Constructivism in Practice

Dr. Orey discusses what the constructivist learning theory and how people learn best they build an external artifact and then share it with others (Laureate, 2008). There are many things that can help students to have a better understanding of what is being taught. One that is a great resource is PowerPoint presentations. I think that PowerPoint presentations can be effective in enhancing constructivist/constructionist learning theories. PowerPoint presentations allow for students to convey their thoughts while using technology and can be used as an assessment to see if the student is grasping the concept that is being taught. It allows the students to use an artifact like discussed by Dr. Orey and then they are able to share what they have learned with others. Project based learning is a common practice in constructionist learning.

The other resource from these past weeks that I think is very useful is the virtual field trips. I think that the students will be able to experience a lot from just the virtual field trip. I am looking forward into incorporating these into my classroom next year. I had never thought about using a virtual field trip in my classroom until this class


Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program seven. Constructionist and Constructivist Learning Theories [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Congnitive Learning Theory

Dr. Orey talks about cognitive theories and the “integrating multiple senses in presentation improves learning” (Laureate Education, 2008). I think that is so true in education that children need to be exposed to information in multiple ways. Not all the students obtain the information from lecture and the more senses that are hit the more likely that the students are about to retain the information that is being taught. The thing that was shocking to me was when Orey said that “short term memory can process 7 +/- 2 pieces of information at one time” (Laureate Education, 2008). Sometimes I wonder when there is a whole bunch of things going on why I cannot remember what was said. I can now chalk it up to the fact that I cannot process the information in my short term memory. The thing that I use in my math class is songs. I know that all the kids know all the words to a lot of the rap and Hannah Montana songs and who knows what else. So, I incorporate songs into my class. The songs that I use are ones that have familiar music that the students know, but the lyrics are math lyrics. At first the students laugh and think that the songs are funny and ridiculous, but by this time of year they are asking to hear the music. I think that this is a “episodic experience” (Laureate Education, 2008)that the students can relate to for the most part and that will help them to remember.

When it comes to concept mapping I never really knew what it was until this week when it was part of this week’s assignment. With how much the students want to text and get on myspace I know that the use of technology is very important to the kids learning in schools today. Something that Orey said in the video that I think plays a key role in concept mapping is allowing the learners to see what they are creating visually. With the concept map the students are able to organize the information that is being presented and map out what they are going to be doing. The primary method of storing information in long term memory is through elaboration. Through elaboration students can build on prior knowledge and use informational images to help them to recall a fact. There are many students in my classes that will be mouthing the words to some of the math songs when they are taking a test or a quiz. That is the way that they have stored their information and that is the way that they are going to recall it from memory. Through the concept map the students will be able to draw pictures that will allow them to connect and then retrieve the information later.


Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Instructional Strategies

Throughout the reading this week I noticed that technology can be used in several ways. I think that the most effective way that it can be used is through reinforcement. I think that through reinforcement students grasps the concepts that are being taught and realize that with a little extra effort on homework and through practice that they are better able to understand a concept that is being taught in my class. I was just at a workshop today and looking back at the readings for this week I think that what was discussed today would be a great tool. The workshop was on using different types of assessments in the classroom so that as a teacher I could get immediate feedback without the kids even knowing. I could do the assessments before, during, or after a standard is taught. The one assessment that I was really drawn into was the clicker that goes along with a SMART board. It gives feedback right away. There were so many things that I was thinking about while I was going through the training and how I could use this technology in my class. Through the clickers students will be able to monitor their progress along with I will be able to monitor where they are weak. This will be an instant “are they getting it or not” checker.

Homework and practice I believe should be for reinforcement not busy work. Students know when a teacher is just giving them something to keep them occupied and that is meaningless. At times I know that I fall into the phase of giving homework as busy work so that I can get some things done. The positive reinforcement that I started though and that had the students really excited was a ten day homework challenge. The students loved it and it was a great way to have positive reinforcement from each of the students and having all the students work towards a goal. The thing is though I have those one or two students that just refuse to do the work no matter how simple the assignment. I am at a loss for what to do for those kids. I have tried all types of things to no avail. The worst one of the bunch is the one that has been held back. You would of thought that not advancing to the next grade would be some sort of motivation. That is not the case he is as lazy as ever. I hope to find something that motivates this child.

Integrating Technology in the Classroom Reflection

At the beginning of the course when I took the self assessment I realized that I rarely integrated the 21st century skills into my classroom. Through this course I realized that how important it is to incorporate the 21st century skills that the students that I am teaching today will need when they get into the real world. Even though, “Schools are struggling to keep pace with the astonishing rate of change in students’ lives outside of school. Students will spend their adult lives in a multitasking, multifaceted, technology-driven, diverse, vibrant world-and they must arrive equipped to do so” (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, n.d.). I believe that, that quote speaks volumes for the expectations that are set on educators and I see that I have a lot to learn as an educator. Through this class my eyes have been opened to the realization that I need to be able to implement the skills that are needed in the 21st century so that my students will be successful. Personally I had never even thought about creating a blog, wiki, or podcast for my students to hear, but through this course I have gained knowledge that will help me to implement more technology into my class.

My perspective on teacher-centered instruction has changed a little since the beginning of the course. I believe that for the most part that my teaching style was more learning centered then teacher centered. If you walked into my classroom at any time the kids might be working, but there will be music going and it will not be quiet. Students work in pairs, in small groups, or alone depending on what we are learning. If the lesson calls for collaboration amongst the students then we have discussions to formulate answers. The one thing that the students do not have as much choice in is the topics that are covered. I teach math and there are certain state standards that I have to cover throughout the year and there are certain topics that are more important than others. So the students are not able to have a choice of the topics that are covered. One thing that I do when I am teaching though is I have the students at times come up and teach parts of the lessons. I call it my genius for a day and I pick a person about once a week to be my “genius”. The kids love to play the teacher and be the genius for the day.

One way that I can continue to expand my knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology to increase my students’ achievement is to finish the masters program that I am in now. I know that there is a lot of information out there and if I were not in this program then I am not sure how much I would actually look into them. I will also expand my knowledge by becoming more comfortable with the technologies that are out there like blog, wiki’s, and podcasts. How can I expect to implement those technologies if I am not comfortable using them? I think that through the implementation of technology that the students will be more interested in the lessons that I am teaching and that will keep their interests peaked, and I hope that will help with their overall understanding of math.

Two long term goals I would like to set for transforming my classroom environment and overcoming obstacles in order to achieve them are make a blog for my classes to use and hopefully be able to podcast the lessons that I teach so that the students can hear what they may have missed for the day. Through the blog I think that it will be easy for the parents to keep up on what is going on in the class, and with the podcasts the parents will be able to hear what is taught during the day. Some parents have been out of school for years and many of the concepts that I am teaching are like a foreign language. Through my SMART board I can record my lessons and take the students through step by step instructions on how to do different concepts. Posting those to the blog will allow for the parents to learn also so that they will be able to help their students at home. I hope that I will be able to implement this into my class in the next couple of years. One obstacle that I might face is being able to gain access at my school and be able to keep the blog up and running. I would hope that since Ohio, where I teach, is looking to support the practices of 21st century skills that my district will back what I am trying to do.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st century skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf

Technology Pod Cast

Evaluating 21st Century Skills

After looking over the web site Partnership for 21st Century Skills I thought that is was a very informative web site I thought that there mission was right on with what is needed in the 21st century in regards to the education of students today. The mission was “Serve as a catalyst to position 21st century skills at the center of US K-12 education by building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community and government leaders”. In order for students to be successful in the workforce they need the knowledge and skills for the 21st century. If not then when they get into the work force they will not be ready for the highly competitive work force, and if the students in our society are not ready then there will be students from around the world that will take their jobs. That is why it is my job to prepare the students to the best of my ability.
The thing that surprised me about the site was all the partnerships. The big one that surprised me was that the U.S. Department of Education was on the site as a partner. Also Apple, AOL, and Dell to name a couple off the list. That was just a little shocking to see that is not what I thought that I would see as partners. I thought that there might have been some no name companies as partners. But to see that the U.S. Department of Education was a partner was just shocking.
The implementations that are set forth are that as educators we need to make sure that the students have a much higher understanding of the core subjects, so that we can interweave 21st century themes and technology. An area that I would like to focus on is communication and collaboration. The website states that if students are able to articulate their thoughts and ideas that will help with their speaking and writing. I believe that whole heartedly. The better speakers that students are the better communicators they become which then leads into the better that they are able to work collaboratively. Communication is a huge part of society today. If you are not a good communicator and you cannot articulate your words then it is seen as a sign of not being educated. So as an educator I think that is a important quality and even if I personally do not have the technology and some students don’t have it either. If they are able to communicate and collaborate that will get them farther than if they are not capable of those traits

Blogging in Math

One way that I think that a blog would work in my classroom would be to use it as a question and answer session. There are a lot of students in my classes that I teach that I think are afraid to ask questions or they may get home and they might not know how to do something. I think that the blog would work great as a way for the students to ask each other questions for example on an upcoming test or quiz. The blog could be another way that I could communicate with the parents of students. As a seventh grader I think that they are old enough to be able to blog and take it seriously. Blogging is a new concept that I think will take off in the next couple of years with the advancement technology. So if I am able to teach them how to do it properly while they are in seventh grade I think that it will follow hem for the rest of their life in to college and the corporate world. Having a place where students would be able to go and possibly get notes from class when they miss or a possible podcast of a lesson would be a great resource for the students. Does anyone have a good idea of a way that a blog could be implemented into a seventh grade math class? Has anyone ever had difficulty getting approval from their school district for setting up a blog?