Blogging to connect…
My first experience on hand external learning…Although I am a very outgoing and people person I find myself so alone in this course. My panic button is on high alert. Because I am a little wonderer and explorer, I decided to have a different blogfrom the rest of my peers but that didn’t work I need to be connected with fellow boggers to be seen and heard.
Thanks to Skype I made contact with my peers! Makiko, Jadene, and Emma . I am not forgetting you Sharon who enlighten me by posting comments on my other blog. I must say I learnt so much from my little wonder that I can now apply to this journey. I finally decided to wonder-off and join the crowd. Wow I finally felt home when I saw that I have followers and I am able to comment.
My reflection:
Dont be so surprise that there will be one of my kind in your classroom we do exist.
We can no longer personally experience and acquire learning that we need to act. So... We derive our competence from forming connections. Karen Stephenson states:
“Experience has long been considered the best teacher of knowledge. Since we cannot experience everything, other people’s experiences, and hence other people, become the surrogate for knowledge. ‘I store my knowledge in my friends’ is an axiom for collecting knowledge through collecting people (undated).”
When knowledge is abundant, the rapid evaluation of knowledge is important. Additional concerns arise from the rapid increase in information. In today’s environment, action is often needed without personal learning – that is, we need to act by drawing information outside of our primary knowledge. The ability to synthesize and recognize connections and patterns is a valuable skill.
What do you think?
Cheers
Mary-Ann
Showing posts with label belonging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label belonging. Show all posts
Monday, November 30, 2009
WIKI
WIKIs can be an effective tool for encouraging, collaboration participation, and interaction amongst peers in the classroom and as well as the learning agenda is controlled by the students. Some additional ideas for using a WIKI in the classroom include:
• Creating a class glossary in the context of a current Unit of Work
• Class book review, where students discuss a prescribed text in a WIKI
• It allow students to post their drafts to a WIKI for peer review and comments
• Creating an action plan and resource list for a class excursion of school camp
• Collaborate with a class from another country to discuss culture, climate, daily life etc.
Example of fifth grade WIKI: http://ambritgrade5.pbworks.com/
From my viewpoint, one of the key features of the WIKI forum is enabling students to share ideas and contribute to others thoughts –“Communal constructivism where students and teachers are not simply engaged in developing their own information but actively involved in creating knowledge “increasing the motivation of students to learn” (Kearsley and Shneiderman, 1999), which at the same time as aligns with the first principle of connectivism, stating that “learning and knowledge rests in diversity of opinions” (Siemens, 2004). Constructivism suggests that learners create knowledge as they attempt to understand their experiences
In the past I used Wiki as a group assignment. Constructing our own virtual futuristic school was an excelarating experienced. Having work as a group of diverse background we created an amazing virtual school. Contributing and engaging ourselves on what is an idealistic school in the future made it so clear that as a group of learners we experienced authentic assessment.I like the fact that you can edit and add information at your own leisure. One of the student had to go away before our assignment was due. He was able to contribute his ideas and reflection by login in on the enternet while his on holiday.
Holmes, B., Tangney, B., Fitzgibbon, A., Savage, T, & Mehan, S. (2001).Communal constructivism: Students constructing learning for as well as with others.Retrieved Nov.25.2009.from https://www.cs.tcd.ie/publications/tech-reports/reports.01/TCD-CS-2001-04.pdf .
Keirsley, G. & Shneiderman, B (1999) Engagment Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Available from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm
Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age.Retreived Nov.25, 2009, from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm
• Creating a class glossary in the context of a current Unit of Work
• Class book review, where students discuss a prescribed text in a WIKI
• It allow students to post their drafts to a WIKI for peer review and comments
• Creating an action plan and resource list for a class excursion of school camp
• Collaborate with a class from another country to discuss culture, climate, daily life etc.
Example of fifth grade WIKI: http://ambritgrade5.pbworks.com/
From my viewpoint, one of the key features of the WIKI forum is enabling students to share ideas and contribute to others thoughts –“Communal constructivism where students and teachers are not simply engaged in developing their own information but actively involved in creating knowledge “increasing the motivation of students to learn” (Kearsley and Shneiderman, 1999), which at the same time as aligns with the first principle of connectivism, stating that “learning and knowledge rests in diversity of opinions” (Siemens, 2004). Constructivism suggests that learners create knowledge as they attempt to understand their experiences
In the past I used Wiki as a group assignment. Constructing our own virtual futuristic school was an excelarating experienced. Having work as a group of diverse background we created an amazing virtual school. Contributing and engaging ourselves on what is an idealistic school in the future made it so clear that as a group of learners we experienced authentic assessment.I like the fact that you can edit and add information at your own leisure. One of the student had to go away before our assignment was due. He was able to contribute his ideas and reflection by login in on the enternet while his on holiday.
Holmes, B., Tangney, B., Fitzgibbon, A., Savage, T, & Mehan, S. (2001).Communal constructivism: Students constructing learning for as well as with others.Retrieved Nov.25.2009.from https://www.cs.tcd.ie/publications/tech-reports/reports.01/TCD-CS-2001-04.pdf .
Keirsley, G. & Shneiderman, B (1999) Engagment Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Available from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm
Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age.Retreived Nov.25, 2009, from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm
Discovering Avatar….
I have discovered that there are many educational blogs and wikis that provide information about how avatars can be used in the classroom. Classroom 2.0 gave an example that used avatars, wikis and podcasts in a global classroom collaboration, again demonstrating how the components of relate-create-donate are being used in learning environments….How can they be used in an educational context?
"Avatars provide a face to the students and a face to the teacher. They provide
the human element to online teaching" - Cohen, 2007
Avatars are a way of providing anonymity for students. They are a way for students to have a mask to hide behind when presenting information as well as protecting their identity. This addresses the needs of the shy student, while also relieves parental concerns about how their child is being portrayed online.
I can’t believe Cohen’s comment that Avatar’s are better than Sykpe! So I tried to e-mail a personal message to a friend it works!! Having to design your own appearance to suit the situation can give it an effective message. I can now say there is variety of ways you could use this in a classroom situation. Assignments prompters’ I can imagine emailing students and giving instructions in a playful way.
Avatar (means) the incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form:http://www.answers.com/topic/avatar
What do you think?
Rediscovering Maslow's Hierachy of needs...
I felt really challenged by Norman Kunc’s (1992) article on Maslow’s Hierarchy. I have mixed thoughts on this subject. On the one hand I believe in inclusion and the acceptance of all individuals for who they are and the richness, whether seen or unseen, that they bring to society and our community. On the one hand I am not sure whether our education system which is tossed around by government economic rationalism can provide the support for students with disabilities into classrooms. Surely there is some balance to be found between full inclusion and complete segregation.
Kunc, himself says that schools are a reflection of our society and so are governments. I hear his views when he speaks about the alienation those individuals, of all walks of life, experience and the need for greater levels of acceptance in our societies beyond just what achievement / success can provide. Do we not remember more fondly people who have taken the time to get to know us, have seen our potential or have provided acceptance when others haven’t? I long for a society that is more tolerant, accepting and seek deeper levels of connectedness rather than personal gain and self interest. I am now starting to understand the popularity of Face book,MSN, Skype, Blogging, etc; I see that this is a 21st century another way of being connected and belonging?
I myself comes from a close family background belonging for me is an important aspect of my personal life. I guess in an Early Childhood field it is important to ensure young students to feel that they belong (this is must in the beginning of the student schooling).
The article does highlight for me, as others have stated in the forum, the importance of acceptance through positive staff / student relationships is required for true learning to occur and for the individual student to grow as a person.
Mary-Ann
Kunc, N. (1992). The Need to Belong: Rediscovering Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Baltimore, Paul H. Brookes Publishers
Kunc, himself says that schools are a reflection of our society and so are governments. I hear his views when he speaks about the alienation those individuals, of all walks of life, experience and the need for greater levels of acceptance in our societies beyond just what achievement / success can provide. Do we not remember more fondly people who have taken the time to get to know us, have seen our potential or have provided acceptance when others haven’t? I long for a society that is more tolerant, accepting and seek deeper levels of connectedness rather than personal gain and self interest. I am now starting to understand the popularity of Face book,MSN, Skype, Blogging, etc; I see that this is a 21st century another way of being connected and belonging?
I myself comes from a close family background belonging for me is an important aspect of my personal life. I guess in an Early Childhood field it is important to ensure young students to feel that they belong (this is must in the beginning of the student schooling).
The article does highlight for me, as others have stated in the forum, the importance of acceptance through positive staff / student relationships is required for true learning to occur and for the individual student to grow as a person.
Mary-Ann
Kunc, N. (1992). The Need to Belong: Rediscovering Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Baltimore, Paul H. Brookes Publishers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
