Sunday, April 29, 2012

Module 4 Postings

I posted on Dwanell Dibartolo and Vida Martin's blogs.

Module 4 - Connectivism Mindmap


            

How has your network changed the way you learn?

- Right now in life, I use the Internet and my networks more than every.  I think this is because I'm able to have interaction with so many different people through doing so.  Each of my networks involves numerous people who are connected in the same way that I am to them.  This allows us to have similar concerns and experiences within the area of focus.  I can easily get the answer to a question or provide information to another person with the connections that we make througout these networks.

Which digital tools best facilitate learning for you? 


- Surprisingly enough, I get more information through social networking than any others.  These communities have grown up so much that they are now becoming more for information purposes than entertainment like I think they were initially created for.  I think they facilitate learning for me best because they include such a vast variety and amount of members that are sharing their information and experiences as well.

How do you learn new knowledge when you have questions?

- Whenever I have a question, I'm able to simply through it out there and I just wait to get responses back.  I often do this on my personal Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter.  It can be a serious question, or just one that has just been puzzling me.  Either way, I've been able to get answers without delay whenever I have been searching for new information.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Module 3 Postings

I posted on Michelle Martens-Dragalin and Heather Roger's blog.

Module 3 - Collaboration


I think how people interact with others differs depending upon their upbringing.  Whenever we are children, we typically learn to play with “the group” and interacting with other children becomes part of our development.  I think this is often different when you consider the person who was raised as an only child.  Since they are typically used to being alone and without siblings, they might not be as prone to interact or work within groups initially like others may be. 

Technology helps facilitate collaboration in many ways.  A prime example of this can be shown within this course that we are taking now.  Resources such as Google Docs and Skype are allowing us to interact, collaborate and share ideas in a group setting while being in various areas of the world.  San Francisco State University mentions a couple of constructivist principles that tie along with technologies such as these.  One is that people learn to learn as they learn, a concept that I have experienced throughout this class as I continue to gain more knowledge as we progress in this course.  Another is that learning involves language and is a social activity, two things that require interaction and collaboration with others (San Francisco State University, n.d.).

The following citation is for the study that I found that discusses improving learning through collaboration. 

Mendinhos, I. (2009). School library self-evaluation: A way to improve learning through collaboration. International Association of School Librarianship.Selected Papers from the ...Annual Conference, , 1-7. http://search.proquest.com/docview/236052251?accountid=14872

San Francisco State University. (n.d.). Principles of Constructivism. Retrieved on April 13, 2012 from http://online.sfsu.edu/~foreman/itec800/finalprojects/eitankaplan/pages/principles.htm

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Module 2 Postings

I posted on Tiffany Walden and Jennifer Joseph's blog.

Module 2 - Cognitivism as a Learning Theory


I agree with Karl Kapp when he stated that “we need to take pieces from each school of thought and apply it effectively because…Cognitivism doesn’t explain 100% how humans process information and neither does Constructivism or Behaviorism” (2007, ¶ 3).  Bill Kerr’s blog contained a statement that went right along with Kapp’s thoughts.   He stated that “it seems to me that each _ism is offering something useful without any of them being complete or stand alone in their own right” (2007, ¶ 10).  Seeing that these are all based on the thoughts of others, there will never be one clear cut answer to how learners learn.  This debate can go on forever, especially considering the fact that as time progresses, other learning theories will continue to develop. 

Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/

Kerr, B. (2007, January 1). _isms as filter, not blinker [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html