Reflection: Learning Theories & School IT

I learned that it is best to do something as soon as your mind recalls it. Such as, once I printed the course objectives and assignments along with due dates, I should have immediately hole-punched the info and bound it in a binder. Then, I should have posted the due dates on my mirror or p.c.. Dah?! Can we have an extended grace period for our first blog. This is only my second one in my entire life. The first was was in your class on May 30, 2009; therefore I was anxious and relunctant to began, like many students are to new tasks. Please don't lower or deduct points from our first grade if we beat the 6-15-09 deadline. Please. I learned that I need to get and stay organized and punctual and that I desparately need to avoid hitting "ALT" button because I always lose my cursor and data and have to begin again, like I used to back in the 1980s. Yuk!

As far as "learning theories, " are concerned I combine "all" of them because various students have "different ways of learning," know as multiple "learning styles." So, I constntly adjust my teaching style in order to accomodate a wide range of learning styles. I don't demand nor teach as though all the kids learn the same way that I do. I try to mmet the needs of all of my students not just the ones that are similar to me. I don't sppon feed students as if they're empty glasses or baby birds and I must fill them. I use a combination of the learning styles. I do provide background knowledge and expereiences when possible once I've assessed that some students don't have the knowledge or foundation needed for scaffolding new info.. But I teach more like a guide-on-the-side, like a mentor/coach/tutor not like a lecturer. I believe that students (myself included) learn best by doing or applying info. and by learning how to find it and know it's purpose versus rote memorization. Students should be able to answer these questions:

• Why do I need to know this?
• Why can't I skip ahead to an advance step right now and skip some of this boring stuff?
• How can I find proven researched based information? Facts?
• How can I apply this information? Use it?

These questions are at the top of Bloom's Taxonomy. They involve: Evaluation (Conclusion, Decide, Interpretation, Justify, Predict, Select, Prioritize, Support). As, I stated earlier, I know that I do have to directly teach some facts/knowledge base info. and then check for comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis. I have to try to provide some of the gaps that are in the students' experience or lack thereof. I learned that this must be carried out in a "student repectful/centrered" manner. My philosophy is, "All kids are gifted, some just open their presents later than others." Patience and respect for each individual student is needed in order for students to take risks during their education. Cultural sensitivity is especially needed. All families do not resemble middle class, suburban families; yet family styles should be respected not dispised, ridiculed, nor ignored as if shameful or non-existent or as if only certain family structures are successful and others aren't. I learned that if students are made to feel inferior, embarrassed, or disrespected that the teacher could be Nationally Board Certified and Highly Qualified and still fail to be a good teacher. Teachers are hired to service children and their families and society not because of our degrees and g.p.a. (recent lay-offs prove this fact).

I also learned that I do not know how to cut and paste well enough, in order to have cut and pasted my orginal essay, at the EDT 630 site, tothis blog. Please teach me, soon! Thanks!

As far as IT is concerned, Ilearned that some schools and school districts possess more technology than others yet the "human teacher" is or should be the greatest asset in the classroom. Even "Distant Learning and Online" classes need an effective teacher. Thank-you, Mrs. Yu-mei Wang. Thanks, for your support. I need it. I will be "bugging" you, often.