Week+1+Reflection+EDLD+5364+Teaching+with+Technology

The information I learned about this week was the various theories of Constructivism, Connectivism, and Cyborg Learning. I consider myself a Constructivism teacher. I can relate to this learning theory because I do not teach in a traditional classroom setting. I provide my students with learner-centered activities, collaborating projects, student participation discussions and questions, reflections, problem solving, field trips and guest speakers. In a 1999 article, Adams and Burns discussed how, good teachers have always used experience as a valuable instructional tool; that is why we arrange field trips and hands on projects. It is why an internship or apprenticeship is essential to the completion of most vocations, including teaching. (Adams and Burns, 1999). I use technology- based projects in my classroom to broaden my students horizons and knowledge as well as other effective technology web 2.0 tools for student learning and understanding for the 21st century learners. Bransford, Brown, and Cocking stated, “introducing technology into the learning environment can encourage cooperative learning and student collaboration” (2000). I think that teachers can used this quote to teach students in learner-centered, and technology-based environments in their classrooms. I learned that the Connectivisim theory is a learning theory that is based on learners connecting information sources and learning in a variety of ways. They learn where to find knowledge. George Siemens mentioned in his you tube video that the Connectivism theory is the primary point of learning the network that learners create. The Cyborg Learning theory presented by Kevin Warwick involved the use of connecting an implanted computer chip into humans to enhance the mental abilities of humans. This is very interesting but I am not sure if the world is ready for this type of learning because it can become controversial and my needed more researching and consideration of other factors involved. I have learned a wealth of information about the 3 learning theories this week and I have enjoyed the readings, videos and discussions. I am really looking forward to working with my team members, Priscilla Summers, Janet Armstrong, and Gail Dunn. We are all in the same cohort and we have worked on another group team project in a previous class together. I have worked with Google Docs in previous course and I am somewhat familiar with it and I think I will learn more about Google Docs in this course working on the scenario based project with my team members. I think this will be an interesting course that can help me improve my teaching with technology abilities. Adams, A. & Burns, M. (1999). Learning as a Personal Event: A Brief Introduction to Constructivism. //Connecting Student Learning and Technology.// 7. Retrieved from http://www.sedl.org/pubs/tec26/intro2c.html. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Bransford, J.D., Brown, A.L., & Cocking, R.R. (2000). // How people learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School //(Expanded Edition). Ch. 9, pp.194-218. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Retrieved on February 27, 2011, from []
 * EDLD 5364 Week 1 Reflection **