Reflection

Although I still strongly agree with the constructivisit theory, I have made some modifications to my personal theory of learning. After reflecting on what I have learned in this course (Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology), I have learned that an effective teacher provides students with opportunities to learn in various ways. In equipping my students with the necessary 21st century skills, I have learned about the importance of social constructivism. Working in cooperative learning groups allows students to take multiple approaches to learning the same concept. I personally think that students are often the best teachers. I would really like to work on giving my students more cooperative learning opportunities throughout the remainder of the school year.

In addition to encouraging my students to work cooperatively within our school building, I am currently in the process of instructing them on how to use VoiceThread. This networking tool will eventually allow my students to share their thoughts on what they are reading with other second grade students at a nearby school. I also plan on using this tool to have my struggling writers share their thinking orally with both me and their classmates. In addition to implementing VoiceThread, I also plan on using SpinScape to constuct advanced concept maps to guide my students' learning. I feel that these maps really set a purpose for learning and allow students to differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information.

Regarding technology integration, I would like to change the way in which I use PowerPoint in my classroom. I admit that I mostly use it as an instructional tool, as opposed to a learning tool. I would really like to make this application more interactive, possibly through the use of a Smart Board. I feel that my students could better learn through exploration and that this would also allow me to differentiate my instruction for multiple intelligences. Since technology was cut from our budget this year, I would really like to equip my students with the basic computing skills they need in order to successfully use word processing applications and to navigate the internet for research purposes.

Cooperative Learning

According to the principles of the social learning theories, "When students work in cooperative groups, they make sense of, or construct meaning for, new knowledge by interacting with others" (Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, and Pitler, 2008). Various forms of technology can facilitate group collaboration not only within the classroom, but "even in some of the world's most remote regions" (Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, and Pitler, 2008). I think that one of the greatest aspects of students being involved in a social learning project is that they are able to participate in cooperative teaching. As Dr. Orey stated, "Teaching others helps the learner develop a deeper understanding of the content."

After researching multiple instructional strategies, I have found that the some of the most useful social learning tools are right at our students' fingertips. Two weeks ago, we discussed virtual field trips. Webquests are like virtual field trips, but they also allow students "from multiple locations to work together to learn about a particular subject or to tackle a particular project or problem" (Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, and Pitler, 2008)

Online Website creation is a fantastic way for students to collaboratively create an online global "artifact." Website creation, years ago, was for the technologically elite. Nowadays, with programs and websites like www.coolpage.com, iWeb, and Microsoft Office Publisher, website creation can be accomplished by just about any student at any age.

On top of that, Web 2.0 tools such as wikis and blogs allow easy access for global collaboration.
www.jigsaw.com allows students to learn socially by having them collaboratively construct an artifact that can be used to cooperatively teach a concept. Basically, everything we need to aid our students in social learning is just a click away. The more exposure our students have to this type of learning, the more successful they will become in the "fast-paced, virtual workplace they will inherit" (Friedman, 2005).