This week, the cognitive theory is in the forefront. I personally love the cognitive theory because it is the one after which I model my own learning. When I learn about a topic, I always try to fit it into my own network of thoughts. I ask myself how does this new information agree or disagree with what I already know. I try use the dual coding method mentioned in the DVD to help remember new or hard to remember item. I am a cognitivist.
So this week is much more enjoyable compared to the behaviorist ideas.
The instructional methods this week were great in my opinion. I have already thought of about 4 different lessons that I am going to change this upcoming year. The first tool is the concept mapping. I teach high school math so I am always trying to teach students about abstract concepts. This is hard to do with just words and notes. It is no wonder that students get lost in math do to the jargon, syntax, symbols and theory. Any method that would help students get a concrete image would be a great help in teaching math. This is why I am going to bring my students down to the computer lab for heavy note days and we are going to take them on concept mapping software so that they will have a better chance of staying active and actually understanding notes instead of just copying notes.
The virtual field trips also sound like a great idea. When I was playing around with the ones provided I saw a lot of valuable trips on many topics. The math applications were a little scarce, but I can see how a social studies teachers could use these on an endless amount of topics. These trips seem like they would be great for creating those "episodic memories" that our resources were so big on. I feel like some great long-lasting educational memories would be created using these field trips. Plus, when funds are low, it is a great way to get kids to the sources without breaking the bank.
The note taking strategies, summarizing strategies, and many other concepts in this weeks resources help teachers put the learning back into the students' hands. They make the students take an active part in the education. Students can't simply write down and hear information once. Instead, students have to analyze and summarize information as they learn it. This should help with retention and make long-lasting memories that students can always use.
Tyler
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteHello. I also find myself teaching in this way. I believe it is essential to activate the prior experiences of our children in order to build upon and create new ones.
As a special education teacher I use concept mapping and graphic organizers all of the time. I found they are vital in assisting my students to make connections and without them they seem to struggle through the content in their mainstream classes. I believe these cognitive strategies are so productive because since they incorporate many senses in their execution it allows students more opportunity to succeed. Additionally, many of these activities such as the virtual field trips as you mentioned develop powerful episodic memories becoming valuable learning tools for us to use in supporting learning.
Do you also have access to a SmartBoard? The math teacher I work with uses this daily with the kids. The interactive nature of this activity engages all of the students and they seem to understand the concepts better when it is delivered in this way. Would this be a useful tool for you to use? Have you ever tried concept mapping with your students before?
Lynda
Tyler:
ReplyDeleteI've followed cognitive learning concepts for a while now and I agree with the practice of activating students' prior knowledge. I've used a variety of activities, but most have been conversational which excludes the more reticent students. I also plan to use more concept mapping and the different note taking formats. The math teachers at my school mention how difficult it is for their students to explain specific computational procedures and solutions to more complex problems. I think concept mapping (and perhaps virtual tours) will engage students and help them to organize their thinking.
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI am a visual learner and although strong in humanities, the finite rigidness of math concepts/rules made it very difficult for me. I think that your resolve to hit the computer lab and do the concept maps is going to really help students like me. Had I been able to see the big picture and anchor one concept visually to the next, see patterns and made some head or tails of all those disparate pieces of facts, I might have had a better experience in high school math!
Good luck!
-Nanci