All students learn differently. As a teacher, wouldn't it be more beneficial to meet the needs of my students by teaching them the skills, strategies, and knowledge they need to know in a way that they can understand? In order to create successful lessons that meet all learners, teachers need to find what works for their students instead of using one standard lesson.
Integrating technology into the classroom not only creates a vast amount of knowledge to learners, but students are performing better with this tool. In the resources for this week, I was able to learn more about how technology can be successful for many learners. I took a math lesson that was used this week in my classroom and incorporated technology. Throughout this week, I overheard discussion in my class between my students recalling the information that they used on the computers and on the SMARTboard. Great connections were made and remembered. Students can recall information when they understand information.
Through virtual field trips, my students can engage in the lesson as if they were there. Virtual field trips can provide those students with information and knowledge of settings that they may never get the change to go visit. It also provides my students with the "opportunity to engage in critical thinking activities" (Orey 2009). Technology is a great tool that provides engaging lesson for these students!!! Technology is changing the way our world is today and we as teachers need to prepare our students for this world.
Elizabeth Brindley
Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program one. “Cognitive Learning Theories” [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore
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Elizabeth, I agree that it important for educators to have an understanding that all students learn best under different conditions and through various instructional strategies. I enjoyed reading your thoughts on virtual field trips, I also feel they can be very beneficial to students because they allow them to gain a deeper understanding about various topics, and can expose them to settings that they may never experience.
ReplyDeleteJustin
Howard Gardener states it best by saying, that all students learn differently and we should be cognizant of this when we teach. I find that the different instructional strategies that are used within teaching only can enhance learning. Multimedia, and cognitive tools such as graphic organizers, diagrams, concept maps and other tools can assist in the connection of learning. The course video on Virtual Field Trip, was very beneficial to me. I was able to see how Virtual Field Trip can engage students. I believe that once one is able to find a Virtual Field trip that will integrate the curriculum then the connection to learning will be dynamic!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments! I too was impressed with the virtual field trips. I think it is a great way for students to visually see part of history for example. As teachers, we all need to make sure that we are meeting the needs of our learners and this is just one more step in the right direction!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
I was not all that excited about virtual field trips until I found one that fit into my curriculum that would be perfect for third graders. A virtual field trip can provide students with the opportunity to learn in a more sophisticated way. I also see Virtual Field trips as a way that technology is changing our world.
ReplyDeleteKate
Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
Hi Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post this week and agree with you that virtual field trips are a really amazing new resource for teachers and students. I will say that at first I was expecting something different. I was anticipating these field trips to be more like a video and tour. Did you? I was however still pleased with what I actually found out about virtual field trips despite my expectations. I think the key is finding ones that will work with you particular grade level. I found it a bit challenging to find appropriate ones for kindergarten that was actually relevant to what we are learning. Once you find great sites, they are amazing and they offer students a great way to see the world from their own classroom!