EDLD+5364+Teaching+with+Technology

= **Teaching with Technology - Week 1** =

I have learned about the three different learning theories related to teaching with technology. They include constructivism, connectivism, and cyborg. First, constructivism (Vygotsi, Russian psychologist) is simply when learners begin with what they already know about a subject. Students learn new information through reading, hearing or collaborating about this information and then add to personal knowledge and create new knowledge. Second, connectivism (George Siemens) is when the learner has the ability to create connections between various kinds of information. This is a continuous process that requires the learner to know where to find knowledge needed. Lastly, Cyborg (futurist Ray Kurzwell) is the way humans and machines interact. The melding of humans and technology will greatly impact education. Kevin Warwick experimented with "chips" implanted in his nervous system. Not long from now, we will get the details about how cyborgs will provide valuable gains in student learning.

I have also learned the different methods teachers use to instruct students. As far as I can remember, I was taught in a traditional classroom when I went to elementary school. This method was successful enough to get students to advance academically. But now, we have learned that today’s classrooms should be learner centered to become best prepared for the 21st century. The traditional learning classroom is one where the teacher is the person involved in speaking and participating. Students are usually quiet and seated at their seats, while the teacher is the one that speaks and walks around the room to pass out papers, check on students work, etc. Research has found that students learn more when they are responsible for their own learning. Students should be taught in a learner-centered environment. On that note, I have learned that students succeed by being directly involved in decision making that strengthens high order thinking and real life learning. Students should participate in cooperative learning groups, presentations, hands on activities, labs and research. This of course is an excellent opportunity to incooperate technology. Now, education has taken a turn for the best for the students and that is the use of technology to prepare the students for the rapidly growing technology of today.