What?
There were two different philosophers who studies how children or people develop and learn throughout their life's Piaget and Vygotsky. They had different perspectives on how people develop and how their surroundings played a role into an individuals development. The philosophers Piaget believed that individuals developed in stages. In his writings he discussed how children learn from observations, biological maturation, and active exploration of the physical environment which they were in. He also believed that children learn best when they are in disequilibrium. Disequilibrium is when students feel uncomfortable about new information and to fit that new information into their brains. Piaget had four stages of development that children went through as they aged. The first is sensorimotor which is from birth to two years of age. In this stage they have an egocentric perspective, they lack class inclusion, lack or conservation, irreversibility, and transductive reasoning. They enter the next stage of concrete operations at age six to seven and it lasts until the age of eleven or twelve. In this stage children can understand peoples perspectives, there is class inclusion, conservation, deductive reasoning, and they depend on concret reality. They lack the ability to test or formulate hypothosis as well as proportional reasoning. Then as chilren moved from their adolecsence into adulthood they entered into formal operations stage. In this stage Piaget believed they had the ability to reason abstractly and to have hypothetical and contrary facts to ideas. They would be able to formulate an idea and to test that idea. They were also able to have proportional reasoning. The other philosopher Vygotsky's ideas were that children did not have a set stage or time frame that they would enter into. He had the idea of the Zone of Proximal Distance which involved a range of tasks a student can perform with the help of others but cannot yet perform those tasks independently yet. He also had the idea that children learned from adults about how society worked and where they formed all of their ideas from. He also believed that knowledge was created by society not by one specific individual. He had an idea that children have self talk which guides them through tasks, then children go through internalization which is a process which a learner gradually incorporates socially based activities into his or her internal cognitive processes, then they make that idea their own. Vygotsky believed in the power of play, peer interactions, guided participation, and socio-culture learning.
So what?
Although neither one has the answers to how specifically children learn they both have interesting ideas and concepts which seem to be correct. By following and taking ideas from both philosophers people can have a better understanding of how children do learn. Teachers, parents, and society can help children learn and grow through using ideas from both philosophers. I have had experiences while I was young of how teachers believed I should be in a particular learning level when I really was not. The example I have was of both Piaget and Vygotsky. I was thirteen years old and I had been move to a higher level of math, because the teacher suggested I was above my other peers. I entered into an algebra class and everything seemed to be going well until we reached equations which dealt with numbers, letters, and negative signs. I should have been in the disequilibrium as Piaget thought would help me learn better, but I got lost. The ZPD which my other teacher had assumed I was in was much to high for me at that particular time. I cried and fought with my father every night I began to do my homework. I just could not figure out how these equations worked. After months of fighting and crying something just clicked in my head and I understood the equations. Through disequilibrium of being uncomfortable about these new ideas of mathematics I finally got to my ZPD. I had entered into my ZPD which helped me feel I had accomplished something and I was not completely behind all of my peers in that classroom.
Now What?
With this new information that I have acquired I hope it will give me a better understanding of how students formulate new ideas. I hope to encourage my future students learning through some disequilibrium. An example of how I might create a disequilibrium activity for my students to show or acquire growth would be to have students experience how someone with a disability might feel. In the future I hope to be a health teacher and we will be discussing different disabilities people in our society have. I could have a student put headphones to experience how someone feels if they are deaf. A student might be blindfolded and try to make his or her way through the classroom. This would make it an uncomfortable experience for them, because it may make them feel awkward, but they will have a better understanding for those who do have a disability. With all of this new information that I have learned there are still many things that I need to learn. I need to better understand Vygoksty's idea of ZPD and how to understand where students are at in his or her learning stage. I need to learn more about both philosophers ideas of how students learn and internalize that information to help me make a mixture of many ideas and learning styles in my future classroom.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Brain-Based-Assessments
So What!
In class we learned about the different methods of assessment and the importance of those assessments. There are different ways in which teachers choose to asses their students. Assessments give teachers a better understanding of how students are progressing in the class. Teachers should never give students "got ya" questions on their assessments. "Got ya" questions that are those questions which are not relevant to what a teacher taught the students, nor do they truly asses what the students knows about the subject. Teachers should always remember R.S.V.P. R.S.V.P. involves Reliability which is how consistent they are with grading or testing; Standardization which is consistent testing; Validity which goes with alignment; and finally Practicality which is how easy the assignment or assessment will be to create or to give. We also learned about Blooms Taxonomy which is remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create. This method gives teachers a guideline to follow as they make their assessments for their classes. The whole basis for different assessments is that nobody learns the exact same way and everyone is different.
Now What?
This information which we learned in class gave me new insight about how I will asses my future students. I am a very hands on learner and sometimes I find it difficult to get out of my comfort zone and realize others may learn differently than I do. With this new information that I have learned it will help me create new and exciting methods for assessing students. It will give me the opportunity to give everyone in the class an opportunity to learn in the best possible manner. Some students may prefer to write an essay while other students may want to create a work of art explaining what they have learned in the course. I have a better understanding of what is involved in preparing a class assignment and have more sympathy for teachers who are preparing a lesson. I guess I did not realize how time consuming it is for teachers to write a test, give an assignment, or to lecture their class. I am excited about learning new methods teachers use to asses their students. dents and I embrace the challenges that lie ahead as I prepare to become a teacher.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
There are many things that I have yet to learn about being an affective teacher and I am excited to learn all the methods which teachers use. I need to learn more about how teachers use a rubric system. I am still a little unsure of how that is used or followed. I need to understand or become familiar with how to write an effective assessment for students of all learning methods. Writing a test that I know all of the answers to is not as difficult as taking a test that has incorrect testing methods or that has missing information. I look forward to learning how to write effective assessments, assignment, and how to prepare students for those assessments.
In class we learned about the different methods of assessment and the importance of those assessments. There are different ways in which teachers choose to asses their students. Assessments give teachers a better understanding of how students are progressing in the class. Teachers should never give students "got ya" questions on their assessments. "Got ya" questions that are those questions which are not relevant to what a teacher taught the students, nor do they truly asses what the students knows about the subject. Teachers should always remember R.S.V.P. R.S.V.P. involves Reliability which is how consistent they are with grading or testing; Standardization which is consistent testing; Validity which goes with alignment; and finally Practicality which is how easy the assignment or assessment will be to create or to give. We also learned about Blooms Taxonomy which is remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create. This method gives teachers a guideline to follow as they make their assessments for their classes. The whole basis for different assessments is that nobody learns the exact same way and everyone is different.
Now What?
This information which we learned in class gave me new insight about how I will asses my future students. I am a very hands on learner and sometimes I find it difficult to get out of my comfort zone and realize others may learn differently than I do. With this new information that I have learned it will help me create new and exciting methods for assessing students. It will give me the opportunity to give everyone in the class an opportunity to learn in the best possible manner. Some students may prefer to write an essay while other students may want to create a work of art explaining what they have learned in the course. I have a better understanding of what is involved in preparing a class assignment and have more sympathy for teachers who are preparing a lesson. I guess I did not realize how time consuming it is for teachers to write a test, give an assignment, or to lecture their class. I am excited about learning new methods teachers use to asses their students. dents and I embrace the challenges that lie ahead as I prepare to become a teacher.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
There are many things that I have yet to learn about being an affective teacher and I am excited to learn all the methods which teachers use. I need to learn more about how teachers use a rubric system. I am still a little unsure of how that is used or followed. I need to understand or become familiar with how to write an effective assessment for students of all learning methods. Writing a test that I know all of the answers to is not as difficult as taking a test that has incorrect testing methods or that has missing information. I look forward to learning how to write effective assessments, assignment, and how to prepare students for those assessments.
course contract/hidden assignment
Goals For This Course
The few goals I have in mind for myself in this course is to help me better understand how adolescence learn, to be able to understand different teaching methods, and to re-learn how adolescence behave socially. My goals for succesfully completing this course is to always be prepared before I come to class.
How I Plan to Prepare Each Week For Class.
I plan to read the contents of the book and then review the night before class so I can store information into my longterm memory. I plan on posting my learning logs on fridays to help me ponder what I have learn. In the learning logs I hope to pick out key terms or specific subjects that had meaning for me as a future teacher. I hope to review the study guides two or three times throughout the week, so I can be well prepared for the bell quiz in class.
Outline for Successful Study Strategie for Educational Psychology
1. Read chapters on fridays for next weeks class.
Complete study quide for that chapter.
Start on any assignments for the following week.
2. Post blogs as soon as possible after Thursdays class.
Review past logs before next thursdays class.
3. Participate and always be prepared for group work.
4. Re-read or review the chapter before class on Thursday.
5. Review study guide before class on Thursday morning.
Trouble in the Class?
If I have trouble in this course I plan on taking immediate action to prevent me from falling further behind. I will try to solve the problem first with reviewing my notes or re-reading the directions of the assignment. If I find myself lost in an assignment and cannot find the awnser myself I have contact numbers from others in the class to help me get clarified. If I still am unsure of the assignment I plan on doing a few things. I will either email my professor, call or text my professor, or vist my professor in her office.
My Goal Statement For Educational Psychology
I will reach my goals in this course by following directions, attending and participating in class. I will reach my goals in this course by being proactive about my learning and trying to always be prepared for that weeks class. I will reach my goals in this course by cooperating well with other students in my group and being well prepared for those group projects.
The few goals I have in mind for myself in this course is to help me better understand how adolescence learn, to be able to understand different teaching methods, and to re-learn how adolescence behave socially. My goals for succesfully completing this course is to always be prepared before I come to class.
How I Plan to Prepare Each Week For Class.
I plan to read the contents of the book and then review the night before class so I can store information into my longterm memory. I plan on posting my learning logs on fridays to help me ponder what I have learn. In the learning logs I hope to pick out key terms or specific subjects that had meaning for me as a future teacher. I hope to review the study guides two or three times throughout the week, so I can be well prepared for the bell quiz in class.
Outline for Successful Study Strategie for Educational Psychology
1. Read chapters on fridays for next weeks class.
Complete study quide for that chapter.
Start on any assignments for the following week.
2. Post blogs as soon as possible after Thursdays class.
Review past logs before next thursdays class.
3. Participate and always be prepared for group work.
4. Re-read or review the chapter before class on Thursday.
5. Review study guide before class on Thursday morning.
Trouble in the Class?
If I have trouble in this course I plan on taking immediate action to prevent me from falling further behind. I will try to solve the problem first with reviewing my notes or re-reading the directions of the assignment. If I find myself lost in an assignment and cannot find the awnser myself I have contact numbers from others in the class to help me get clarified. If I still am unsure of the assignment I plan on doing a few things. I will either email my professor, call or text my professor, or vist my professor in her office.
My Goal Statement For Educational Psychology
I will reach my goals in this course by following directions, attending and participating in class. I will reach my goals in this course by being proactive about my learning and trying to always be prepared for that weeks class. I will reach my goals in this course by cooperating well with other students in my group and being well prepared for those group projects.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Educational Research
What
There are four types of research that I had the opportunity to evaluate, which are action, experimental, correlational, and descriptive. Each research serves it's own purpose and people can choose to interpret the information in different ways. Experimental research involves researchers asking a question of why something is happening. Correlational research involves finding relationships between several different situations, and although the two items may have similar outcomes it does not mean one is the cause of the other. Descriptive research is trying to find an explanation for something or why it is occurring. Action research involves research that collects information about certain methods and how those methods of teaching reflect on students outcomes. It also reflects on the information that is collected, The method of action research encourages changes to programs that need improvements. Action research makes a conclusion from the results of the improvements that were implemented.
So What?
This information that we had the opportunity to learn about will help me better understand research. It helped me better understand how to not make rash decisions regarding information that was reported from "researchers". I will be able to evaluate how the research was collected what method the researchers whose, whether it was action, descriptive, correlational, or experimental. With the knowledge of how different research is collected I have a better understanding of how to interpret studies that have been conducted. This will improve my research as a student and help me to make wise decisions regarding the information I use in my college courses.
Now What? reflection about educational research as follows:
What? Summarize what you have learned about each of the four educational research types.
So What? Write a critical analysis about the importance of what you have learned about this topic.
Now What?
I still need to learn how there can be different outcomes to similar studies. I hope to better learn how to interpret studies or research and make rational decisions regarding that information. I hope to learn more about correlational studies and exactly how they work in research. I still need to understand Action research better so I will be able to conduct educational research as I become a future educator. I need to take initiative and read differnt types of studies regarding reasearch that has been done in education where I can be the best teacher I can be.
There are four types of research that I had the opportunity to evaluate, which are action, experimental, correlational, and descriptive. Each research serves it's own purpose and people can choose to interpret the information in different ways. Experimental research involves researchers asking a question of why something is happening. Correlational research involves finding relationships between several different situations, and although the two items may have similar outcomes it does not mean one is the cause of the other. Descriptive research is trying to find an explanation for something or why it is occurring. Action research involves research that collects information about certain methods and how those methods of teaching reflect on students outcomes. It also reflects on the information that is collected, The method of action research encourages changes to programs that need improvements. Action research makes a conclusion from the results of the improvements that were implemented.
So What?
This information that we had the opportunity to learn about will help me better understand research. It helped me better understand how to not make rash decisions regarding information that was reported from "researchers". I will be able to evaluate how the research was collected what method the researchers whose, whether it was action, descriptive, correlational, or experimental. With the knowledge of how different research is collected I have a better understanding of how to interpret studies that have been conducted. This will improve my research as a student and help me to make wise decisions regarding the information I use in my college courses.
Now What? reflection about educational research as follows:
What? Summarize what you have learned about each of the four educational research types.
So What? Write a critical analysis about the importance of what you have learned about this topic.
Now What?
I still need to learn how there can be different outcomes to similar studies. I hope to better learn how to interpret studies or research and make rational decisions regarding that information. I hope to learn more about correlational studies and exactly how they work in research. I still need to understand Action research better so I will be able to conduct educational research as I become a future educator. I need to take initiative and read differnt types of studies regarding reasearch that has been done in education where I can be the best teacher I can be.
The Brain and learning methods
What?
This week during class we learned about the human brain. It was very interesting to relearn all of the different sections of the brain and how they funtion. It was interesting to me to learn that we do use one hundren percent of our brain. Throughout all of my anatomy, physcology, and community health courses it has been expressed to me that the human brain only uses about ten percent of it's capasity. It does make sense that a human would use one hundred percent of thier brain or else the parts not used would die. It was also interesting to know that there is no such thing as left or right brained people. During our discussion in class we talked about how the brain has plasticity. Plasticity of the brain allows the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. We also talked about RAD teaching, which stands for Reticular Activating system, Amygdals, Dopamine. Reticular activating system which is part of the fight or flight system. The Amygdals which is for the emotion, and Dopamine which is a geel good neurotransmitter. It was also interesting to learn that the brain develops from the back to front, which explains why teenagers are so emotional and do not think rationaly at times.
Summarize what you learned that week through your reading and/or in-class experience. This summary should be fairly detailed, about 10-15 sentences, and should help you to review the most important points of that week’s topic. You may choose to reread and summarize your class notes here.
So What?
It is important for me as a future teacher to acknowledge that some students do have brain injuries which could impair them from learning the same as other students. In the future I will better understand that some students are using their full capasity of their brain and they still do not get the information I am trying to get across to them. I will know that maybe their brain has just not fully developed and they may not be ready to cope with such complex information yet. The information we learned about was for us to better understand where higher thinking comes from, which has a direct connection to education and how humans learn. Learing about the brain will help me be a better teacher, because knowing students brains are not fully developed and there is more emotional thinking being done than critical thinking. As a teacher I may be able to help students understand why they are so emotional and that they think it is the end of the world if they do not get asked out to the friday night dance.
Now What?
In the furture I will still need to have a better understanding of how the brain works in adolescence. I will need to see how certain methods of teaching are used such as the RAD method. As a future teacher I hope to teach students that they do use one hundred percent of their brains, and if they are not grasping information there may be a reason why. Such as they may have not developed that part of their brain yet. I hope to learn how to help students and myself to develop new pathways in their brains. It would be benificial not only to my students, but for myself as well. I hope to use the information I have learned in class this week to help me have a better understanding how students with brain injuries may have a harder time learning information.
This week during class we learned about the human brain. It was very interesting to relearn all of the different sections of the brain and how they funtion. It was interesting to me to learn that we do use one hundren percent of our brain. Throughout all of my anatomy, physcology, and community health courses it has been expressed to me that the human brain only uses about ten percent of it's capasity. It does make sense that a human would use one hundred percent of thier brain or else the parts not used would die. It was also interesting to know that there is no such thing as left or right brained people. During our discussion in class we talked about how the brain has plasticity. Plasticity of the brain allows the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. We also talked about RAD teaching, which stands for Reticular Activating system, Amygdals, Dopamine. Reticular activating system which is part of the fight or flight system. The Amygdals which is for the emotion, and Dopamine which is a geel good neurotransmitter. It was also interesting to learn that the brain develops from the back to front, which explains why teenagers are so emotional and do not think rationaly at times.
Summarize what you learned that week through your reading and/or in-class experience. This summary should be fairly detailed, about 10-15 sentences, and should help you to review the most important points of that week’s topic. You may choose to reread and summarize your class notes here.
So What?
It is important for me as a future teacher to acknowledge that some students do have brain injuries which could impair them from learning the same as other students. In the future I will better understand that some students are using their full capasity of their brain and they still do not get the information I am trying to get across to them. I will know that maybe their brain has just not fully developed and they may not be ready to cope with such complex information yet. The information we learned about was for us to better understand where higher thinking comes from, which has a direct connection to education and how humans learn. Learing about the brain will help me be a better teacher, because knowing students brains are not fully developed and there is more emotional thinking being done than critical thinking. As a teacher I may be able to help students understand why they are so emotional and that they think it is the end of the world if they do not get asked out to the friday night dance.
Now What?
In the furture I will still need to have a better understanding of how the brain works in adolescence. I will need to see how certain methods of teaching are used such as the RAD method. As a future teacher I hope to teach students that they do use one hundred percent of their brains, and if they are not grasping information there may be a reason why. Such as they may have not developed that part of their brain yet. I hope to learn how to help students and myself to develop new pathways in their brains. It would be benificial not only to my students, but for myself as well. I hope to use the information I have learned in class this week to help me have a better understanding how students with brain injuries may have a harder time learning information.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
educational psychology Hilary Jones
1. Why are you here (in the teacher education program, in this class, at UVU)?
I am taking this course to help me in my future career as an educator. I enrolled at UVSC five years ago with the hopes of becoming a nurse. I soon realized that nursing was not the career path to choose. I wanted to make a difference in peoples lives in some way. I finished all of my pre requisites and the more educated I became the more I enjoyed the environment in which learning took place. I began to look into becoming a teacher three semesters ago. I took different courses at UVSC to help me decide what type of teacher I wanted to become. After I deliberated over what and where I would like to teach I finally chose to teach at a high school level teaching health. I enjoy all the aspects of health and how health has so many different areas to focus on. I chose this course to help me better understand my future students as I proceed to work towards my goal of becoming an educator.
2.What motivates you?
I am a very motivated person now that I am older, but as a youth the only thing that motivated me was my social group that I chose to run around with. I am motivated to become a teacher to be a better example to my children and hope to encourage students to not make the same mistakes that I made while I was a teenager. I am motivated to prove statistics wrong about how most teenage mothers not finish high school nor finish college before the age of thirty. 3.Why do you succeed?
I succeed because there is no other option for me. I choose success, because I choose to focus on the positive things in life rather than my failures as an individual. I succeed because of my children, husband, and family support. I succeed because I am not a victim nor a failure.
4.Why do you fail?
I only fail because I have not focused on the positive and I have chosen to fail. I do not tend to look at things in my life as failures, but rather bumps in the road from which I learn from. There is always something positive that comes from a failed attempt.
5.How do you need to change your motivations and mindset for this class in order to become a great teacher?
I sometimes feel as though I am a follower. I do follow directions really well, but as a teacher I will be the one who gives the directions. I also feel I am more motivated to do things if there are certain deadlines to follow and due dates to meet goals. I feel what motivates me to be a great teacher is that I have been there as a student who hated the fact I had to attend school. I know how it feels to think that school is not where I want to be, but rather having fun with my friends. I can be a great teacher and encourage those students to not choose the mistakes that I chose as a young teenager. I know I can show those students that teachers really do care about their students, and if they are not there to attend my class. I hope to motivate myself in this course to learn as much information and techniques I can to help my future students.
I am taking this course to help me in my future career as an educator. I enrolled at UVSC five years ago with the hopes of becoming a nurse. I soon realized that nursing was not the career path to choose. I wanted to make a difference in peoples lives in some way. I finished all of my pre requisites and the more educated I became the more I enjoyed the environment in which learning took place. I began to look into becoming a teacher three semesters ago. I took different courses at UVSC to help me decide what type of teacher I wanted to become. After I deliberated over what and where I would like to teach I finally chose to teach at a high school level teaching health. I enjoy all the aspects of health and how health has so many different areas to focus on. I chose this course to help me better understand my future students as I proceed to work towards my goal of becoming an educator.
2.What motivates you?
I am a very motivated person now that I am older, but as a youth the only thing that motivated me was my social group that I chose to run around with. I am motivated to become a teacher to be a better example to my children and hope to encourage students to not make the same mistakes that I made while I was a teenager. I am motivated to prove statistics wrong about how most teenage mothers not finish high school nor finish college before the age of thirty. 3.Why do you succeed?
I succeed because there is no other option for me. I choose success, because I choose to focus on the positive things in life rather than my failures as an individual. I succeed because of my children, husband, and family support. I succeed because I am not a victim nor a failure.
4.Why do you fail?
I only fail because I have not focused on the positive and I have chosen to fail. I do not tend to look at things in my life as failures, but rather bumps in the road from which I learn from. There is always something positive that comes from a failed attempt.
5.How do you need to change your motivations and mindset for this class in order to become a great teacher?
I sometimes feel as though I am a follower. I do follow directions really well, but as a teacher I will be the one who gives the directions. I also feel I am more motivated to do things if there are certain deadlines to follow and due dates to meet goals. I feel what motivates me to be a great teacher is that I have been there as a student who hated the fact I had to attend school. I know how it feels to think that school is not where I want to be, but rather having fun with my friends. I can be a great teacher and encourage those students to not choose the mistakes that I chose as a young teenager. I know I can show those students that teachers really do care about their students, and if they are not there to attend my class. I hope to motivate myself in this course to learn as much information and techniques I can to help my future students.
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