Learning Outcome 8: Demonstrate the ability to make informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of learning and leadership
The principle and theories in which these assignments will fall under is cognitivism/pragmatism and information processing. I chose the cognitivism/pragmatism because the learning is a change of knowledge state; knowledge acquisition is described as a mental activity that entails internal coding and structuring by the learner; learner is viewed as an active participant in the learning process; emphasis is on the building blocks of knowledge; emphasis on structuring, organizing and sequencing information to facilitate optimal processing; focus on how learners remember, retrieved, and store information in memory; examines the mental structure and processes related to learning; learning is viewed as an active process that occurs within the learner and within the learner and which can be influenced by the learner; the outcome of learning is not only dependent on what the teacher presents but also on what the learner does to process the information (Dabbagh, 2006). The reason why information processing was chosen is because it entails a student actively processing, storing and retrieving information and teaching involves helping learners to develop information processing skills and apply them systematically to mastering the curriculum. Cognitive structures relate to structure of subject matter; information processing emphasizes cognitive structures built by the learner (Dabbagh, 2006). One issue that would definitely be an issue is making sure that each student has access to the online sessions whether it is the symposium or the seminars. Another issue would be making sure that each student is available to meet at a particular time. Also another issue would be making sure that each student understands ethical and etiquette rules for dealing online during the symposium and the seminars.
The Activity and The Redesigned Activity
The activity that I plan to use is within my Wikispaces. It is titled “Collaboration in the Classroom”. The wiki spoke of different resources teachers could use within the classroom to teach children with autism. I chose two particular resources which I felt would help teachers to better teach autistic children. Within the wiki, detailed descriptions of the two resources was discussed, why these two were resources were chosen, what they are, and how my fellow instructors could access the two resources. My wiki page was set up with an introductory page to introduce those that view it to the information they were about to encounter to give them an overview of the information. After reading the introductory page, each viewer could then go to the right hand side of my wiki page and view the full information by clicking on the separate page titled “Collaboration in the Classroom”. Concerning my efforts to redesign the information that I have posted in the wiki, the way in which I would do it requires giving the teacher a hands-on, interactive trial of the resource at work. First, I would definitely still utilize the wiki with all of the information within, but additionally, I would add my email address and information concerning the sign in of a live educational symposium online. I would instruct each teacher to come up with at least one idea in which they will showcase within the symposium to other teachers and the instructor. Each student (teacher) will be graded for presenting an idea and how much they participate in the discussion. Within the wiki, there will also be information provided for each student (teacher) to use as a foundation for understanding how they will be graded. Each teacher will sign in and begin the assignment of presenting their ideas but within this symposium there will also be other teachers that are not a part of the class that will be presenting information of ideas that have been implemented in their districts and schools that have been a success. The other resource that would be displayed on for the teachers to implement and try would be an online video library that includes expert teachers, resources such as sample lesson plans using different forms of technology, and other resources that teachers would need for themselves or their classrooms or just a students or students in general such as different ways of teaching students based upon their reactions to specific ways in which you present a lesson. To redesign this particular lesson, I provide each teacher with a link to an actual video library. The teacher/student is instructed to pick a particular subject or something from within the library and create a scenario around it. The scenario should be created as a power point using Jing or Screencast to present it using audio. The teachers/students will submit the assignment to me for grading.
The principle and theories in which these assignments will fall under is cognitivism/pragmatism and information processing. I chose the cognitivism/pragmatism because the learning is a change of knowledge state; knowledge acquisition is described as a mental activity that entails internal coding and structuring by the learner; learner is viewed as an active participant in the learning process; emphasis is on the building blocks of knowledge; emphasis on structuring, organizing and sequencing information to facilitate optimal processing; focus on how learners remember, retrieved, and store information in memory; examines the mental structure and processes related to learning; learning is viewed as an active process that occurs within the learner and within the learner and which can be influenced by the learner; the outcome of learning is not only dependent on what the teacher presents but also on what the learner does to process the information (Dabbagh, 2006). The reason why information processing was chosen is because it entails a student actively processing, storing and retrieving information and teaching involves helping learners to develop information processing skills and apply them systematically to mastering the curriculum. Cognitive structures relate to structure of subject matter; information processing emphasizes cognitive structures built by the learner (Dabbagh, 2006).
One issue that would definitely be an issue is making sure that each student has access to the online sessions whether it is the symposium or the seminars. Another issue would be making sure that each student is available to meet at a particular time. Also another issue would be making sure that each student understands ethical and etiquette rules for dealing online during the symposium and the seminars.
The Activity and The Redesigned Activity
The activity that I plan to use is within my Wikispaces. It is titled “Collaboration in the Classroom”. The wiki spoke of different resources teachers could use within the classroom to teach children with autism. I chose two particular resources which I felt would help teachers to better teach autistic children. Within the wiki, detailed descriptions of the two resources was discussed, why these two were resources were chosen, what they are, and how my fellow instructors could access the two resources. My wiki page was set up with an introductory page to introduce those that view it to the information they were about to encounter to give them an overview of the information. After reading the introductory page, each viewer could then go to the right hand side of my wiki page and view the full information by clicking on the separate page titled “Collaboration in the Classroom”.
Concerning my efforts to redesign the information that I have posted in the wiki, the way in which I would do it requires giving the teacher a hands-on, interactive trial of the resource at work. First, I would definitely still utilize the wiki with all of the information within, but additionally, I would add my email address and information concerning the sign in of a live educational symposium online. I would instruct each teacher to come up with at least one idea in which they will showcase within the symposium to other teachers and the instructor. Each student (teacher) will be graded for presenting an idea and how much they participate in the discussion. Within the wiki, there will also be information provided for each student (teacher) to use as a foundation for understanding how they will be graded. Each teacher will sign in and begin the assignment of presenting their ideas but within this symposium there will also be other teachers that are not a part of the class that will be presenting information of ideas that have been implemented in their districts and schools that have been a success.
The other resource that would be displayed on for the teachers to implement and try would be an online video library that includes expert teachers, resources such as sample lesson plans using different forms of technology, and other resources that teachers would need for themselves or their classrooms or just a students or students in general such as different ways of teaching students based upon their reactions to specific ways in which you present a lesson. To redesign this particular lesson, I provide each teacher with a link to an actual video library. The teacher/student is instructed to pick a particular subject or something from within the library and create a scenario around it. The scenario should be created as a power point using Jing or Screencast to present it using audio. The teachers/students will submit the assignment to me for grading.
Dabbagh, N. (2006). Instructional design knowledge base. Retrieved from http://cehdclass.gmu.edu/ndabbagh/Resources/IDKB/models_theories.htm
Collaboration in the Classroom.
http://collaborationintheclassroom.wikispaces.com/