Constructivism in Practice

This week I learned about constructivism and constructionism theories used in the classroom. Constructivism states that each individual activiely constructs his/her own meaning. Constructionism states that people learn best when they build on external artifacts or something they can share with others. My classroom theories are based on contsrtuctionism. My students use technology everyday to produce products on the computer and 3D models of their products, power point presentations, and tri-fold displays.

A concept that teachers could incorporate into their classroom is the ability to allow their ability to allow students to generate and test hypotheses. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski (2007) state "when students generate and test hypotheses, they are engaging in complex mental processes" (p 202). I feel that constructionism and generating and testing hypotheses go hand and hand. When students generate and test hypotheses they are in control of what they want to learn. This allows students to stay in equilibration.

A great activity that I use in my classroom is I have my students reverse engineer a product to see how the product functions and how they can improve it to make it better or easier to use. This allows the students to be engaged in problem solving, invention examine, experimental inquiry, and decision making. For the most part, the students have full control over all these aspects in their reverse engineering project with some guidance from myself.

Reference:

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M. & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Cognitivism in Practice

Cognitive learning theories allows a student to make a connection with what he or she is reading with a visual artifact. Wheather the artifact is a painting, an image, or a video the students have the ability to make a connection with an image and the text. Cognitive learing theories could allow a student to process and retain information for a longer period of time. In the video clip “Spotlight on Technology: Virtual Field Trips” Dr. Orey discusses how using virtual field trips in the classroom can create an enriched environment for students.

Using the technology of virtual field trips correlates with cognitive learning theories because it allows the students to put visualizations to text. This can help a student retain information and make it eaiser for a student to recall on such information at a later time. Giving a student the opportunity to make connections with what he or she is learning, such as virtual field trips, makes processing and recalling information easier for the student.

Does anyone have insight on cognitive learning theories? Do you use this method in your classroom and if so; how?

References:

Laureate, Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Spotlight on Technology: Virtual Field Trips [DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author

Behaviorism in Practice

When a teacher uses a behaviorist teaching method they have positive rewards for right answers and use reinforsement for wrong ones. A behaviorist tends to use technology to reinforse what is being learned. In the book Using technology with classroom instruction that works by Howard Pitler, Elizabeth R. Hubbell, Matt Kuhn, and Kim Malenoski they talk about how using technology can keep track of a students' effort and how using technology for homework and practice provides the student with a better understanding of what he or she is doing and learning.

These strategies correlate with the behaviorist method because it allows the students to use technology to reinforse what they are learning. I feel that technology can be a powerful tool and students should use it as much as possible. Students now days are brought up in a technological era and that is what they are comfortable using. Using technology as a guide (or a helping hand) will allow the students to learn what is being taught while receiving reinforsement throughout the activity or project.

For me being a high school engineering teacher I, along with the students, have technology surronding us. I use technology such as a computer and a projector to demondtrate to the students then they turn around and use a computer, software, and sometimes tutorials to complete an assignment.

Reference:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.