Comments on Lesson Plans and Technology Integration

Comments on Lesson Plans and Technology Integration

• WOW! Your definition really goes in depth. I like that you included that learning is acquired through physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. I also, like the fact that you said that learning empowers individuals to make wise choices and solve problems. These are all important to learning. You did a great job!
  Janet
• I like your lesson plan. I did not realize that young children are exposed to email accounts. Would this be a problem with parents?
  I like the social constructivist theory and try to implement this approach in my classroom. This is my favorite learning approach as far as student learning. I feel that children learn best from working with each other as opposed to working independently. They can gain new knowledge and understanding based on the opinions and reflections of others that help them construct their own knowledge.
  I also like that the teacher emailed an electronic musical birthday card to the child. I am sure this sparked interest.
• I think this is a wonderful lesson plan. The only question I have is if students are working in groups, is this still considered behaviorism?
  This is a great activity to use with students.
• I saw your interview on the News this morning. I am glad your students are all getting laptop computers. I think that is great! Wish my school system would do the same thing. Let me know how it goes. Congratulations!
  Janet
• I really liked your lesson plan on earthquakes. It will promote interest and allow the students to learn valuable information through the use of the Internet. This will allow students to construct knowledge using real life events and not rely on just textbook information. Great job!

• I agree with you as to drill and practice but I can see how the use of the Internet website can promote high interest. The website allows the student to move at their own pace. Students are able to apply knowledge and understanding through the reading of the decodable books. As students become more proficient at reading and comprehension of the text, they build on what they already know and apply it as they proceed through other books at higher reading levels. The learning of sight words and short vowel sounds in words can be boring but with the use of the computer, students are motivated through the reading of words in a real and meaningful text. This lesson plan takes a mundane skill and brings it to life, so to speak.

Comments on Learning Theories

Comments on Learning Theories

• I realize it is getting close to the deadline and no one has volunteered to be the group leader. I know I haven't been a group leader but I am not leadership material. I do realize that I am required to do this. I am afraid that I will cause the group grade to be lowered because of my lack of leadership abilities. I may need your help as I take on this task. I want to do my part and be a team member but I do not like to be in a position that could cause the group not to do well. I am afraid to take on this challenge but I know I must. I will need your help in the organization of this task. Please help me get through this. You all have done such a great job as leaders and I hope I can get through this assignment.
  Please feel free to offer any assistance, positive or negative. I want to do a good job.
• I really like your suggestion about splitting the learning theories among everyone in the group and answering the questions. I do feel that since you and Tiffany have already submitted all theories that it would not be fair to you both because you have already put in all this time and work. Since we are in the final hours, maybe we could all contribute and then I will use all responses to submit a draft including everyone's answers. I know we are about to reach the deadline so if everyone could please send ideas and thoughts by tomorrow night then I will have time to prepare the draft for Wednesday's deadline. Is this fair in your opinion? I am willing to do whatever the group wants to do. I can go either way. We can see how the group feels about it.
• I will have my answers posted tomorrow (oops! It is already tomorrow!) I will post mine by tonight for your review, comments and suggestions.
  Have a great April Fool's Day! Don't get fooled!! Ha!
  Janet
• Tiffany,
  I think I have until tomorrow to post our draft summary. Tomorrow is the 2nd. Thanks for reminding me. I will get mine posted in a little while. If I'm wrong let me know.
  Janet
• I am compiling the summary as we speak and will have it on our group space when I get it completed. I will get it up as soon as possible. Please try to get on again later tonight to see if you like what I have done. I know it is getting late but I am working hard on it right now.
  Janet
• Thank you. I am still in the process of compiling ours. It will be very informal and I will put it in the format using bullets for the final draft. Sorry I haven't finished for you to see at this point. I hope to finish soon.
• I promise I will get the final draft posted before the deadline tonight.(I say tonight because it is after 2 AM.!). I will use everyone's input to provide the summary for our group discussions. I will post the final draft here first so there will still be time to make corrections if needed. I hope to get it posted early enough this afternoon so you can reflect on the final draft before the final post on the discussion board. PLEASE let me know if you see a need for corrections! This is where I really need input from you. I want everyone to be happy with it before it is posted.
  Thank you for your patience.
  Janet
• Just tried to open the draft document and I couldn't. I will repost this afternoon in a different format. I am so sorry for the delay.

• Trying to get this to post as a doc. instead of a docx. document. This way everyone should be able to open. Please let me know if you can open it. I am waiting to see if there are problems. I will keep checking until I go to bed tonight. I need someone to respond who does not have Windows Vista.
  Thanks for all your support.
  Janet
• YES! It worked!!!!! I am so relieved! Let's discuss how you want me to post the final group summary. I am not good as charts or columns or spreadsheets. I am open to ideas! If I do not hear from you I will use the format I used for my discussion outline. I am sorry you are stuck with a group leader who is not computer savvy.
• I am posting our learning theories and need to know if I should bullet the first 2 questions like I did in my individual answers or leave it like I did the summary draft? Please let me know ASAP. I want to post.
• I want to thank everyone in the group for your input, help, and support as I represented the ideas of each person in the group. I wish I were most computer savvy and could make charts and spreadsheets to represent our information. I am pleased with our results! Great job everyone!
  
  Thanks again,
  Janet
  Group Leader
  Learning Theories assignment.
• Next we have to create lesson plans for each learning theory. We need to get this started. Where do we start? Who has ideas on how we need to do this?
  Janet
• I will take the last theory on cognitivism and develop a lesson plan.
  Janet
• I'm not sure, either. I know someone in another group and they have a group leader. That's why I was asking.
  Janet
• Do you think Dr. Wang wants us to create a new lesson plan or do you think we can use one from the Internet that fits our theory. What do you think?
  Janet
• I think everyone but one has been a group leader. If I am not mistaken we have had 5 assignments where a group leader was required.
  Janet
• Who has not been a group leader?
  I was for the last assignment.
  Janet

POWER of Collaborative Learning!

I have learned so much from the Learning Theories assignment. I read the materials and was able to answer the questions independently as it related to each learning theory. But, I learned so much more when I was working within my collaborative group. I was able to view information from another’s perspective. This truly does build understanding. It was even more meaningful because after I posted my groups summary, I began to read other groups presentations. I gained new perspectives and was able to get a deeper understanding of each learning theory and how it pertains to learning from the assignment. I am a social being and I do learn best when working collaboratively with a group. I feel that children are the same way and can learn more effectively within a social setting where issues, problems, and ideas are discussed, analyzed, and reflected.

Now that I am a part of this technology class in a collaborative group I see the power of learning collaboratively. If I had not experienced it for myself, I would not know the impact of this form of learning or the need to incorporate it into my classroom.

I am continually amazed at what I am learning in this technology class. I am also intrigued by the possibilities that I can implement into my classroom. I am already using more technology this year than I ever have in the past 30 years. This is a big accomplishment for me because I have always been afraid of making serious mistakes while using computers. As I learn more skills on the computer I am becoming more confident. I am glad this course has forced me to learn more about using technology in the classroom as well as in my personal life. It is helping me to become the best teacher I can be for my students and provide the best learning experiences for my students.