EDLD+5364

Through Week 1 of EDLD 5364, there was lectures, videos, and readings about the three different learning theories - constructivism, connectivism, and cyborg. As I read and listened, I feel that constructivism one that more teachers should reflect upon. Our students all come to school with different levels of knowledge on a topic or subject. Because a student has limited or no prior knowledge does not make them "stupid". A student has to build upon that knowledge and thus creates new knowledge. Connectivism indicates that learning can take place with the connections that are made between topics and how external sources can add to that connection. I had never heard of the cyborg theory of learning. I found it very interested but almost futuristic. Perhaps that is the "old fashioned" me coming out. To have "chips" implanted in his nervous system and the possibilities in the future made me do a lot of thinking after I watched the video. In fact, I even went back and watched it again. As I read __Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works__ by Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski had some very interesting concepts but I think Figure 7 on page 13 was great. To see the matrix of the Four Planning Questions, the Nine Categories of Instructional Strategies, and the Seven Categories of Technology brought so much together. I can see using this when working with teachers before they use the computer lab for a class assignment. I teach 8th grade students and because they have to take a Pre- and Post- Technology Proficiency Assessment, I felt as if this could be used to help increase their proficiency in different aspects of technology.

I was very excited to be able to pick the members of our learning team. We have worked together in prior classes and we work well together and although we are far apart, we seem to be able to pick up where one leaves off. I am also excited to be using Google docs again. The opportunities provided by Google docs to have everyone's involvement and interaction at one location to create a team project will be great. I have used it once previously and I would like to be able to share it with people on my campus as another learning tool.