=Article&Filename=Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/1650220101.html
These are websites are about web authoring tools and collaborative research that I am using for my section of the chapter.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Reflection Entry 16
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Reflection Entry 15
This website describes assessment in a constructivist classroom using Brooks and Brooks. It explains the principles of a constructivist teacher. The principle that stood out to me the most was that "Constructivist teachers encourage students to engage in dialogue both with the teacher and with one another." This situation reminds me of how I run my class meetings. I notice the students talking to me instead of each other. This has improved significantly over the course of the year, and that has been a goal of mine for the students to engage in more conversation with each other.
Reflection Entry 14
Tam's article discusses the technological piece with the role of the learner. She mentions how computers were effective in developing higher order thinking skills. In addition, she notes that technology tools can aid in learning, and that they can help learners get relevant information and provide opportunities for the learner to look at a variety of viewpoints so they can construct their own knowledge. I found her article helpful because it discussed how the learner can use the technology instead of the instructor, which I appreciate because as a teacher, I want my students to use technology and whatever they can to help them understand.
Reflection Entry 13
This website discusses constructivism and focuses on the role of the learner. The learner is unique, and no learners are the same. The culture and background of the learners are also important to consider because they use their prior knowledge to build new knowledge. In addition, the responsibility for learning is on the learner, because they are actively involved in the process. The motivation for learning comes from the learner's confidence in his or her abilities and potential. I found this site interesting and helpful as I authored chapter five. As teachers we sometimes forget that it is not about us, but about the students. Examining the role of the learner was important for me to do, because that is where my focus should be.
Reflection Entry 12
Hall, S., Forrester, S. & Borsz, M. (2008). A constructivist case study examining leadership development of undergraduate students in campus recreational sports. Journal of College Student Development, 49(2).
Friday, March 20, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Resource Log
http://ejite.isu.edu/Volume2No1/nanjappa.htm
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=sgH97wbGEVAC&oi=fnd&pg=PA184&dq=constructivism+and+role+of+learner&ots=G1fRq0v0ZP&sig=X8nV4l5mqKyn9WrfxWMRNgJl_xE#PPA185,M1
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=81Ijn3Qe2N4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA25&dq=constructivism+and+role+of+learner&ots=talt-sRNGi&sig=Auh4ljhUaFjbMu5JzTwEoMcN9h4#PPA25,M1
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=7Uv8NHvKK44C&oi=fnd&pg=PA161&dq=constructivism+and+role+of+learner&ots=XNdF0zZenz&sig=BnB3PPgUJr5YDNQkz9VV3GBTd5Y#PPA161,M1
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=AbJc4Kg6XQoC&oi=fnd&pg=PA141&dq=constructivism+and+role+of+learner&ots=Wzkwp4Sbnu&sig=huJy5p-efzRZZE-UABmYJ3_KGbg#PPA141,M1
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Reflection Entry 11
This website defines authentic learning and explains what the elements of authentic learning are. I focused on the last section about technology integration because I have received new technology, an ActivBoard, in my classroom. Part of what makes learning authentic is that technology can provide access to resources that previously weren't available. It makes me think about virtual field trips, tours, and interviews with specialists like authors, or scientists, etc. Our second grade took a field trip to the library where they were able to interact through a video chat with a famous author and ask questions and get feedback from her. It was a great experience for the students and they learned a great deal. If it can't be done in person, then the options with technology are expanded.
Reflection Entry 10
This article defines authentic learning and explains the characteristics of it. As I read through the characteristics of authentic learning it made me think about the way that I do things in my own classroom. I analyzed how often and in what subjects I provide these settings for my students. It also made me start thinking about how I could incorporate my new ActivBoard into making learning more realistic and authentic. Going through my day, I realized that our math program creates authentic situations as they problem solve, and spelling allows them to construct their own generalization and how to use it in their daily spelling. In reading, I teach and they practice using real strategies to help them become better teachers. In science, it is easy to incorporate authentic experiences; however, I found difficulty in social studies, particularly history. I use textbooks and they do answer questions, but they also do activities. I feel that if there is an area to improve authentic learning, that would be it. Any suggestions, let me know!
Resource Log
Real examples of authentic learning.
http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/showcase2001/authentic_learning.htm
Definition of authentic learning.
http://www.ndtwt.org/Blackboard/P2SST2/authenticlearning.htm
Information about authentic learning.
http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/win2003/authentic_learning/
Definition of authentic learning and explains characteristics of authentic learning.
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3009.pdf
Explains how technology can be incorporated into authentic learning.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Reflection Entry 9
Spilka, R. (2002, March 20). Approximately "Real World" Learning with the Hybrid Model. Teaching with Technology Today, 8(6). Retrieved February 11, 2009, from http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/articles/ spilka.htm
This article is about a professor who had previously taught face-to-face classes, and discovered that his students relied on him to much. He switched to using the hybrid model to teach a writing class. The students were in class, but then also met and worked outside of class in a real world environment. He found out that his students surpassed his expectations and were able to learn much more as they guided their own learning. What I liked about this article was that it shows that no matter what the age of the learner, hands on authentic learning is beneficial to most learners.
Reflection Entry 8
Resource Log
http://udel.edu/~jconway/authlrn.htm
http://www.people.iup.edu/nbjn/2%20The%20Link%20Between%20Technology%20and%20Authentic%20Learning.pdf.
http://www.funderstanding.com/content/authentic-assessment
This website defines authentic assessment.
http://digitalliteracy.mwg.org/constructivisim.html
This website discusses the authentic learning and constructivism. It also has a list of websites dealing with and defining constructivism.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Resource Log
http://www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/piaget.html
(Profile on Jean Piaget)
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-mont.htm
(Profile on Maria Montessori)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Kant
(Profile on Immanuel Kant)
http://www.vonglasersfeld.com/
(Profile on Ernst Von Glasersfeld)
Reflection Entry 7
Reflection Entry 6
These are my notes from the book Creating and Sustaining the Constructivist Classroom. As I read through this book, it is very helpful in how to truly be a constructivist teacher. As I read more, I will post what I find!
Resource Log
This is a book on constructivism. It has great resources as far as making a constructivist classroom.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Reflection Entry 5
Resource Log
This is a paper from 1995 on the role technology plays in a constructivist setting.
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~elmurphy/emurphy/cle2b.html
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~elmurphy/emurphy/cle.html
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~elmurphy/emurphy/cle4.html
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~elmurphy/emurphy/cle5.html
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~elmurphy/emurphy/cle3.html
The pages on this site define constructivism and explain characteristics of constructivist learning and teaching.
http://hagar.up.ac.za/catts/learner/ameyer/constructivismandtechnology.htm
This site explains how computers and constructivism and computers are related and how they can benefit each other.
http://radicalpedagogy.icaap.org/content/issue1_2/02kanuka1_2.html
This is a paper on a website that describes constructivism and breaks it up into two dimensions.
http://online.sfsu.edu/~foreman/itec800/finalprojects/eitankaplan/pages/technology.htm
Reflection Entry 4
This is from a paper written in 1995 on the integration of technology in constructivism. I found this paper interesting because it discussed back then the shift that was occurring with the use of technology and how constructivist ideas were changing education. Technology in schools continue to grow. With my ActivBoard that I get next week, that will definitely change my teaching, and will hopefully make learning for my students more engaging. Not only that, but I hope that the interactive things that I can do with the board will make the learning more hands on for my students.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Resource Log
This is a book that describes how to implement Project Construct, which is all about constructivism.
www.projectconstruct.org
This is their website.
Reflection Entry 3
Reflection Entry 2
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Resource Log
This is another site that defines constructivism with a technological twist. I found it interesting.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Resource Log
This is a website on Constructivism that explains it pretty well.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Resource Log
This is an article that defines constructivism and also explains a method of teaching.
Reflection Entry 1
Resource Log
This article is about using webquests and having students create their own learning.
Monday, January 12, 2009
I am interested to see how this course goes. I had to read the overview a couple of times to make sure I understood what I was getting myself into. However, I am looking forward to the knowledge that I will gain after taking this class.
Question 2: How do you feel about a 100% constructivist and collaborative course?
I like being able to build my own knowledge, but am weary of working with partners. I hope that as long as everyone does their fair share then it should be a very positive experience. I also think it will be neat to see how it works and what I could do to apply it to my own classroom.
Question 3: How do you feel about publishing your learning on wikis and blogs?
I have never published my learning before, so actually I am kind of excited to see how it all works.