Reflection: Personal Theory of Learning

After reviewing my Personal Theory of Learning, I still stand firm with and feel strongly about creating differentiated instruction for each child. Every child has a different learning style and technique. Some need small group instruction or one on one instruction. Some need visuals and pictures, and others are auditory learning. One thing I would like to include or add into my theory of learning is technology.

After taking this course and getting more familiarized with different technology tools, I have noticed that technology could be another form of differentiated instruction. In addition to pictures, repetition, and hands-on manipulatives, I believe that concept mapping, blogging, and taking virtual field trips are all other great tools to help in differentiating instruction for the students. Concept mapping I find to be a very important skill. The students can not only break down information and pull important parts, but they can then add pictures to go with the text to help them to remember the information.

My long terms goals in incorporating technology into my classroom are creating a classroom blog that my students have to participate in daily. After creating my own classroom blog for EDUC 6711 I have found them to be a very fun and interactive way to discuss and comment on different classroom topics. The other long term goal I have is to let go a little bit and give more responsibility to my students when letting them use technology. For example: after giving a tutorial on how to use a concept mapping program, let the students go and "play" and figure out how to use the program. Once they are given a little free time to explore the program, they will have a better understanding of how to use it. I hope to continue to learn about more technology tools as my MS in Technology continues.

Cooperative Learning

Cooperative learning is a key component in having a successful classroom. "When students work in cooperative groups, they make sense of, or construct meaning for, new knowledge by interacting with others." (Johnson, Johnson, & Stanne, 2000) Students learn from each other and gain confidence in themselves when put in cooperative learning groups. In my classroom I incorporate math centers as well as literacy centers every other day. I have put the students into groups that I know they will work well together with confidence and collobaration. I do have the one or two students who work better alone and I let them do that most of the time, but I am a firm believer that those "loner" students need to learn how to work in groups and be successful just like the other students.

Another idea that was talked about again was using student rubrics. "Rubrics help students understand what is expected of them and how their participation will be evaluated." Pitler,Hubbell,Kuhn & Malenoski (2007) Giving students self evaluated rubrics makes them aware of what is expected of them and how to succeed in cooperative group assignments and projects. Letting the students know what is expected, leaves less of a chance of misbehavior and failure than letting the students just "go" with no instruction or guidance. I found "Cooperative Learning" to be very interesting and full of information to help with successful collaborative groups.

VoiceThread:
voicethread.com/share/892833/