There have been so many tools talked about in the last three weeks that can be used in correlation with the Constructionist Theory of learning. I have used a few already in my teaching to date, such as PowerPoint, Excel, and Blogs. Constructionist based learning according to Dr. Orey is essentially getting students involved directly in the process where they are in charge of the learning and by combining their ideas with these technologies it is easy to create projects and situations where student can use PowerPoint and create a wonderful multimedia presentation in which they were the architects of the learning process. For example, my history class did a project on Civil Rights and created their own history lesson focusing on key events in the civil rights movement and they went above and beyond what I would have taught them in class and they had fun doing it. The presentations were well received by the whole class and students even actively asked questions.
I am also going to incorporate Blogs into my classroom next year and hope to continue creating constructivist/constructionist learning opportunities for my students online.
Orey, M.(Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
The number of resources to allow students to collaborate and create "artifacts" online is amazing. I, too, am excited about including them in my lessons for next year.
ReplyDeleteConstructivism or constructionism on Century 21 by Juan Delgado
ReplyDeleteI would like to post this information in your blog as a compliment of your thoughts
What is constructivism? A theory of knowledge stating that each individual actively constructs his/her own meaning.
What is constructionism? A theory of learning that states people learn best when they build an external artifact or something that can share with others.
The process of constructionism has four specific mechanism of learning as follow:
Assimilation: Assimilation occurs when external reality is made to fit when one’s current beliefs and understanding. (Scheme)
Accommodation: Accommodation occurs when one’s current believes and understanding (scheme) is altered to fit the external reality.
Equilibration: Is the process of achieving a balance between differences in external reality and one’s current beliefs and understanding. (Scheme).
Scheme: A Scheme is a representation of an n outline of a system or object.
All this mechanism are connected and balance during the learning process.
When a teacher plans a constructionist activity, students are engaged in learning and with the process of “building” using tools and technology.
Assimilation, accommodation, equilibration and scheme are definitely, mechanisms that we all apply when are trying to acquire new knowledge.
Constructionist activities should be include on teachers weekly activities in order to develop students skills about using technology and braking with the daily routine of using pencil and paper.
My thoughts about Constructionism:
I believe in constructionism and proof of that is my students have a mandatory assignment, every marking period; when they need to use technology. Foe example, I have my students construct a project-based or a problem-based, original and creative on a determine topic; the common ones are the projects that consist of creating a power point presentation or simply writing an essay. The time allows for each project can vary from 90 minutes to a week; and student gets involve with the mechanism of learning as: Assimilation, accommodation, equilibrium and scheme. The most productive are the project where students have not a strong scheme. For example, last week, one activity consisted of do research about common alloys; students have idea about stainless steels and brass these students were more confident searching because they have an idea about this alloys, but the reaction was different when students were ask to do research about pewter and amalgam because they have no scheme about them. During this activity students are engage creating something. At times is a real challenge for students to work with Power Point.
My thoughts about Constructivism:
Students are not too familiar with doing invention or analyzing experimental inquiry. This week students are finishing with a project based on problem based, they did choose a topic and need to apply the steps of Scientific Method and write an essay about it. A group student were interested in finding out about peer opinion regarding the use of “uniform” instead of regular “outfit” and the effect on learning. During this activity students are engage constructing they own meaning or knowledge about the situation... At times is a real challenge for students to do data analysis to show experimental results.
Juan Delgado.
As I read all the great ideas about types of artifacts that can be created, I want to mention that the idea of a student-created product to share is not new; there are just new ways to do them with all of the easy-to-use technology. I wrote and illustrated orignal poems in elementary school and still have that notebook! Students for years have made models of the solar system, atoms and famous buildings. Students used to make leaf
ReplyDeletecollections for biology. Does research show that web-based products affect learning more than the "old" ways? Perhaps it depends on your age!! Cathy
What do you plan on using your blog page for in your classroom? Will you assign a weekly posting that the students have to respond to or will you just use the blog page periodically for a project?
ReplyDeleteI am also planning on using my blog page next year. I would like to post a weekly essential question based on the lesson that the students have to respond to. I am hoping this will not only help them retain the information but also help with their writing skills since so many of my students have never been required to write before.
I plan on using my Blog for a project that all students in a group will create their own for the project and connect to mine so I can keep track of them and thier progress. I also plan on posting many classroom items online for my students to access.
ReplyDeleteWhat type of technology did your students use to create their projects with?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever considered having them use a wiki as a place where they can share their projects. The wiki can be something that the parents can access as a way to see what it is that their kids are learning about in school. Also, the wiki can be used for future students to reference to or expand upon. It is like creating a digital history of the work your students produced each year while attending your class. You can even include charts and graphs in the wiki that show how the students progressed year after year.