Using Wiki in My Classroom

Using Wiki in the Classroom

Using the Wiki in my classroom would be a very valuable asset. My students would use this technology daily to reflect on their personal experiences based on the assignments given. I would have a group of students responsible for the content and for monitoring the site on a weekly bases. The wiki would consist of personal reflections, questions and answers each student could add too. For the monthly field trips we would use the wiki to plan our class trips. We would list the things needed per student and have a check list so each student could keep track of the needed materials so we would have everything we needed before we departed. I would expect each student to do a short story of our trip, the things they saw and learned so by the end of the semester, we would have a written account of the years experiences. I would use the Wiki as the end of year final allowing the students to create a portfolio of the years assignments, listing how the experience of using a wiki changed they way they were able to learn.

My Instructional Design Models At Last!!

Instructional Design Models

My Two Instructional Design Models

Problem Based Learning: Savery and Duffy

A curriculum development and instructional system that simultaneously develops both problem solving strategies and disciplinary knowledge bases and skills by placing students in the active roll of problem solving. The students are confronted with an ill-structured problem that mirrors real-world problems.

The Problem Based Learning Model is based on 8 principles of constructivism and how they apply to learning and understanding. They are as followed:

Anchor all learning activities to a larger task or problem.

• Support the learner in developing ownership for the overall problem or task.

• Design an authentic task.

• Design the task and the learning environment to reflect the complexity of the environment the learner should be able to function in at the end of the learning.

• Give the learner ownership of the process used to develop a solution.

• Design the learner environment to support and challenge the learner's thinking.

• Encourage testing ideas against alternative views and alternate contexts.

• Provide opportunity for, and support reflection on both the content learned and the learning process.

Understanding is our interaction with the environment. Cognitive conflict is the stimulus for learning and determines the organization and nature of what is learned. Knowledge evolves through social negotiation and through the evaluation of the viability of individual understanding.

Mind tools: David Jonassen

The role of mind tools: To extend the learners functioning during the learning process. To engage the learner in operations while constructing knowledge that they would not have been able to accomplish otherwise. To become critical thinkers.

Mind tools module is constructivist learning that provides a question or issue, a case, a problem or project that learners will accept to solve. The belief of this module is ownership of the problem or learning goal creates meaningful learning. The problem must be engaging. Mind tools use databases, multimedia/hypermedia to help students solve these questions or problems.

The difference between the two models would be mind tools use of databases, networking, etc. While the problem based learning is an individual or group thinking ability to solve problems. They are similar with the need to think critically and to monitor their own understanding. The learners take part in a team where social negotiation of meaning is an important part of the problem solving structure.

The design process I would use would start with a group of people with a similar problem of self confidence. This is something we all at one time or another have been challenged with. In a group I would ask for everyone to list the first moment they experienced a lack of self-confidence. Share that experience and how they were able to resolve the issue with communication, inward meditation or with the help of reading, knowledge. In our society to have self-confidence it at times is looked at as someone being ego-centered. We will show with self-confidence our lives will be fuller as we are able to show who in fact we really are!

My Outlook on New Pedagogy

A New Pedagogy-My Outlook
Three questions asked on his blog

What is the purpose of school? What is the purpose of learning? How can we discover our passions through education?

What is the purpose of school?

I come from an educational background. One that would dare to say, if you are not educated, your voice does not count. Having parents who defined their lives on what it was they did for a living, and knowing if I didn't follow suit, I may as well be banned from the family, I rebelled. I wanted to learn through life, not a classroom. All though I have to say I did very well in high school, until this year, 21 years after graduation, I kind of resented school. I wanted to learn life, not books. This brings me back to the blog, and the question asked, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SCHOOL?

For me, I now invite the structure of classroom collaboration. I am finding myself reading each classmates blogs with wonderment. It is so educational to me. I have not only learned about each classmate, but I have been taught something from them. When the question was posted on his blog, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SCHOOL, I was ignited inside to question my own beliefs outside of any prior programming. I have changed my view on this question from, merely a means to an end with maybe a letter behind your name to, a journey that may never be completed. What a thought and mostly a feeling of freedom!

What is the purpose of learning?

I have gone through periods in my life where I felt as if I had not learned a thing. Maybe, making the same decisions, expecting a different outcome, INSANITY! This question was asked on the blog. I see the importance of asking this question. What is the purpose of learning? To grow, to expand so we may better communicate with the world and ourselves. The ignition of questioning things in order to find better understanding. To dive deep into our own questioning of who and what is important to us as human beings. Ultimately, I believe learning is an opportunity to heal all that we have come to believe defines us. To bloom, everyday, as a different expression of who we are.

How can we discover our passion through education?

I am a new student who is learning what my passion is through education. I was a little conflicted with this blog post, so I decided to ask myself this question. HOW CAN I DISCOVER MY PASSION THROUGH EDUCATION? I have learned that I enjoy reading now, also I have learned that I would make a great teacher, in a classroom setting. I have found that I have patience with learning and a passion to learn. Though this assignment, I have learned that I will change my major to Education, and bring all I have to offer to a room of students. This is part of my passion in life, and I never knew it until now! I have to agree that passion and education are one in the same. The discovery comes from the passion one holds. I am a dreamer that is learning through my passion I will discover all of who I am!

Student Sample - Educational Technology

Inspiring! Please listen.

My Teaching Philosophy

I am a student of life and a teacher to all I come in contact with. As a student, I am continuously working toward improving my life, my mind and my spirit.

I wondered how I was to do this assignment, not being a "teacher" with students, in a classroom arena. As I thought about it I realized, I am a teacher to all I come in contact with. I remember talking to friends who shared with me what all they had learned from me. I now understand my responsibilities and the role I play when it comes to my individual relationships. Knowing that the length of the relationship has no greater meaning than the content, I now take time to listen, and be a support. Looking at the relationships I considered to be important in my life, I found the meaning of who I am. Each has inspired me to grow, to ask questions and finally to reflect on the process that brought me to myself. I want to be the best teacher and student I can possibly be.

I remembered a time when I had finished a book about relationship therapy and within a couple of hours I received a call from a family member who was in crisis over something that had happened to her that morning. With the information I received from reading the book I was able to console her and set her on track to better understanding. The exercises I learned in the book such as breathing, releasing, and finally, visualizing a positive outcome helped her release her anger and be in a position to move on to better understanding. In turn, I also experienced a releasing moment knowing I had become not only a better student but a teacher. This for me was such a great experience and an experience that pushed me into higher learning.

As we live, we are confronted with many important decisions that keep us embedded in so many relationships. Knowing this, I decided to start a women s group, once a week, structured around the very premises of "teachers" and "students". One week, half would be the teachers and half students. Each group would talk about their experiences that week, their trials and liberating moments. The teachers would lead the group with questions centered around each topic. It was an amazing experience! We all were able to play each role knowing the impact we were having on one another. Some were not comfortable at first with the role play, but in time I saw the quiet, reserved women turn into confident, wise women, eager to share her experiences.

I am thankful for the knowledge I have gained through this experience of being a teacher. My philosophy has changed from having to be right all the time to learning to listen. I realized through this process that we all are more receptive to a safe, loving environment. Knowing this, I vow to always come from a place of compassion and understanding.

So nice to meet you

It is very exciting to be a part of this group. I am looking forward to meeting you all and to our continued success!!!