Cell Concept Map

http://mywebspiration.com/view/266205a360b2

This concept map will go well with this virtual cell site:

http://www.cellsalive.com/

Hope this helps all science teachers!
~Michele

Week 3 Post

The examples mentioned in the resources this week, are excellent ways to use technology and also bridge learning from conceptual one to reality. As Dr. Orey stated in the Laureate DVD, integrating multiple senses in a presentation improves learning. I try to engage the learner by utilizing multiple methodologies and also incorporate ways to aid the various learning styles in front of me. I have found my freshman need to use graphic organizers more in the beginning of the year to organize various amounts data. The students need to "map" out the concept to organize their thoughts and the connections between the various material. Concept maps support dual coding and support the connections between the ideas (Laurate, 2008). As the year progresses, they adapt to the various amounts of information presented and am able to integrate other Web 2.0 technologies and various other methodologies to support student learning.

Virtual field trips are another excellent way to increase student learning especially in a science classroom. Students can see and interact in a reality that can be dangerous without ever leaving the classroom. I am currently looking at new virtual lab software to aid absent students and those oposed to animal disection. This allows the students to "do" the lab and learn content without ever coming in contact with and organism. I am also looking into this for the Chemistry sections of my Physical Science classes. This will allow for greater understanding of volital elements & materials without having them in the building or disposing of them.



Reference

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

Week 2 Post

Instructional Strategies and the Behaviorist Theory

I believe that the Behaviorist Learning Theory will always be present in the classroom. Behaviorist learning theories emphasize change in behavior that result from stimulus-response associations made by the learner (Standridge,2008). It achieves the desired result, most of the time, and would be the go to method for most teachers. In saying that, I believe we must strive to motivate our student intrinsically to allow for rewards to all students, not just the ones who finish a worksheet first or get 100 on a spelling test.

As for the examples from the Laureate DVD, I would even be bored completing those tasks. Technology is to be a vehicle of expression and a means to confer knowledge. This is not a way to fix test scores. Technology should be utilized in a way to allow students to explore subject matter content and use higher level thinking skills. The remedial preparation seen on the video was unfortunate. Sites such as http://www.webmath.com/k8drill.htm and http://www.dctech.com/physics/student_help.php, are great sites!! They are wonderful vehicles for teachers to use to reinforce knowledge but should not be the only methodology implored to reinforce said content. Students should also be making rigorous and relevant connections to everyday life and the world they live in through these means but also using traditional methodologies such as homework, cooperative learning activities, and writing activities.

I also am a firm believer in memorization. This “normal” instructional strategy that has been used for years, should not go by the waste side. Once students have firm foundation in a content area, technology and Web 2.0 tools should be utilized to aid the learner. This is an excellent way for students to collaborate and give opinions on topics. It also allows students to express themselves by being creative, show cross curricular connections and showa different side of themselves to the educator and their peers.


References
Laureate Education, Inc.(Producer). (2009). Behaviorist Learning Theory [Motion Picture]. Bridging learning, theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Standridge,M. (2008, Feburary)What is Behaviorism? Emerging Perspectives on Learning,Teaching and Technology. Retrieved November 11,2009, from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Main_Page

Hello Friends from Walden!!

Hello Group1!!
This is my blog. Just as many of you have, I am using a blog from a previous class.
Have a great day & rest of the school year!
~Michele

Reflection ~ EDUC 6710

In reflecting back on this course, I have found that I have stepped out of my comfort zone and succeeded. I have used technology and different resources that I have never utilize before. I feel comfortable and confident that I can successfully apply these within the confines of my curricula. I have reexamined the idea that we never stop learning and hope to continue to make great strides to implement and discover more Web 2.0 technologies in the future.

Educators today have so much to cover during the school year; it is difficult to step out of the teacher centered aspect of learning. I will try to make a conscience effort to change some of my practices and be more attuned to my students needs. I also believe that self reflection for the students is needed more in my classroom. This will then allow them to take a stance on topics and then give evidentiary support for their position.

Currently, I am in the technology cohort for the archdiocese and hope to inspire and instruct my colleagues on these latest methodologies. I feel just as Will Richardson stated in Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts does. He stated, [I}n order for us to prepare our students for what is without question a future filled with networked learning spaces, we must first experience those environments for ourselves. I feel if you play with the technology enough and become familiar with it, one can then apply it easily to the pedagogy. I have first hand experience now and hope to learn from my colleagues as well, as we start out on this 21st Century Skills journey together.

Students in this day and age are constantly connected. I believe as an educator, I need to stay current with the media and technology the students are connected to show new ways of using those tools. This in turn, will keep the students focused and questioning. If they question they can then learn to support their stances on a global stage that is the web as well as learning responsible and effective web etiquette.

I feel this is just the beginning for me. I hope to use my degree to ascertain more leadership roles within my school and utilize web 2.0 tools on a grander scale. I know the dioceses and school is on board, it is just a matter of experimentation and implementation of ideas. Smart Boards, projectors, wikis, and Youtube.com are just the first step. I hope to have the students using Glogster.com, and Facebook.com within the next few years. I have to just get moving and play!

Richardson, W. (2006). Blogs, wiks, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Perrin, Robert. (2008). Pocket Guide to APA Style (2nd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

First Podcast!

Here is a link to my first ever podcast! How crazy is it to listen to yourself?!!!
Enjoy!!
Michele
http://mrscahoone.podbean.com/

Partnership the 21st Century Skills

After reading and reflecting on the website Partnership for the 21st Century Skills; http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf
I was taken back by the amount of information and resources that are available to aid those not as versed with technology and web 2.0 tools in regard to the classroom. I was also elated to see that there is a movement forward to progress with the times and that people understand that this will be a process that we will continue to grow and change.
I was pleasantly surprised when the site started discussing how we have to make our students aware of civic literacy and financial, economic, and business literacy. Before reading the site I thought that this was going to just discuss web and 2.0 tools in the classroom. But it did much more then that. It gave plans for making our students become productive members of society not just students. A student of the future must be well rounded and be able to collaborate. This site shows what specific states are proposing as well as were we are heading to keep us contenders in the job market in the future.I believe they will have to be much more worldly then they are now. I did not agree with anything in particular but I wish that there skills could be implement. There are so many variables to attend to with this. I hope that things settle down and get done, not just talked about.
I love using technology within my classroom. We must remember that technology is ever changing. Staying focused on our aiding our students and moving forward should be a few of our goals. Our students deserve the best and we should have the resources to aid them in this venture. The Internet has changed our lives and the work force. We have to change with it and use it to help our students.