My VoiceThread

http://voicethread.com/share/573002/

Cooperative Learning

This week's technology is a glimpse into the learning and collaborative efforts that will come in the future. Growing up watching Television show like; the Jetsons, Star Trek, and Lost in Space, I marveled at science fiction. Today, that science fiction is almost a reality. Growing up in school with the idea that I had to discover things for myself, had to fend for myself, stand alone and be accountable...not that those attributes are not still necessary, I think they are, but today to solve the problem of a global world we need everyone. The idea that a problem can be solved using a person in Georgia on a team, another person in England, and another in Russia and we can all work together to solve a problem is plain...Star Trekish. To futher it and be able to bring that into a classroom and use everyone's resources is the way to fix a problem fast.

I love the idea of utilizing everyone to solve a problem, present a project, and etc. Coming from a long playing and coaching background I know it will work. The use of such technologies as power points, blogging, wikis, and now this week we learn more about voicethreads, are just tools to help the task become a reality. The science fiction of my growing up days seems almost possible. Further, I am interested in the concept of Keypals, and ePals. The twenty first century's penpals. I can see alot of potential in these web resources.

To summarize, while we all need to develop that internal drive to know and discover for ourselves and we must enhance this in our students. I am a firm believer in team...the idea of we sink or swim together. If we are to accomplish what needs to be accomplished for this global world it will be because of this valuable concept.


John Poitevint

Constructionism

The study of the different learning theories has reaffirmed in my mind the old adage, "there are lots of ways to skin a cat". All of these, behavorist, cognitive, constructivism, and constructionist I have used during my teaching and coaching career. They all have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Some are more pertinent to today's technology than others, but, all are definitely useful. I readily admit to be a behaviorist most of my career and feel it still has a valuable place in my teaching, I find myself in the last few years really becoming more of a constructionist. I am a firm believer not only in my teaching but also in my life's dealings that the only real learning takes place when one is internally motivated. The idea of building something, as Dr. Orey (2009) says, constructing, first hand experiences, and etc., is where we really engage our brains. The past 5-7 years I find myself getting away from the concrete form of teaching I was schooled in over thirty years ago and allowing my students to be more involved in their learning. Allowing my students to really break down their subjects, synthesize and then learn outside the box. While I teach a subject area many would see as non-essential (Health/PE), I feel it is not only essential and practical, but one that can have an immediate impact on their lives. And so, to get my students to see the magnitude of the course they must be internally driven.
Project based learning is a vital part of my teaching. Getting the students in a partnership with me is my first objective. The use of projects within the parameters of the course rubric and defined objectives is where the students begin to create, process, and think. After all, that is what made America great. The constuctionist theory is about the free enterprise system, the idea that if I can perceive it, I can constuct it. This is where the intrinsic thinking leads to learning in a practical sense. At least that is how I see it.
The question then comes, how do I test this hypotheses, what are my tools. The learning resourses this week suggest many ways. I personal use the spreadsheet from excel as discussed in chapter 11 of our text, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. I prefer the spreadsheets because it cuts down on many time consumming task and focus on seeing the numbers and evaluating the process. I am fasinated with some of the web resources and intend to try some, in particular ExploreLearning, Smog City, and NASA SClence Files Problem Board.
The use of the Excel spreadsheets and some of the web resources should open up a number of ways to collect and evaluate data with the end results in the building or enhancing new knowledge.


John Poitevint

Concept mapping and Virtual field trips

Someone, I cannot remember who once told me students remember 20% of what they hear, 40% of what they hear and see, and 60-70% of what they hear, see, and do. Not sure about the total accuracy of this statement but my experience tends to agree with this idea. To me virtual field trips along with concept mapping will produce this total learning. Not having done these strategies before, I find myself coming to the conclusion that the way to hold a student's attention is to entertain him, and these strategies do. While I am still a novice at this attempt I intend to get better.

Behaviorism in Schools and Athletics

Dr. Orey (2008) relates the behavorist learning theory to the so called, "red-headed step child" of educational theory. By this I take it to mean that the modern educational theories believe behaviorism is no longer wanted or needed in education. I must repectfully disagree. The idea of reinforcing the desired behavior and punishing behaviors that are counter productive to learning, have been and will continue to be integral parts to a quality education. Having been an educator and coach at the high school level for more than thirty years, I have seen the importance of the valuable teaching tool. I firmly believe and research agrees that people do better in any endeavor when they know what is expected (Laureate Education, 2008). When a student/athlete understand expectations and the rewards are apparent, progress and success are just around the corner. When these expectations are coupled with the individuals efforts, the realization of goals and standards can be met. The authors, Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenowshi, and Pitler in their book, Using Technology with classroom instruction that works state that if a student can learn that effort is important and that it pays off success should follow for that student. The question then is how do we as instructors help our students learn this valuable lesson? With the use of technology, spreadsheets and charts can be used to give immediate feedback that will facilitate this idea that effort does infact influence progress, and that this is the one area students completely control.

Behaviorism when practiced correctly does produce good results. Now, while this is the launching pad that will get a student directed in the right way it is only one step in the process. Students will lose his/her love for knowledge if it is only extrinsic. The internal drive, intrinsic drive is where the thirst for knowledge really grows. All the intelligence in the world will do no good unless there is a spark that ignites. Behaviorism will not ignite.

Behavorism learning theory does have a place in every classroom and is here to stay in education.


Orey, M. (Ed.).(2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/

Pitler, H. Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007) Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Everyone can learn

With the new technologies we will explore during this course an old veteran teacher feels like a "rookie". While I have always believed in the concepts discussed concerning multiple intelligences...The strategies are not new either, just the terminologies are. What this course has shown me is that to reach all my students/athletes I will need to use a wide variety of techniques. Welcome to the twenty first century.

John

Technology influence through Walden course

Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, work and Society has had a major impact in my teaching. Learning the skills of blogging, wikis, and podcast has shown me how to connect in ways I never thought with my students. The skills of using technology were at a time in my teaching very unnerving. Now, I have the confidence to try new things which will lead I am sure to even greater opportunities to reach students.

Also, this course has caused me to look inwardly as a teacher. Trying to be more open to how 21st century students learn. Learning and teaching is changing before my eyes. I admit it is hard to change old practices but, with all the research and data it is a must. The resources that are available are, it seems endless and the fact that I can expect students to have equal access make me more viligent that I cover my bases.

This course has also shown me that being a good teacher involves more that just teacher centered lecture, it involves leading my students into the arena of discovery. Giving them the guidance to find their own solutions with guidelines that are decided own by many sources. This discovery has already impacted my teaching through much more collaboration and free exchange with students and others.

While this course has brought about some anxiety on my part I have concluded not to be intimidated by the unsure but to seize the opportunity the future may bring to expand my knowledge and skills through continuing the process. My goal is to always, as long as I continue to teach to stay on the cutting edge by reading, practicing, and using technolgy.

Two goals: 1) I want to start a blog within my classes to bring about the free exchange of idea seen in wikipedia and blogging. To accomplish this I will have to convince my LST (Local School Technician) to set it up through our school network. This will be difficult because currently our system does not allow it but I believe through education I can get it done at some point.
2) I want to start and continue a wiki that deals with my subject area for Health teachers all over my state to begin with and eventually the world. This would give greater insight into how we can make this course more effective for students. Also, it would give teachers and endless sourse of updated information. In order to accomplish this I have got to collaborate with some technology savvy teacher in my school and get approval at the local, county and state level.