Redirection and Reflection of My Personal Theory of Learning

My main redirection is to create a student centered and focused classroom. I will immediately begin to ask what the students can do. I also want my classroom to become more inquiry oriented. I plan to have my students enhance their understanding of content by generating and testing hypotheses throughout all content areas. The students will accomplish this by utilizing cooperative learning groups and rubrics to guide and direct their inquiries (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski, 2007). I will also provide more opportunities for the students to create the class PowerPoint Presentations. According to Dr. Orey, learning technology tools are most effective when they are student generated. Allow the students to interact with the whiteboards and limit the lecture style presentations. He also recommends using images in place of text to provide visual and mental imaging (Laureate, 2009). I will also use media such as Discovery Learning to provide background knowledge and allow the students to produce their own movies. .

Two new technology tools that I plan to use are MovieMaker and VoiceThreads. MovieMaker will allow my students to use Discovery Learning images and digital photos to create digital movies. These movies can easily be made from PowerPoints and narrated by the students. Students can also download music to enhance their projects free of charge with sites such as Free play music . Spotlight on Technology introduced us to VoiceThreads. “It is picture slide show that holds images, documents and videos and allows various users to comment using computer microphone, telephone, text, audio file (MP3/WAV), and webcam ”(Laureate, 2009). This technology tool will also allow students to interact with classroom all across the world. Both of these tools provide opportunities for students to engage and create, thus internalizing and taking ownership of the content that is learned.

One long goal would be to become more a constructionist facilitator than a behaviorist awarder. By providing more opportunities to create projects with technology, I will curb the restless or disruptive behaviors. Students will become more excited and engaged about content and standards. We will use sites such as Know It All , Compass Learning Odyssey and Our Timelines for interactive activities on our interactive whiteboards.

A second long time goal is to implement more investigative activities such as Plimoth Org and Darwin . These sites help students distinguish fact from fiction and develop prediction skills. They also assist in expanding decision making skills by modifying or manipulating the environment with various variables. Students can also use Excel Spreadsheets to practice math and manipulate or discover graphical patterns in everyday life. These goals can only be achieved in small increments and achievements. This classroom will require more prep time and teaching student procedure and responsibility from the first day of school.

References:
Laureate, Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Spotlight on Technology: VoiceThread
[DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author

Laureate, Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Technology: Instructional Tool vs. Learning Tool [DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author

Moviemaker http://www.microsoft.com/education/teachers/guides/windows_movie_maker.aspx?WT.mc_id=moviemakerguide_google

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. Pgs 202, 141