Digital Blog Post #F

Visual thinking and concept mapping are very intriguing concepts to me because of my experience as an interpreter and tutor for deaf children. A visual presentation that is captivating from the beginning is crucial to captivate a visual learner.If a primarily visual learner is given tools to create a story-map or develop creative writing techniques, their work could be fun and easier for them. Educational software such as bubbl.us gives them this opportunity.

Math Blasters and other similar games allow students to practice their core skills needed to perform well on standardized tests. It allows for fun environments such as outer space and incorporates points and advancement opportunities. I've seen this program in action and I never remember the students becoming bored with the games.

What really excites me about the future of games and apps in the classroom are programs like www.Free Rice.com/category, www.Energyville.com, and www.iCivics.org. Real world applications that these children could find a future occupational interest are exciting! They are able to consider water usage and conservation, anatomy, and environmental considerations when developing communities. While these are science related they are also occupationally relative and could spark a life-long interest of learning and working in these fields.


Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Royer, Lisa (2015, February 15).Reasons to Incorporate Games and Apps into the Classroom. Created with Bubbl.us,http://bubbl.us/mindmap

Digital Blog Post #D

Click here for the story of "The Wise Man and the Sea of Web". It is a story of the search for knowledge on the vast Sea and the troubles that can be encountered.

http://storybird.com/books/the-wise-old-man-and-the-sea-of-web-2/

E-books and e-readers are some of the most modern technology for reading books. My curiosity about these books is whether or not a person can become captivated into the stories they read and leave reality behind as they become engrossed in the written word. Many avid readers would understand what I mean. You never notice the turning of the page. the words have taken hold of you and you feel yourself standing in the middle of a field in Ireland with the sun wrapping itself around your shoulders as the wind kisses your cheeks. On the other hand I find an e-reader to be a stranger to my world. It breaks me in and out of my voyage with each swiping to a new page. maybe I've become accustomed to the feel and comfort of a book. My hand naturally cradles its weight and shape. So I am left to wonder if students who begin reading only on a computer style of reader will be able to use their imagination and become lost in the tale.

Search Engines seem to be second nature to most students today. One section of our book is about teaching children to use search engines. I believe it is more important in modern technology to teach them which search engines to use and also emphasize how the search engines select the results they display. I know from my own searches that Google's search engine thinks it knows me. It even picks ads to show me based on what I have searched. You cannot believe the headache that caused when my son watched me check my mail over Christmas. "Mommy, do you see that there are two ads and they're both things I asked Santa for!", he said. Of course I saw! I was also relieved I had not researched any coupons for something like bladder control or worse! What are they thinking? That being said, I want my students to be smart educators and consumers of technological products. They may not buy Google but they become consumers by using it.I want them to understand what a search engine is and which search engines will help them navigate educational information.

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Royer, Lisa (2015, February 8).The Wise Man and the Sea of Web. Created with Storybird,http://storybird.com/books/t33wf7ehae/edit/

DIGITAL BLOG POST #C

So, now it's time to identify which learning theory....
Let's use the one...

As with any setting there is not a one size fits all when it comes to teaching or facilitating a classroom. I believe though, with a acclimation activity in the first week or so of class, a best-fit teaching/facilitating style could emerge. Some children will always need extra guidance but I think there could be a popular learning theory to consider with each class as a whole.


References:

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Royer, Lisa (2015, January 31). Learning Theory Conundrum. Created with Bitstrips, http://www.bitstripsforschools.com/comics/54JF91/