Technology can be incorporated by allowing students to use blogs to communicate as well as a social networking site such as facebook. There are also a lot of other good resources out there that students can use to collaborate such as a Wiki or Google reader. The voice thread that we were asked to create this week would be great for students to use if you were in a classroom that had good computers and students were able to spend a lot of time on their work. THe truth is I don't think that applies to a lot of schools or classrooms. I think that the social theory works and can be used without technology, although technology is a very helpful tool.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Connectivism and Social Learning Theory in Practice
The social learning theory is a great theory. I think that by students working together and holding each other accountable they can learn a lot more and retain the information rather than listening to the teacher all of the time. By allowing the students to work together with less guidance form the teacher students learn through self discovery as well as from their peers. Sometimes their peers can put things in a context that is easier to understand.
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Shileah,
ReplyDeleteYou make a valid point when you say, "...the social theory works and can be used without technology..." I agree that technology is not needed although it may be very helpful. However, technology is everywhere in the 21st century. It is crucial for schools to teach and incorporate technology in order to prepare our students for 21st century jobs. How districts (schools) pay for the technology seems to be the biggest problem as I think you elude to in your VoiceThread. I recently came across a post that you may find beneficial on The Innovative Educator (http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2009/12/there-is-such-thing-as-free-lunch-free_05.html)
It tells about some things that are out there (on the Web)for free.
Coleen
Shileah,
ReplyDeleteI also wonder about how much time we are able to commit to projects like voicethread? It would take me a week to introduce the program and give students time to create the artifacts and record their voices for a really good voicethread. However, I bet two years after my class, students would remember the skills and concepts from that project a lot better than things I tried to go through quickly with traditional teaching methods.
Shileah,
ReplyDeleteI think you are right that our schools are not equipped to support the technology we would like to use to enhance our curriculum. For example, I have 30 students as of last week. We have only 26 working computers in our lab. As it stands we have computer class two times per month. I asked at the beginning of the year to change my time slot from one 45 min block to two 30 min blocks. I told the technology teacher that first grade students need more frequent practice to accomplish the tasks she was having them do. I also bring my students into the lab on my own once a week for 30 min. The problem now is that for effective meaningful learning the class needs to be split in half. I am the one making the suggestions. Shouldn't it be coming from the technology teacher? There are not enough spaces to share computers and minimal practice.