What is Learning
Wow, this summer has been full of learning experiences. It has been really beneficial going through the learning theories, to refresh my mind, and give me new ideas. I am sure I 'learned' most of this information in my Undergrad work, but it means so much more now that I have taught students for a few years. Learning is the process of putting information in a real life context over time, and in many different situations. That definition may only make sense to me, but so be it!
Learning can be best effectuated...
Probably the overwhelming theme from all the learning theories from my perspective is learning needs to have meaning. Learning needs to have personal meaning that connects students with past experiences, and links them to future experiences. As teachers we need to help students connect with what they are learning, and challenge them to use what they have learned in everyday life.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Week 11 Problem Based Learning
What is Learning?
Knowledge is being able to take what you have learned and use it in a productive way. As mentioned throughout the course of this semester, learning needs to have a purpose, and be usable. As I have completed the lessons on problem solving in the class I realize what an important real life skill that it is. If students know how to solve problems, they will be able to utilize what they have learned, and be able to find information to learn more.
So I guess what I am saying, is that learning is best effectuated when you teach principles that can be generalized to many different situations, in and out of the classroom. What is the saying, if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, if you teach a man how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
Knowledge is being able to take what you have learned and use it in a productive way. As mentioned throughout the course of this semester, learning needs to have a purpose, and be usable. As I have completed the lessons on problem solving in the class I realize what an important real life skill that it is. If students know how to solve problems, they will be able to utilize what they have learned, and be able to find information to learn more.
So I guess what I am saying, is that learning is best effectuated when you teach principles that can be generalized to many different situations, in and out of the classroom. What is the saying, if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, if you teach a man how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Week 10 Bruner
Learning is a discovery. I watch my 20 month old son, learn and discover each day. He likes to dig in the dirt, step in mud puddles, pull apart flowers. I feel as he engages in these somewhat destructive behaviors, he is actually learning! Children are naturally curious, and want to discover new things.
I think as teachers we can effectuate learning by plugging into peoples natural curiosity. I still remember a science lab I did in 5th grade. Our teachers gave us a mixture of lead, sand, sugar, and salt. In groups we had to figure out how to separate these items, using only a few items. We were all curious about this science project, and it was very memorable. This was a great activity, because it was not teacher lead, it was teacher guided, we came up with our own solutions, and tried to solve the problem. It was very empowering. As a teacher I try to think of ways that will also give students the joy of discovery.
I think as teachers we can effectuate learning by plugging into peoples natural curiosity. I still remember a science lab I did in 5th grade. Our teachers gave us a mixture of lead, sand, sugar, and salt. In groups we had to figure out how to separate these items, using only a few items. We were all curious about this science project, and it was very memorable. This was a great activity, because it was not teacher lead, it was teacher guided, we came up with our own solutions, and tried to solve the problem. It was very empowering. As a teacher I try to think of ways that will also give students the joy of discovery.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Week 9 Situated Cognition
What is Learning...
Learning is gaining knowledge, that will hopefully be useful at some future date. Sometimes the knowledge might be needed for only a test, but I think learning is more meaningful if you will use the information in real life. Learning is a continuous process, and takes practice to master. Hopefully some of the 'practice' can be in a real life situation.
How can learning best be effectuated?
Learning is most effective when it can be applied to a real life. I am lucky because I have opportunities to take students on community field trips often. Students with disabilities often have a tough time generalizing skills across different settings. As a result, we take field trips often. If students are learning how to grocery shop, we teach them grocery shopping skills at school, we role play grocery shopping, and then we practice the skills we have learned at the grocery store. This helps students apply what they are learning to real life.
Learning is gaining knowledge, that will hopefully be useful at some future date. Sometimes the knowledge might be needed for only a test, but I think learning is more meaningful if you will use the information in real life. Learning is a continuous process, and takes practice to master. Hopefully some of the 'practice' can be in a real life situation.
How can learning best be effectuated?
Learning is most effective when it can be applied to a real life. I am lucky because I have opportunities to take students on community field trips often. Students with disabilities often have a tough time generalizing skills across different settings. As a result, we take field trips often. If students are learning how to grocery shop, we teach them grocery shopping skills at school, we role play grocery shopping, and then we practice the skills we have learned at the grocery store. This helps students apply what they are learning to real life.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Case Base Week 8
What is learning?
Learning is growth. Learning is seeing things from a new perspective. Last semester I had a class where we studied Web 2.0, and it was about web applications. One of the goals of this program was to become life-long learners. It is amazing to me all of the knowledge available to us. Their is more knowledge available then we could ever possibly dream to learn. A high school teacher told our class we are only allotted a gallon full of knowledge in a vast ocean of life. The more I learn the more I realize their is to know.
This week learning about the case based theory, I have been thinking a lot about storytelling. I use social stories quite a bit as a teacher, as more of a therapy item. For example, I wrote a story about the fire drill for an autistic student scared to death of the fire drills. It may have gone something like this...
Sometimes at school we have a fire drill. Often fire drills come as a surprise. The fire drill is not meant to scare people. It is so all of the students know what to do if their were a fire. We all have specific places to line up.......etc, etc.
I guess I was always amazed at how well these usually worked. It is only the truth, written as a story. But students could connect with them, illustrate them, it became such a help to them. Moreover, I love stories, some of the most interesting people I know are fantastic story tellers. They have a way of making stories come to life. I had a very theatrical history teacher, it was so much fun to learn about history through his stories. Learning can be best effectuated when told in story form.
Learning is growth. Learning is seeing things from a new perspective. Last semester I had a class where we studied Web 2.0, and it was about web applications. One of the goals of this program was to become life-long learners. It is amazing to me all of the knowledge available to us. Their is more knowledge available then we could ever possibly dream to learn. A high school teacher told our class we are only allotted a gallon full of knowledge in a vast ocean of life. The more I learn the more I realize their is to know.
This week learning about the case based theory, I have been thinking a lot about storytelling. I use social stories quite a bit as a teacher, as more of a therapy item. For example, I wrote a story about the fire drill for an autistic student scared to death of the fire drills. It may have gone something like this...
Sometimes at school we have a fire drill. Often fire drills come as a surprise. The fire drill is not meant to scare people. It is so all of the students know what to do if their were a fire. We all have specific places to line up.......etc, etc.
I guess I was always amazed at how well these usually worked. It is only the truth, written as a story. But students could connect with them, illustrate them, it became such a help to them. Moreover, I love stories, some of the most interesting people I know are fantastic story tellers. They have a way of making stories come to life. I had a very theatrical history teacher, it was so much fun to learn about history through his stories. Learning can be best effectuated when told in story form.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Week 7, motivational learning
What is learning?
This week I have been thinking about learning in the context of my life. It seemed that during high school, I would learn to get a grade. I did not put much stock into my learning, and I don't think I took full advantage of my learning opportunities. In my pre graduate studies, I took learning a little more seriously, but still going to classes, doing homework, studying for finals was more a chore. I did not learn in the context of, how will I use this knowledge in my life? I think now that I am at the end of my formal education, I look at the classes I take as opportunities. As I take classes I try to apply the material to my life, and utilize it, not merely just get a grade. This has me wonder, is learning an attitude? Surprisingly, quite a few of the parents of students I have taught never graduated from High School. Usually, in the IEP meetings, the parent would explain to their child how important education is, and how they wish they would have stayed in school, and took advantage of it. I think we value learning more as we mature.
How can learning best be effectuated....
The teachers who have had the most impact on my life are teachers who are passionate about what they teach. Teachers who have experience in their field, love it, and want to share their knowledge with others. Usually these teachers have an interest in helping students share their same passion, or at least understand why they are passionate about their field of study. I think excitement about a subject rubs off on those you teach.
This week I have been thinking about learning in the context of my life. It seemed that during high school, I would learn to get a grade. I did not put much stock into my learning, and I don't think I took full advantage of my learning opportunities. In my pre graduate studies, I took learning a little more seriously, but still going to classes, doing homework, studying for finals was more a chore. I did not learn in the context of, how will I use this knowledge in my life? I think now that I am at the end of my formal education, I look at the classes I take as opportunities. As I take classes I try to apply the material to my life, and utilize it, not merely just get a grade. This has me wonder, is learning an attitude? Surprisingly, quite a few of the parents of students I have taught never graduated from High School. Usually, in the IEP meetings, the parent would explain to their child how important education is, and how they wish they would have stayed in school, and took advantage of it. I think we value learning more as we mature.
How can learning best be effectuated....
The teachers who have had the most impact on my life are teachers who are passionate about what they teach. Teachers who have experience in their field, love it, and want to share their knowledge with others. Usually these teachers have an interest in helping students share their same passion, or at least understand why they are passionate about their field of study. I think excitement about a subject rubs off on those you teach.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Week 6 Human Development
What is learning?
This week in pondering about learning, I have begun to ponder about knowledge. How do learning and knowledge differ? What is knowledge, and how does it relate to learning? Is knowledge the end result of learning? Piaget says to know an object is to act on it. Knowledge is not rote memorization or copying information. Knowledge is being able to modify, change, and transform an object. So I guess according to Piaget, we can learn many things, but only truly have knowledge on a few things. To a point I agree with Piaget. I have learned many things, but I do not still 'know' them. If you asked me to complete a derivative problem, I could not. At one time I could, but I have completely forgotten how. I am going to have to continue to ponder on this subject....
How can learning best be effectuated?
I have learned the most when I have been stretched. When I have had a task that I thought was just out of my reach, but somehow completed it. Looking back at the classes I have been privileged to take in my life time, I would have to say the classes that I have enjoyed the most are definitely not the easy ones. The classes I have valued the most have stretched my intellectual limits, and have caused me to think from a different perspective. My favorite teacher in high school, Mr. Staker taught me that learning causes us to expand our horizons and look at life differently. In Mr. Staker's class we learned the parts of the frog, the shrubs native to Utah, and how to appreciate the complexity and simplicity of life. Learning is best effectuated when it causes you to think in a way that you have not before.
This week in pondering about learning, I have begun to ponder about knowledge. How do learning and knowledge differ? What is knowledge, and how does it relate to learning? Is knowledge the end result of learning? Piaget says to know an object is to act on it. Knowledge is not rote memorization or copying information. Knowledge is being able to modify, change, and transform an object. So I guess according to Piaget, we can learn many things, but only truly have knowledge on a few things. To a point I agree with Piaget. I have learned many things, but I do not still 'know' them. If you asked me to complete a derivative problem, I could not. At one time I could, but I have completely forgotten how. I am going to have to continue to ponder on this subject....
How can learning best be effectuated?
I have learned the most when I have been stretched. When I have had a task that I thought was just out of my reach, but somehow completed it. Looking back at the classes I have been privileged to take in my life time, I would have to say the classes that I have enjoyed the most are definitely not the easy ones. The classes I have valued the most have stretched my intellectual limits, and have caused me to think from a different perspective. My favorite teacher in high school, Mr. Staker taught me that learning causes us to expand our horizons and look at life differently. In Mr. Staker's class we learned the parts of the frog, the shrubs native to Utah, and how to appreciate the complexity and simplicity of life. Learning is best effectuated when it causes you to think in a way that you have not before.
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