T2P Week 4

Spreadsheet:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuuCrLdX4RmrdFpYY2tpRURwbEVVbTc0YzNySEJLY2c&hl=en_US&pli=1#gid=0


(If)When students work in groups (event), (then)they necessarily learn from each other, because every exchange is a learning opportunity on some level. George Siemens states in his theory of connectivism(jargon) that human beings crave to externalize their learning primarily through language in social spaces. Whether it is content(jargon), vocabulary, what happened on last night's episode of Glee, or just that their nerdy neighbor is actually pretty funny, every classroom interaction has an effect.  These interactions deepen content understanding and also allow the students to better know their peers.  I have really enjoyed the collaboration in all of my classes and hope to employ this instructional method(jargon) as much as possible in my teaching.  Also, one person may be great in tech, another strong in concept, and another strong in language.  All can make progress by learning from the other, and all are reinforced in their own strengths.  If the students are comfortable in their learning environment and feel free to express and discuss ideas, then they will better understand the content,  because it has been communicated from different people in different ways, and they have had the opportunity to ask questions and deepen their understanding.  Vygotski states that students learn from people who are more knowledgeable.  It is optimal to have the student working on the edge of the zone of proximal development(ZPD), which is where the student is learning the most from the more knowledgeable person.  This person could be the teacher, but could also be a classmate.  If I group students of different writing abilities together for a project, (then)the weaker will learn writing skills from the stronger and the stronger will learn teaching skills from the weaker, because every moment in a classroom is dynamic with learning and teaching always occurring.


Vicki Davis
If a teacher recognizes the students as individual and customizes the instructional practice(jargon) to best meet that groups needs optimal learning will occur because the time, energy and resources of all are efficiently used.  Ms. Davis recognizes that all people are different and changes her classroom accordingly.(ethics)  As Nel Noddings observed, the classroom is a "constellation of encounters, both planned and unplanned."  Clearly Ms. Davis and her students are enjoying the learning experience.  Ms. Davis gives the students ample opportunity to for self discovery in both language and technology.  The students are asked to demonstrate their understanding by teaching new knowledge to her and to the class.  She encourages the use of technology to connect with the global community.(ethics)  The students thus develop a sense of autonomy, competence and relatedness.  When students interact with other students in the global community while working on a common project they develop empathy because with communication there is the realization of commonality.(ethics)  Again referencing Siemens,  the ability to externalize learning gives birth to thought.  The goal of education is understanding and creation.  Ms. Davis has created a wonderful environment in which her students will grow.


If a teacher is able to provide the scaffolding necessary for constructing understanding, then students will be able to grasp increasingly complex ideas, because the content has been introduced and built upon in logical, organized fashion.  Jean Piaget described the method of acquiring knowledge as adding to or modifying the conceptual framework already in place.  As I look back just three short weeks to my understanding of learning theories, and see where I am today, I find this concept quite interesting to reflect on.  GNA carefully and systematically introduced concepts including;  learning styles, learning and behavioral theories, and  ethics.  She provided meaningful and informative reading material, and threw in jargon where ever possible!  In doing so she allowed us to create connections and meaningful understanding.  I am beginning to see at least some of the dimensions of the world of education, and am more comfortable expressing my thoughts than just three weeks ago.