“Constructivist Learning Theory” and how it relates to technology integration.

Brunner has made positive contributions in Constructivism to education.  His constructivist theory that learning is an active process, whereby students learn best by constructing new ideas and building new schemas based upon current and past knowledge (Hein, 1991).  This process is called cognitive which has a cultural and social aspects on rewards and punishments, and students’ motivation to learn the content. Programs across the country who use this model of education feel that the constructivist theory to encourage students and train teachers to discover principles on their own, using the knowledge they already have to embrace information (Mos, 2003). This implies that learning is not about simply being exposed to new information but is an active process whereby learners examine, code, decode, and interpret new concepts and ideas. Learners select and transform information, construct “hypotheses,” and rely on cognitive structures to build and refine their schemas (Kever, 2003; Mos, 2003).

According to Bruner he emphasizes that people interpret their world through the similarities and differences between objects and events. Secondly Bruner believes that learners will compare new ideas to the ones they already have and learn through the similarities and differences.  Finally, Bruner believes that a person’s socio-cultural background and situation play a highly important role in dictating what sorts of information that person will learn, as well as forming the cognitive processes that person uses to build and use schemas (Kever, 2003).

Knowing what we know about Bruner’s constructive process that social-cultural background and situation is also recognizing that people learn differently from different cultures.  Bruner’s constructivist instruction theory consist of four important points of the Constructivist Education Theory. Bruner’s first point in the learning process is, students’ predisposition towards learning, second point on how to structure knowledge that it can be most readily understood by the learner, third point is the most effective sequence in which to present material, and the fourth point is the nature and pacing of motivational rewards and punishments. Instructors should encourage students to discover the principles of the lesson themselves, primarily by engaging in active dialogue with the instructor and other students (Mos, 2003).

Educational design models for Bruner’s constructivist theory have common issues in the design process.  These issues include in choosing what would be the best methods for teaching, learning and provide assessments.  The second issue is creating the learning environment. The third issue is integrating students’ experience into various course elements (Bines, 1992a).  Educational models will consider using the constructivist theory to find and match educational needs with socio-culturally groups of students.

“Integrating educational technology is the process of determining which electronic tools and which methods for implementing them are appropriate for given classroom situation and problems (M.D.Roblyer, 2002).” The integration of technology in Constructivism has the ability to foster creativity, increase transfer of knowledge to problem solving, and foster group cooperation. Bruner’s theory on constructivism consists of how people’s environments and cultures play key roles in their cognitive development relating to education and the integration of technology.

References:

Bines, H. (1992a). Course Delivery and Assessment. In Developing Professional Education

(pp. 57-92). Oxford: SRHE and Open University Press.

Hein, G. E. (1991, 15-22 October). Constructivist Learning Theory. Paper presented at the CECA (International Committee of Museum Educators) Conference, Jerusalem Israel.

Kever, S. (2003, Mon Mar 3 6:59:24 US/Pacific 2003). Constructivist Classroom: An Internet Hotlist on Constructivist Class. Retrieved 22 January, 2004, from http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listconstrucsa1.html

Mos, L. (2003). Jerome Bruner: Language, Culture, Self. Canadian Psychology, 44(1), 77-83.

Pagán, Brian – (2006) PsycEXTRA Dataset –Positive Contributions of Constructivism to Educational Design https://ejop.psychopen.eu/index.php/ejop/article/view/318/html

Roblyer, M.D. (2002).” Learning Theories & Technology Integration

https://studylib.net/doc/9828725/learning-theories-and-technology-integration

About Me

Allow me to introduce myself…Welcome to my blog, techie mom life my name is Sandra Miller and I am a mother, a grad student, information technology and administrative management professional. My interest in obtaining my Masters of Education in Educational Technology will provide me the skills to allow me take on Educational Leadership roles to work with faculty and school administrators.  My passion is to help students learn and to develop a unique curriculum to adapt to their learning needs.  Finding initiatives to help students with learning disabilities and the use of Adaptive Technology. Educational Technology and administrative management has helped me discovered that I will need both for my career. There is no doubt that Educational Technology is changing the future of education and incorporating assessments to evaluate student learning, as technology becomes increasingly used in higher education, the options for curriculum access, participation and progress increase for all students and those with disabilities. The use of technology in teaching and learning is essential to make a lasting impact on how students learn.
I started this Master’s Program this spring and academically, writing my research papers was the biggest challenge. I been out of college for over 5 years since graduating  with my undergraduate degree. Personally, I experience a multitude of challenges.  I am a single mother of four, full-time information technology and administrative manager, involved in many leadership roles, and a jewelry designer with a love for photography. I would not have made it through my undergrad without the help of my family, the patience of my children and the leadership and guidance of my boss. I have learned over the years that the busier I am, the more I accomplish, but look forward to earning my Masters in Educational Technology in the spring of 2021.  I am looking forward to the the days I can dedicate more time with my children, my boyfriend, my dogs, and my love for art, design, and photography with much higher quality.

Assignment 5 Understanding of “Behaviorist Learning Theory”

Assignment 5Understanding of “Behaviorist Learning Theory” and how it relates to technology integration.

B.F. Skinner, who was an American psychologist and believed that his ideas for increasing human learning and his focus on behavior and learning. According to Wikipedia Behaviorism focuses on one particular view of learning: a change in external behavior achieved through using reinforcement and repetition (Rote learning) to shape behavior of learners. Behaviorist Skinner, found that behaviors could be shaped when using reinforcement was implemented. Behaviorism can be understood as two behaviors one is reinforcement and the other is punishment. That desired behavior is rewarded, with reinforcement, while the undesired behavior is not rewarded and is punishment.

According to Skinner, consequences of behavior can be observed if the behavior is repeated or lesson learned.  When a student is rewarded for following instruction in the classroom will most likely follow when positive behavior is recognized by the teacher. A teacher who uses reinforcement and punishment in the classroom, should focus more on a creating a positive environment that engages students to learning and excelling academically. The teacher can provide the students with reinforcements, encouragement, and feedback in the classroom. The emphasis of behavior learning theory, Skinner’s research investigated before and after observations in behavior with evaluations to determine if the instruction resulted in learning. If there was no change in learned behavior after the evaluations then teachers should use the feedback to determine what can be done to improve learning. The evaluations can help to determine what learning style approach to incorporate for the students.

The use of technology is used everywhere in our everyday lives, work and schools. The availability of technology resources are constantly increasing in schools for both teachers and students. Technology integration in the classroom provides students engaging in digital content and using the resources to provide instruction, student learning and engagement. There are several models of technology integration to be used for instruction that support teaching and learning in the classroom. There are two models such as SAMR model and TRACK model. According to the authors Reiser and Dempsey there are two models are for the teacher to use and consider to integrate technology in the classroom instruction. The substitution, augmentation, modification, redefinition (SAMR) model is used for example, the teacher can use this model with different levels when integrating technology into instruction. Each level represents a different approach and effective strategies to implement technology into instruction.  The second is the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TRACK) that is used for as a framework to the use of technology for improving teaching and learning. TRACK is three overlapping circles to reference knowledge as technological, pedagogical, and content. This model helps teacher to determine what are their current abilities and deficiencies to their technology skills to integrate technology into instruction.

There are other enhancements used today in the classroom with the integration of technology. Some of these enhancements are incorporating inquiry based learning, flipped learning by engaging students with online resources to support instruction, game base learning, and personalized learning.  Personalized learning is used to support learning by using different methods and strategies for the student to engage in learning and succeeding academically.

Resources:

https://www.biography.com/scientist/bf-skinner

https://heartarteducation.com/2017/06/04/behaviorism-learning-theories-and-technology/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rote_learning

Reiser, Robert A. Trends and issues in instructional design and technology/edited by Robert A. Reiser, John V. Dempsey.-4th ed. Chapter 20 pages 176-177.

My Philosophy of Education-Draft

Sandra Miller

Assignment 4 My Philosophy of Education-Draft

My Philosophy of education is based on my personal values, beliefs, and experiences as a teacher. Having a personal philosophy of education helps me focus on incorporating my own goals and values as I plan my teaching plans for my students. It is important for me to establish clear goals, objectives and outcomes for my students in order for my classroom to function effectively. I will provide a learning environment to accomplish the objectives and desired outcomes.  Technology is changing the future of education and I believe that all students are capable of learning. Philosophy is defined as the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. (Webster’s)

My first goal is to incorporate assessments to evaluate student learning, at the beginning of the school year.  Assessments provide a starting point and helps to determine what methods and strategies to use for my classroom.  My desire is to understand each of my student’s learning style and access that my teaching style is helping them learn. 

My second goal as a teacher is to provide curriculum access, participation, and progress as this will provide my students with feedback.  This also allows me to provide guidance, encouragement and what improvements are needed in order to reach their achievements. My passion is to help students learn and to develop unique curriculum to adapt to their learning needs. 

My third goal is make a connection with my students where I know their background, culture and family values. As their teacher my goal is that my students are engaged in the classroom, share knowledge, ideas, as we learn from each other. Teach my students to be critical thinkers as problem solving is an essential skill that I believe will help them throughout their entire lives. 

As their teacher it is important for me to understand how students learn, have various methods of teaching in order to accommodate visual learners, auditory learners and kinesthetic learners. Providing students with an interesting and fun atmosphere to help learn and succeed.  The use of technology in teaching and learning is essential to make a lasting impact on how students learn. Technology is changing the future of education and I believe that all students are capable of learning.