Learning Theories in the Intermediate-Senior Classroom

Wall Wisher

A great tool used to break down three learning theories and application to classroom learning

Focuses on:

1. Discovery Learning -- Bruner
2. Social Development Theory -- Vygotsky
3. Social Learning Theory -- Bandura

Creative Minds

This song is a cover of  "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye performed by a talented band called Walk Off the Earth. I love this video because it shows the possibilities that being creative opens up. Who knew that a song with various components could be preformed so uniquely with ONE instrument.

This video proves that creativity must be activated not reprimanded.

Talk about Multiple Intelligences...

As good educators we have the fundamental job of allowing students to drum to their own beat. Nothing kills inspiration more than standardization.

Check this out:

Technology Showcase!

I will be teaching a session at Brock's "Teaching with Technology Showcase" from 10:30am - 11:45am, which will be on the uses of Digital Storytelling in the classroom (primarily geared towards Intermediate-Senior students). Join the session to learn more about this topic!

Here are some more details:

Where: Brock University (Hamilton Campus)
When: Friday, January 27th, 2012
Who: For any teacher candidates (P/J/I/S)

There are going to be FREE sessions run by professionals that have a ton of experience being tech-savvy and that continue to use many unique tools to enhance their students' educational experiences. In addition, there will be a couple sessions run by teacher-candidates that are continuing the trend of using technology as a powerful pedagogy (like myself!).

Some of the tools being covered are:

• Livescribe pens                                Bitstrips
• Clickers                                           Gaming
• Document cameras                          IPads
• Smart Boards                                  Blogging
• Web 2.0                                          Digital Storytelling
• Audio systems                                 Flikr
• Projectors                                       Assistive technologies
• Social networking sites                    Google

and most importantly, WHY?!

Fact: We live in the 21st century where students are developing alongside an array of technological advancements.

It is easy to recognize that our students are being bombarded by technology (especially when we repeat, "put your devices away" all day) but many teachers forget to consider how these changes in our lifestyles has affected the learners of today.

Life has become very fast-paced with visuals and audio moving more rapidly than ever before. If we can mimic those trends in the classroom, we are likely to see students that are not only engaged but active in their learning as well! (slides on a projector will not work anymore-- too unengaging, too unexciting)

Let's be realistic, students love to manipulate technology for any purpose -- if we can use technology as a medium to present the content we need to cover, the students will be more than willing to step on board.

Weighing the + and - of Google Sites

I am currently building a Google Site resource for studying English Language and Literature (Learning Lit) and I am very convinced that having a website as a resource for students, parents, and/or teachers (or all three in my case) is so unbelievably useful to getting everyone on the same page!

PROS (+) :

Right now I am in the middle of adding a number of resources for the different audiences that addresses the importance of learning and teaching English through a number of strategies.

Google Sites allow you to add a Google Calendar with all your events, assignments, tests, reminders, birthdays, etc.

The site provides a common space for all parties to address questions or concerns.

CONS (-) :

Limitations you may ask?

Well, there are some. The limitation I see right now (because I haven't quite figured out how to incoporate it yet) is the lack of ACTIVE DISCUSSION (a forum, discussion board?).

It is important NOT to use the website as only a teacher-directed tool or else you a minimizing how the site could truly be used to enhance student/parent/teacher learning. To open these topics up to discussion, we are learning from one another and therefore, engaging in ACTIVE LEARNING.

Thinking about Literacy...

As I returned from my first teaching block, we had a week of reflecting on stories that all the teacher candidates were excited to talk about. One common trend I found was that most of my peers were shocked with the level of literacy (or lack of) within their high school, sometimes senior level, classrooms. Especially as an English major/teacher candidate, I felt the same. This brings me to ...

In my English class, we are reading a book called When Kids Can't Read: What Teachers Can Do by Kylene Beers. This amazing author has truly changed my perspective on literacy. She tells her teaching story as she progressed and learned while focusing on the challenges she had to overcome.

Her main challenge was that no one has taught her how to teach literacy; she's clearly a good reader but her students don't always mimic that level of skill or interest -- so what now?

So far, here is some of what I have gathered (all taken straight from that book -- buy it, read it!):

• "if they read it (the text), it (the meaning) does not necessarily come" -- don't think telling students to reread a text while help them understand it
• "simply improving the cognitive aspects of reading [...] does not ensure that the affective aspects of reading [...] will automatically improve"
• "we cannot make the struggling reader fit one mold"
• "teach students how to struggle successfully" ... "good readers do more than simply read the words" -- good readers struggle as well (i.e. has anyone struggled reading a tech-manual?)  but they know what to do to gather meaning -- i.e. they know how to struggle
• "we must convince disabled readers that reading is an active process that requires engagement"
• strategies take you to the skill of reading -- teach strategies that will help them understand the texts:
1. "Clarifying
2. Comparing and contrasting
3. Connecting to prior experiences
4. Inferencing
5. Predicting
6. Questioning
7. Recognizing the author's purpose
8. Seeing causal relationships
9. Summarizing
10. Visualizing"
• "We can [AND SHOULD] model how we use those strategies to understand texts (explicitly and directly)"
• we can "THINK ALOUD" while reading

This is only a tiny portion of Kylene Beers' text (literally a summary of 2/15 chapters) and it's already opened my mind to learning to teach literacy. I hope this blog has given you some insight into the world of literacy and perhaps made you interested to purchase this text (and no, I'm not an advertiser, I'm just inspired)

p.s. When Kids Can't Read: What Teachers Can Do is not found at Chapters but can be ordered online on Amazon -- Check it out!
p.p.s. this is a tool for ALL subject areas -- the teacher candidates I heard complaining about their students' literacy levels were not typically English teachers -- nor is it only important for teachers.

I hope you feel the way I do -- we need to make the difference.

Check it Out!

Be sure to check out my earlier blog titled, How to Incorporate Technology in The Classroom!

I have added a variety of new technology resources (many of which I got from Alan Levine, who is GREAT by the way). These resources are fantastic and so applicable and relevant to students in the classroom.

Remember, these resources are useful for ANY subject. Check them out and relate to today's 21st century learners!!