Hello Parents!
Welcome to my new blog, which will cover ways to provide valuable instruction, while integrating helpful and fun activities and materials in my 9th grade English classes. I would like to mention how important it is that I keep in contact with you in regards to student education and ways that we can work together to implement the best resources for their learning.
Supporting Factors
With the help of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), which each year accounts for much of the funding raised for our school in order to improve the qualities of the classroom and tools to assist in their learning. This is exceptionally helpful when district funding is low and we want to incorporate modern and engaging technology within the curriculum. Such integration will really help in enhancing their learning and motivation.
As valuable role models and parents, you can get involved and help take the initiative in making sure that your child gets the tools that he or she needs to learn and earn educational success. Working together for each student’s benefit is of great importance, no matter how little or big the effort is. We can ensure that their learning is never downgraded!
New Ideas
Each student’s learning and comprehension is important to me, as well as to other teachers and the administration. Looking at the best ways to improve student motivation and education is what I strive to do each year. One of the greatest strategies in engaging students nowadays is with technology.
While many students go home and play video games or use the computer for pleasure or homework, we realize that technology provides much appeal. As teachers, it is helpful to have different means of assisting instruction so that students keep up their learning momentum and retain their motivation. One way to do that is through modern technology.
Concerns
By monitoring students we are then able to keep them on task so that they strive towards their objectives and gain a sense of fulfillment throughout their learning. Ensuring that students are using class time on the given assignments and not going to online chat rooms or playing irrelevant games, students will reap many benefits if we are able to raise awareness and funds to include new and educational technology at our high school.
Incorporating technology, such as word processing, electronic publishing, and online book clubs, can motivate student learning, comprehension, and ability to increase their knowledge and social skills. These skills can then be applied to future classes and ultimately a career.
Theorists and Learning Theories
Two sets of theories based on the work of learning theorists and psychologists have been the foundation of teaching and learning: directed and constructive (p. 34).
Theorist B.F. Skinner believed that learned behaviors could be shaped by a contingency of reinforcement to shape desired responses (p. 36). He used these principles to create programmed learning techniques for training and instruction.
Information Link: B.F. Skinner Foundation
- Directed Teaching: Following Skinner’s theories, directed instruction allows students to receive information from teachers and do teacher-directed activities. Applying the directed learning theory to integrating technology in the classroom will remedy identified weakness or skill deficits, while promoting skill fluency. Directed models will also support efficient, self-paced instruction, as well as self-monitoring review of concepts (p. 45). Problem-solving, educational software and multi-media applications are considered extremely helpful in getting students to think about how they think and provide them opportunities to challenge their creativity and problem-solving skills (p. 47).
Theorist John Dewey proclaimed that learning is “individual growth that comes about through social experiences” (p. 39). Growth and development continues through physical activities that are connected to relevant issues and problems, which are ideally interests of the students.
Information Link: John Dewey.org
- Constructive Teaching: In conjunction with John Dewey’s belief, this is where students generate their own knowledge through experience-based activities rather than being taught. These theories can be implemented by way of best fitting with the subject matter and lesson. As stated in Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching, “We must be open minded in finding ways to merge these two integration approaches that will benefit both learners and teachers” (p. 43). When implementing the constructive theory, students will build skills, such as problem solving, metacognition, and ability to transfer knowledge and help each other accomplish tasks in group work, therefore increasing motivation and ability to monitor themselves throughout their learning process. Highly visual and interactive qualities of Internet and multimedia resources will help keep student learning interesting and relevant to their needs (p. 49).
Integrating Technology
With the funds raised by the PTA, we could enhance student learning by utilizing technology, including those mentioned above – word processing, electronic publishing, and online book clubs. This can be done through directed and constructivist instructional approaches.
- Word processing: Necessary to computers when used to type papers or any other document. With the right applications, including but not limited to, spell check and thesaurus, students can save, edit, and improve their application and writing skills. This can be valuable when working on class assignments, such as writing essays, or when compiling a resume. These are skills that will be necessary later on in life, and by keeping up with any updated versions they will only improve their proficiency.
- Electronic Publishing: A motivating and new type of technology that allows students to apply their creative writing and talents is through electronic publishing. Publishing on the Web can be done easily through products like Google Docs (p. 243). This will undoubtedly improve their confidence and writing skills. In utilizing electronic publishing, I would have students complete a written assignment, such as writing a 10-line poem on nature, to which they would share with their groups and then edit. Once completed, the next project would be to publish their work to be displayed on a website that others will see. In publishing electronically students will take more time and effort on their writing because they know that their work will be available for others to read. It will also give them a sense of instant gratification, therefore be motivating.
- Online Book Clubs: Engages students and their peers on the Web as they reference books they have or are reading. Students will read books throughout the course of a year, and should be encouraged to see it as enjoyable. However, reading is not something that is always likened. One way to change that and perhaps help them to understand and apply what they are reading is by creating an online book club for kids, or join one that is already formed (p. 284). Students can talk to their peers, near or far, and discuss their class reading material to gain information or even provide assistance to others. This will enhance their knowledge, and also enable them to make friends and learn about other books that they might be interested in for leisure reading.
Final Notes
These theories, along with integrating technology in the classroom will not only enhance student learning and motivation, but also provide them with many opportunities to apply their previously learned knowledge and apply it to the future. They will undoubtedly be more successful and happy students.
Your support is greatly appreciated! Please post comments and questions on this blog so that we can openly discuss your thoughts and ideas.
References
B.F. Skinner Foundation. (2009). Retrieved August 8, 2009, from http://www.bfskinner.org.
John Dewey.org. (2008). Retrieved August 8, 2009, from http://www.johndewey.org.
Teaching (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
