Project based learning is very important in any classroom. This causes a student to think critically, usually creating something physically or electronically. Anytime a student can make something on their own, they are more interested in the subject matter and tend to learn more since they have ownership over what they have made. Having a student create an object that goes along with what they are studying is known as constructivism (Laureate 2010).
On example of how I use constructivism in my classroom is a project which I do in Social Studies at the beginning of each year. The project has the students research the four river civilizations. The students research each civilization and find one item or idea that they feel is still important today for each civilization. The students then make each item using clay or other materials and then write a short paragraph on each item. For the last part of the project, I have the students decorate a shoe box that represents all of the civilizations. Most of the students really like the project because it ties both technology and art into the project and allows them to be creative.
I feel that anytime a teacher can make a project that allows students to make something while using technology will have great impact in their classroom. Since the students are digital natives and they have a strong grasp on the technology, most will excel while having fun. If a student is having fun, they will not see the project as hard work. The students are also creating an object and this causes the students to take ownership over what they are doing; hence making it relevant to their life. If the project is relevant, the students will retain more information because it is important to them.
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Baltimore, MD: Author

Week 3

The cognitive learning theory is a theory that tries to explain how people take information and their thought process in remembering this information. The theory also states how students take information from their short term memory to their long term memory. As educators, it is very important for us to know how information is taken from a source to a student's short term memory and then to their long term memory.

I believe when teachers use cues, questions, and advanced organizers it will help the students learn the information. The reason why is because this teaching method supports the cognitive learning theory when applied correctly. For example, if a teacher is asking questions that are relevant or open ended, this will cause the student to think and hopefully make new connections within his/her brain. The teacher can also use graphic organizers to help students make new connections, because the graphic organizers are visual which helps make new connections. This is also known as the dual coding hypothesis which states a person will more likely remember information if there are pictures that are associated with a word or phrase (Laureate 2007).

One very important skill that everyone needs to know how to do is to take proper notes and how to summarize. If this skill is done correctly, it will help the student remember the information that the teacher is trying to convey. For example, if a teacher is having students copy down definitions of vocabulary words, the students are more than likely not going to remember the definitions. The teacher could have the students put the definitions into their own words. By having the students do this, the students will think critically and make new connections in their brain which will help them remember the information.

The strategies listed above are great examples of how students can learn by making new connections in their brain. At times, teachers feel if they ask questions or have the students write down the information, the student should know the information. For example, I felt this way for part of my first year of teaching. I now know that it takes students to make new connections to ensure that they have learned the information presented.

References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Application 2

This week we have been looking at the behaviorism theory and how it relates to instructional strategies in the classroom with technology. This theory states that behaviors can be learned in the classroom with either positive or negative reinforcement and can be measured in the classroom (www.msu.edu). There are two different ways that our school uses technology in my school that relates to the behaviorism theory. They are an online homework site called kids college and a remote response system.

Homework online or using a computer can seem more fun to a student compared to the typical pencil and paper homework assignment. At the school where I teach, we use an online program that quizzes students on math and language arts. This program also lets us track when the students log in and how they do. The students are constantly being asked questions. This is a great example of the behaviorist theory since they are constantly being asked questions and new information is being learned and is constantly repeated.

Another example of using software while looking at the behaviorism theory is using classroom remotes. With the remotes there is a software program that lets the teacher put questions onto the board and the students can choose the correct answer. The questions can be answered in A,B,C and D format or answered by punching in numbers. This lets the students and the teachers get instant feedback on who answered the question correctly and who answered the question incorrectly. The software also allows the teacher to graph the answers that were answered instantly on the board and, if the student answered correctly and sees it on the board, this would act as a reward for the student and is positive reinforcement. If the student sees that he or she answered the question incorrectly, the student will see this on the board and will want to answer the question correctly like the other students.
Overall, technology can be used in many different ways to have the students learn new concepts. These concepts can be reinforced with positive or negative reinforcement. The technology used in our school helps reinforce these concepts.

References
https://www.msu.edu/~purcelll/behaviorism%20theory.htm