Technology survey

Friday, March 26, 2010

Constructivism and Technology

This week at Walden University we are studying about the constructivist and cognitive theories of learning and how technology can be used to help teach our students based on these theories of learning. Dr. Orey (2001) says with constructivism the student is actively building knowledge as they learn and is a learner centered classroom. This what I want to talk about.

There are many ways we can use technology in the classroom that builds upon this theory. We can use it to generate and test hypothesis through a system analysis, problem solving, historical investigation, invention, experimental inquiry, and decision making. (Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K., 2007). Web resources can be a great resource in historical investigation and decision making. My students have used internet resources to help investigate certain environmental issues and to decide which problem they want to work on. The text also gave a website called Smog City which I want to use as another way for my students to understand the knowledge and concern behind pollution. We are also going to be doing studies on the air quality in our area and they can use data collection tools to help keep track of the information. These all involved the student actively building knowledge and makes it more of a learner centered classroom.


Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with
classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Orey, M.(Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology.
Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/

Friday, March 19, 2010

Cognitism and technology

There are several ways that technology can be used to emphasize the cognitive theory of development. The cognitivist persepective states that learning is a mental operation that takes place when information enters the senses and then undergoes mental manipulation and then stored and eventually used(Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J.,2008). There are many ways in the learning resources that showed how this can occur. One way is with Word processing programs. This includes graphic organizers to help organize information in which a student can organize their reading or notes. They can use KWL charts to help establish what they know, what they want to know and what they learn. Using mutlimedia can help to activiate prior knowledge. Students can then use this information to help them to understand the new information they receive.

One area that my students struggle with is summarizing information they have learned. They give me a look that says, "How do you do that". A graphic organizer would help them to do this but computers are not always available to do this. I feel this would be a very beneficial way for my students to be able to summarize the information they are given. I am fortunate that I have a least three computers in my room but ideally I would love to have a computer for each student.

I would really love to be able to use wikis and blogs with my students. Unfortunately most of them are blocked by our school or my students do not have internet access at home. I will continue to do what I can with the technology that is available to me and hope that one day I can have laptops for all my students.


•Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
•Chapter 1: Theoretical Foundations, pp. 2–35

Friday, March 12, 2010

Behaviorism and technology in the classroom

In my readings for my college course online I have learned that there are ways you can correlate the principles of the behavior theory with instructional strategies.

The first one is using web resources to allow students to practice concepts and skills repeatedly which provides immediate feedback and follows along the lines of modeling and shaping the skills of students. The second one is using a spread sheet software to help with reinforcement by using it to help the students to track their performance and progress. Many times students do not feel even if they put in extra effort that it will help. If you have them follow a rubric based on how they are doing in the classroom and then do before and after statistics the students can see the benefit of putting more effort into their work. This in turn would hopefully give positive reinforcement to learning. A third way teachers can provide immediate feedback through technology is from using communication software such as WordTrack which allows teachers to insert comments directly onto students papers.

In our learning materials this week we are reading from an online textbook titled Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology and it states “Students work for things that bring them positive feelings, and for approval from people they admire (Orey, 2001). If we can use just the above mentioned techniques to provide positive feedback and feelings then there is a better chance of success amoung our students.