“Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change.
Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.”
William Arthur Ward quotes (American dedicated scholar, author, editor, pastor and teacher)
This would seem a simple subject to explain, but as I have only facilitated two sessions of a workshop, I hope my philosophy has merit and would translate to my having the skills and knowledge to be an inspirer of change. And, I am additionally handicapped because the views on learning from the two generations right behind me is only gleaned from my immediate family and from studying education for just a few years.
As a teacher, I believe I am in the classroom (including the virtual classroom) to facilitate a group of students in their discovery of a new subject or expanded information relating to a subject. How that happens is as diverse as the teachers educating students everywhere. However, particular elements may prove to have more influence in how the students learn.
Certainly, understanding learning styles, both your own and your students’, is important. Beyond that, actually presenting information in ways that address their various learning styles is critical.
Being “artful” with technology is another factor that can affect learning. By artful, I mean drawing in various elements of technology in an interesting and fluid manner. It encompasses the ability to present a seamless curriculum, a well written syllabus, and employing technology in the right way so learning objectives are achieved through motivating students to want to explore a topic. It is becoming more and more important to reach out to the newest technology and experiment in learning its benefits so you can make an intelligent decision whether to incorporate it into the classroom. Richardson discusses the importance of teachers learning about technology before they bring it into the classroom, as they “have yet to experience the transformative potential of these new tools in terms of their own personal learning” (Richardson 6)
I have studied emotional intelligence in the past, I believe the ability to use EI in the classroom is an asset. If a teacher can discover how a student is motivated to learn and uses educational strategies whereby the student enjoys exploring a topic, then both are well on their way to experiencing an important human process – that of teaching and learning.
Very cool background. We will have to change the banner to match?
ReplyDeletePart of what I love about this class is that I have experienced how some of these tools can transform the students, and parents, experiences in learning. But Richardson is right wen he says that if the user has not had that experience, then how could thy know? Knowing the word "blog" is different from being capable of employing a blog as a vehicle to help students or to allow them to share their work. In this class we get to see some of that transformation.
I think that one of the advantages of technology is the ability to frame information in different ways, to reach different types of learners. One very small example that I've incorporated into my classes this semester is that all the assignments are added to a Google calendar embedded in Blackboard, so that those (like me) who organize time spatially can see how the assignments are arranged throughout the semester. Then I also generate an agenda (all the assignments in list form) for those who prefer to have it all laid out in a more linear form. Same info, but two different ways of presenting it.
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