Teaching in a state where laptops are in the hands of all 7th and 8th grade students results in a variety of technology comfort with the teachers. Since the integration of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative many models of technology education have been used to create teachers who are comfortable with regular technology integration in their classrooms.
The model of technology education that I have found the most beneficial with teachers follows Keller's ARCS model. Although I did not know about the ARCS model when implementing it, upon reflection it fits. In the early 80's John Keller developed a four step model to increase motivation.
A - attention
R - relevance
C - confidence
S - satisfaction
The successful technology education model that I have found with teachers starts with a small group of teachers who want to improve their technoloogy integration. I then sit around with them in an informal and comfortable setting and ask them what types of technology they would like to learn more about. This is the attention stage.
Once we have decided on a few topics that they want to learn more about I start be doing a simple introduction to the topic. During this initial introductions I try to relate how the technology can be used in both their classroom as well as their personal life. Through this connection to both aspects of their lives I am showing the relevance stage. This shows the teacher that the technology can not only enhance their classroom but also their own life. By getting the teachers comfortable with technology outside of the classroom, I have found that they are more comfortable with integrating it into their own classroom.
Once they know a few basics about the technology skill we then brainstorm was that it can be used both in their classroom and their personal life. Once we have brainstormed a few each teacher, or small group picks a project that they want to work on. They then have several work sessions where I help them develop their ideas into a tool that they can use either in their classroom or in their personal life. through this process they are working on the third step, confidence. Once they know that they can successfully work the technology in our sessions they are ready to apply it either in their classroom or personal life.
The final stage, satisfaction through further meetings. I try to check back in with the teacher in a few days or weeks to see how the integration of their new technology skills has gone. At this point it is expected that they are trying the technology independently. At this point I can answer further questions if necessary.
Through this model, inadvertently designed after Keller's ARCS motivational model I have fond that teachers get more comfortable with new technology skills. They go from Tech NO, to Tech YES teachers!
Enjoy ~SJ
Showing posts with label eductational technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eductational technology. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
How Good Is Your Plumbing?
Does learning take place inside a brick building with students sitting in neat lines of desk? Does learning take place by a stream bed classifying organisms? Does learning take place in a public library reading room? Does learning take place in the car on a trip across country? Does learning take place on a Internet website? The answer to all of these questions could be yes!
Siemens (2004) stated "the pipe is more important than the content within the pipe". The pipe that he was referring to is a persons ability to learn, and the content of the pipe is knowledge. Siemens was predicting that future learning theory needs to take into account that with a rapidly changing world with exponentially growing amounts of knowledge, a person needs to know how to find the information that they need more often then have the information memorized. Shift Happens is a group that has been producing short videos on the rapidly changing world that we live in, and the career and educational challenges that our students face.
From the Ebbinghaus, to Thorndike, to Pavlov, and Gestalt the way that humans learn how been theorized and hypothesized. The difficulty with these learning theorists is that they did not create their learning theories with the 21st century challenges in mind. Siemens (2004) even suggests that with the current technology trends the way that humans learn could be changing. In today's 21st century with schools quickly adapting a larger variety of educational technology it is critical to look towards the suggested skills listed for the 21st century. 21st Century Schools is a website that clearly outlines what these skills are, and the differences between today's traditional schools and those that encompass 21st century skills.
People learn best once they have spent time learning in a variety of ways. Gardner, and other psychologists, have outlined in his multiple intelligences theory people all learning through their own unique combination of effective means. Once a person has spent time learning through a variety of styles they are able to determine which style is best for them. If a person is only exposed to a limited variety of ways to learn, then they may not have the chance to find their best learning style.
Learning theory is critical to education. Through learning theory controlled scientific experiments have proven a variety of elements crucial to providing the best learning environment for learners. Learning theory and educational technology are important with the rapidly changing world that we need to prepare our students for. Through the 21st century skills and what we already know about learning theory from Gardner, Thorndike, Pavlov, and Gestalt we can create a learning environment where the needs of the students and their learning needs meet. In this environment both the students pipe and plumbing will be fostered.
Siemens (2004) stated "the pipe is more important than the content within the pipe". The pipe that he was referring to is a persons ability to learn, and the content of the pipe is knowledge. Siemens was predicting that future learning theory needs to take into account that with a rapidly changing world with exponentially growing amounts of knowledge, a person needs to know how to find the information that they need more often then have the information memorized. Shift Happens is a group that has been producing short videos on the rapidly changing world that we live in, and the career and educational challenges that our students face.
From the Ebbinghaus, to Thorndike, to Pavlov, and Gestalt the way that humans learn how been theorized and hypothesized. The difficulty with these learning theorists is that they did not create their learning theories with the 21st century challenges in mind. Siemens (2004) even suggests that with the current technology trends the way that humans learn could be changing. In today's 21st century with schools quickly adapting a larger variety of educational technology it is critical to look towards the suggested skills listed for the 21st century. 21st Century Schools is a website that clearly outlines what these skills are, and the differences between today's traditional schools and those that encompass 21st century skills.
People learn best once they have spent time learning in a variety of ways. Gardner, and other psychologists, have outlined in his multiple intelligences theory people all learning through their own unique combination of effective means. Once a person has spent time learning through a variety of styles they are able to determine which style is best for them. If a person is only exposed to a limited variety of ways to learn, then they may not have the chance to find their best learning style.
Learning theory is critical to education. Through learning theory controlled scientific experiments have proven a variety of elements crucial to providing the best learning environment for learners. Learning theory and educational technology are important with the rapidly changing world that we need to prepare our students for. Through the 21st century skills and what we already know about learning theory from Gardner, Thorndike, Pavlov, and Gestalt we can create a learning environment where the needs of the students and their learning needs meet. In this environment both the students pipe and plumbing will be fostered.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)