Reflection on my Personal Theory of Learning (WEEK 8)

My personal learning theory from week one was focusing on the correct outcomes, however the path chosen to reach those goals needs to be adjusted. My consideration has always been the student’s needs and how to make the lessons interesting to keep their attention. A modification to my learning theory will be to take a closer look at which methods work best with my students and not which way I learn best. I often begin my engineering / technology classes with a brief lecture requiring students to take notes in Microsoft Word. Each student is seated at a computer so this arrangement works well. I am not so sure if this is the best way to begin a lesson. An adjustment may be to reduce the note taking session to a shorter period of time. Lever-Duffy, and McDonald (2008) have noted that “a teacher must have an awareness of his or her own teaching style to be able to adjust it to meet the needs of the learners” (p.26). I realize that this type of lesson is reflective of how I best learn and must also be aware of my students’ needs.

Due to the nature of the courses I teach and the technology available to me I am comfortable with using Powerpoint, Excel spreadsheets, and drawing programs such as Corel Draw. Two new tools I would like to make use of are both web based. They are the virtual field trips and voice threads. I believe they will enhance my students learning by creating new and interesting avenues for them to learn and express themselves. I view both tools as a database of knowledge which all teachers can access.
My long term plans are to work with teachers outside my technology content area to:

1) Educate my peers on some of the options they have to create lessons using the technology tools I have learned during this course.

2) Then collaborate with others to create lessons for my technology classes which integrate subject matter from other areas, such as math and science.

I have always believed it to be my responsibility to encourage and teach my peers how to make use of technology effectively in their classrooms. I often have other teachers use my classroom to do online research and project power point presentations for the entire class to view. My long term plan will be another enhancement to this which will certainly benefit teachers as well as students.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). “Brain Research and Learning” [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.

Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Teaching and learning with technology (3rd ed. pp. 2–35). Boston: Pearson.