Learning in a Digital World

          What impact do you believe technology has on the way you learn?  

          Technology has had a dramatic impact on how I learn because I constantly conduct various “Google” searches for ideas to use in my classroom to support learning activities.  I search for ideas on how to enhance my skills and to keep up with the latest technology.  I also like to “Google” for opinions on the latest learning and teaching strategies.

         

          I learn differently in an online environment from the way I learned in a face-to-face learning environment.

         

         In a face-to-face situation, my learning is directed by the teacher in charge.  I listen to lectures, discuss handouts, and watch videos that are introduced by, and in most cased interpreted by the instructor.  In a face-to-face- learning environment fellow students will ask questions and make comments which could or could not relate to the subject matter being discussed.  In some cases the answer to the questions could be one that would provide additional clarification.  I make friends and discuss the class, assignments as well as family and friends with classmates.  I can read the body language and facial expression and interact face to face with everyone in the class.

        

        In an online environment, I am an independent learner.  I spend a great deal of time on line conducting research and completing assignments.  Since I have no one at work or in my social life that I can discuss my classes, professors, or program of study with, it can get lonely.  If the assignment is involved and not clearly spelled out, I have to email a question to the professor or a classmate and wait for a response.  This question could be late at night or early morning as I tend to complete a lot of online work when it is quiet in my household.  Sometimes I need an immediate answer.

    

          High expectations of all teachers and learners are critical and non-negotiable in teaching and learning.  You have to have a passion and a desire to make students better and to push them and to make them better citizens I believe in hands on learning.  Tell a student, show a student and let a student demonstrate desired learning.  A learning theory is made up of a set of concepts theorists linking observed changes in performance with what is thought to bring about those changes (Driscoll, 2005).  To build a learning theory requires, three basic components must be defined, according to Driscoll.  The components are the results or changes in performance, the means or the process used to bring the result about and the inputs or the triggers that caused the process to occur.  I also believe that learning requires interaction between people, encompassing many different perspectives, with each learner representing their viewpoints sincerely, and a mechanism that enables learners to collaborate.  Connectivism describes learning as a “network forming process” (Siemens, 2006).

Con

New Technologies

New Technologies in My Workplace.

             I work a part time tutorial job two evenings a week at our middle school.  I recently shared with the program’s counselor and other teacher how we are required to start a file of videos clips and pictures of our students engaged in various learning activities.  Our manager at the corporate office has requested that we submit pictures for their web page. 

            The attitudes of my co-workers were a bit surprising.  My co-workers made excuses about their digital cameras either not working or not found. They both stated they were not sure how to do this and wanted me to take on the project.  Their behavior was that of non-committal because they stated that they did not have the time and were not sure just how to put the project together.

            According to John Keller’s ARCS Model of Motivational Design, there are four steps for promoting and sustaining motivation in the learning process: Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. 

            To get my co-workers attention, I will start with two students who will be responsible for taking pictures and video clips using my personal equipment.  This will promote interest by getting the students involved with the hands-on methods.  I will also use humor and specific examples.  One way we will do this is check corporate by watching visiting corporate’s webpage.  I will establish relevance in order to increase the motivation of the staff and students by using concrete language and examples with which the learners are familiar.  I will tell them how the new learning will use their existing skills.  I will also present worth and future usefulness as I Model what I want them to do.  I will build confidence by helping students understand their likelihood for success.  The students will have an understanding of the requirements for meaningful success as they make small steps of growth during the learning process. Efforts will be made to ensure that the Learners feel some degree of control over their learning and assessment. They should believe that their success is a direct result of the amount of effort they have put forth and that this new skill is useful and beneficial.  I want the students to derive a great deal of satisfaction from a sense of achievement and from praise from the corporate manager.  Satisfaction is based upon motivation, which can be intrinsic or extrinsic.

References:

Keller, John.  (2011).   Official site of John Keller's ARCS Model.  Retrieved from

www.arcsmodel.com on November 7, 2011.

New Technologies

New Technologies in My Workplace.

             I work a part time tutorial job two evenings a week at our middle school.  I recently shared with the program’s counselor and other teacher how we are required to start a file of videos clips and pictures of our students engaged in various learning activities.  Our manager at the corporate office has requested that we submit pictures for their web page. 

            The attitudes of my co-workers were a bit surprising.  My co-workers made excuses about their digital cameras either not working or not found. They both stated they were not sure how to do this and wanted me to take on the project.  Their behavior was that of non-committal because they stated that they did not have the time and were not sure just how to put the project together.

            According to John Keller’s ARCS Model of Motivational Design, there are four steps for promoting and sustaining motivation in the learning process: Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. 

            To get my co-workers attention, I will start with two students who will be responsible for taking pictures and video clips using my personal equipment.  This will promote interest by getting the students involved with the hands-on methods.  I will also use humor and specific examples.  One way we will do this is check corporate by watching visiting corporate’s webpage.  I will establish relevance in order to increase the motivation of the staff and students by using concrete language and examples with which the learners are familiar.  I will tell them how the new learning will use their existing skills.  I will also present worth and future usefulness as I Model what I want them to do.  I will build confidence by helping students understand their likelihood for success.  The students will have an understanding of the requirements for meaningful success as they make small steps of growth during the learning process. Efforts will be made to ensure that the Learners feel some degree of control over their learning and assessment. They should believe that their success is a direct result of the amount of effort they have put forth and that this new skill is useful and beneficial.  I want the students to derive a great deal of satisfaction from a sense of achievement and from praise from the corporate manager.  Satisfaction is based upon motivation, which can be intrinsic or extrinsic.

References:

Keller, John.  (2011).   Official site of John Keller's ARCS Model.  Retrieved from

www.arcsmodel.com on November 7, 2011.

New Technologies

New Technologies in My Workplace.

             I work a part time tutorial job two evenings a week at our middle school.  I recently shared with the program’s counselor and other teacher how we are required to start a file of videos clips and pictures of our students engaged in various learning activities.  Our manager at the corporate office has requested that we submit pictures for their web page. 

            The attitudes of my co-workers were a bit surprising.  My co-workers made excuses about their digital cameras either not working or not found. They both stated they were not sure how to do this and wanted me to take on the project.  Their behavior was that of non-committal because they stated that they did not have the time and were not sure just how to put the project together.

            According to John Keller’s ARCS Model of Motivational Design, there are four steps for promoting and sustaining motivation in the learning process: Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. 

            To get my co-workers attention, I will start with two students who will be responsible for taking pictures and video clips using my personal equipment.  This will promote interest by getting the students involved with the hands-on methods.  I will also use humor and specific examples.  One way we will do this is check corporate by watching visiting corporate’s webpage.  I will establish relevance in order to increase the motivation of the staff and students by using concrete language and examples with which the learners are familiar.  I will tell them how the new learning will use their existing skills.  I will also present worth and future usefulness as I Model what I want them to do.  I will build confidence by helping students understand their likelihood for success.  The students will have an understanding of the requirements for meaningful success as they make small steps of growth during the learning process. Efforts will be made to ensure that the Learners feel some degree of control over their learning and assessment. They should believe that their success is a direct result of the amount of effort they have put forth and that this new skill is useful and beneficial.  I want the students to derive a great deal of satisfaction from a sense of achievement and from praise from the corporate manager.  Satisfaction is based upon motivation, which can be intrinsic or extrinsic.

References:

Keller, John.  (2011).   Official site of John Keller's ARCS Model.  Retrieved from

www.arcsmodel.com on November 7, 2011.