We, as teachers, want our students to be passionate, hard working, confident, life long learners, who are prepared for their futures beyond the classroom right? Well then we need to start making sure we are staying updated with all the new technology that is entering the workforce and get students working proficiently on them. To do this we must start introducing students early enough that they can truly understand the importance of technology, how it can truly help in this developing world we live in, and how it can help us with collaboration with others. So, where do we start in education you ask? Well, first we start with online learning environments. To get started we need to decide on which learning theory and instructional design models lend themselves to the development of online learning environments. I feel that Leo Vygotsky and Jerome Bruner have the most widely used theories and models. These two theories and Bruner’s model are what I would recommend if you wanted to create an online learning environment.
As a Russian psychologist Vygotsky introduced the Sociocultural Learning Theory. One of his quotes that I feel encompasses the idea of online learning environments is “through others we become ourselves”, which supports that learning is a social process that we need to be apart of to get our best work. Vygotsky believed that the learning process involves three key themes, which are culture, language, and the “zone of proximal development.” He stresses the importance of social interaction in the cognitive development of children. He also believed that social learning traditionally comes before development. The Zone of Proximal Development, which focuses on the idea that new knowledge is dependent on previous learning is another key idea of his theory. As an American psychologist Jerome Bruner introduced the discovery learning. It is a method of inquiry-based instruction that encourages students to build on past experiences and knowledge, be imaginative, and be creative. It allows for students to discover facts and relationships for themselves. They become active learners who are involved in their learning. “The Discovery Learning Model,” created by Bruner integrates five principles: Problem Solving, Learner Management, Integrating and Connecting, Information Analysis and Interpretation, Failure and Feedback. These principles are what make an online learning environment successful. They make sure that the learners are the driving force behind their learning. They encourage the learners to have a growth mindset and to not see failure as a bad thing but continue to take risks because only then can we truly learn something new. Collaboration is also a huge part of these principles, which is something everyone needs to learn how to do cooperatively and effectively. When creating my learning environment I used my already created UbD plan. I thought it was a great plan to begin my first learning environment since it would need to be done both online and in the classroom. Being a kindergarten teacher I knew for my students their first time being involved in an online learning environment it would have to be blended as to make sure their understanding is there. As I created my learning environment I made sure to put in discussions so my students could work collaboratively and get ideas and comments about their projects from their peers. I also added links for students to find more facts about their chosen animal that would help them learn more about their animal and its habitat. We are living in a world where things are constantly changing. Most importantly technology is always changing and being updated. Technology plays a key part in our everyday lives and we, as teachers need to take advantage of that and use technology to help us teach our children through online learning environments. We need to take control of our teaching once again and make it fun. We cannot just teach to the standards by lecturing and standing in front of our students. We need to get them involved in their learning by making them accountable for their learning, making them own their learning, and allowing them to have a voice. We can do this by using technology to allow our students to learn on their own and discover new things that they relate to. Overall in this class I have learned that the key to a successful online learning environment is collaboration and the willingness to fail knowing that you are trying something new and you may need to make changes. Nothing is perfect the first time and we as creators of our online courses need to be willing to listen to our students for feedback about our courses and then make the necessary changes that could help our course better serve our students. I will apply this to my teaching by being willing to try new things, like implementing an online learning course in my kindergarten class. I know that I may have to make changes based on my students’ ability to navigate and use the program efficiently but I believe in the end the students will enjoy it and I will be astonished as to how much they can actually do by themselves, I hope. I will also make sure I am listening to my students when they comment about things they like and don’t like about the course and make the necessary changes. I want my students to learn how to use technology for learning and not just for gaming or video watching.
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AuthorMy name is Andrea Miller. I am a Kindergarten teacher in the greater Grand Rapids area. I love getting feedback and learning new ways to teach material to my students. I love getting them excited about learning and gaining a love for school. Archives
May 2019
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