Philosophy of Learning

I have been in the educational field now for six years and my philosphy of teaching has not changed and I don't believe it will. I have always wanted to make sure that my students are equipped with everything they need to make it to the next level. Being in the technology field that means that they must have access to every digital learning tool available.  This can be a laptop, iPad, iPod, desktop or the internet. Whatever the media, students have to have that exposure in order to succeed.  Teachers who hold back on using these tool are not only handicapping themselves but are also holding back our students.  We have to continue to press forward and stay one step ahead of them in this field. Students are learning new things everyday through the digital highway and if we don't follow suit we are doing them a disservice.

I will not compromise on education. Every student, from the disabled to the high perfoming deserve our best.  The best to me is qualified teachers, digital technology, access to the internet and quality instruction time. If our students see that we waste time in the classroom then they learn to waste time.  We have to become an institution of learning again and not glorified babysitters.  We need parental involvement and administrator backing to do our jobs effectively. We have to model the very thing that we emphasize to them.  Education is their job not just something to do. Just like a job they are expected to come in on time, be prepared and meet deadlines.  Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.



Responded to
FRED DAVIS
http://journalismandeducationgrist.blogspot.com/

Connectivism

According to Merrian-Webster online, (2011) networking is defined as "the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business. i am finding more and more that the way we communicate and network with each other has a significant effect on how we learn and what we learn. I network through a range of tools such as blogs, wikis, email, podcasting and social networks. I learn a lot by collaborating with others in my field through Facebook and email. Educational blogs have also taken me to a new level of understanding my students and how they learn also.




The best tool for me are wikispaces and virtual files. I use wikis for all my classes. I am currently in Orlando, FL at the FETC 2012 conference and I have done a weeks worth of work through podcasting the lessons and using my wikispace. The students (6-8 grade) were excited to hear me teach online and some of them even went home and did the lessons. I am thrilled! I have virtual files for all my students so they can upload their work to the file and I can check it at school without having to print anything. I like being able to comment on the work and they give me feedback as well. I am trying to give them the learning environment they will be using in the next few years in high school.




When I have questions the internet is my greatest source. Finding additional resources to enforce what I have learned is also a big challenge. I am finding that blogs offer the best information and good old online library research also helps.

Click on the image to enlarge!

Reference

Toney, T.(2011)Network Connections.Retrieved from http://toneyt.blogspot.com/2011/07/network-connections.

Webster-Merrian.(2011)Networking.Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/networking

Responded to
Debbie Morris
http://debbiemorrislearningtheory.blogspot.com/2012/01/module-4-january-252012.html?showComment=1327714450170#c8152157097321266374

David Davis
http://8845ltedtech.blogspot.com/2012/01/module-connectivism.html?showComment=1327716680576#c6528179658586668337

Collaboration

• 
  Mr. Rheingold believes that humans have a basic instinct to "to interact and work as a group." I believe that this new view of collaboration supports that. I do believe that we have a basic instinct to work together. In his speech he states that"you prove to me that you are trustworthy and I will cooperate."(Rheingold, 2005) I believe this is the new "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."  We have come to find in this world that we cannot do most things alone. Collaboration is the way to get things done quicker. You can always find a way to get things done alone, but to work with others is the best way to succeed.  
• Constructivist's believe that we generate knowledge through experience and ideas.  Technology can help facilitate this by bringing together different groups of people and combine what they know in order to reach their goals. The internet, Skype, Dropbox and other collaboration tools can all be used to unite people all over the world to work together.  Our cell phones have become portable computers so that this can occur anywhere at any time. If we all bring our experiences to the table a lot can be accomplished.
• The case study I read talks about how student's cannot be educated the same way their parent's were. It also states that "students need to take part in complex, meaningful projects that require sustained engagement and collaboration."(Barron, Hammond, 2008) In this diverse world we live in collaboration is key or our students will be the one's left behind the curve in learning. We have to expose them to out of the box thinking now in order for them to be competitive.

Case Study

Powerful Learning: Studies Show Deep Understanding Derives from Collaborative Methods

http://www.edutopia.org/inquiry-project-learning-research

References


Barron, B., Darling-Hammond, 2008.Powerful Learning: Studies Show Deep Understanding Derives from Collaborative Methods. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/inquiry-project-learning-research.

Rheingold, H.2005. Howard Rheingold: The New Power of collaboration. Retrieved from 

http://www.ted.com/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html


Responded to:
Cheryl Carroll
http://cacarroll57.blogspot.com/

Temeka Shingles
http://temekashingles.tumblr.com/

 Brenda McKoy
www.educlearn@wordpress.com