Learning to Integrate Technology

  Constructivism and Constructionism Teachers are always adjusting and remodeling their teaching practices to create lessons that benefit student learning and success. Engaging students in their learning process and bringing excitement into the classroom is the main goal for educators. Constructivism is a learning theory that draws on student experience to assist in their learning process. Orey stated that, Constructivism is a theory of knowledge stating that each individual actively constructs his/ her own meaning. (Laureate Education, 2015e, 1:32) This theory draws on the individual’s prior knowledge and understanding of a topic. Every student could have a different experience with certain things that alter their thinking, interest, and understanding in it. This is a great theory to use during interactive instructions with students. Students can be discussing a topic and based on their prior experiences, they would be able to explain their reasoning or build on someone else’s tho...

     I created a virtual field trip for my students to learn about plants, what they need to grow, and the plant cycle. The virtual field trip is a helpful resource and activity to experience in our unit about plants in Science. The students watched a video called Virtual Greenhouse Tour: April 10, 2020. Over two days, the students learned about the greenhouse, different kinds of plants, different habitats the plants live in, and what they need to grow. Over the course of watching this video, students took brief notes on a KWL chart. This organized their thinking and questions to talk about when we continued the activity as a class. When we finished the virtual tour, we came together as a class to discuss our learnings and questions. As a class, we completed our graphic organizer. This graphic organizer asks the question, what does a plant need to grow? There are five arrows included on the map to model the five major things all plants need in order to grow, water, air, s...

         The relationship between behaviorism, instructional strategies, and technology tools is made consistently in the classroom environment each day. The link starts with the teachers having an understanding of learning theories and an understanding of their own students. Then they are able to implement different strategies in the classroom to teach students the appropriate way to behave and respond in the learning environment. Today’s classroom is using more technology tools throughout the learning process. Teachers are using their knowledge of behaviorism and instructional strategies to provide students with consistent support, even in the virtual realm.          In the classroom environment, students are taught the expectation of what is expected and what is not expected. Students may receive praise for sharing ideas or asking questions, while a punishment or no reaction happens when students don’...

              This course has helped me develop as a professional because I am able to place my focus on the student learning process, rather than the importance of teaching. I have found resources and activities that will be helpful to use in my classroom to ensure growth and success in my students through the use of technology. We need to see the world as it is today and build our vision on that, not root ourselves in the world as it was, one that is quickly disappearing (Richardson, 2015, p. 63). As the face of education is changing, it is important to stay at the forefront of it to be able to expose students to the new realm of possibilities. Integrating technology in the classroom environment promotes student engagement, independence, and eagerness for new discoveries. A standard that is set by the ISTE Standards for Education that I find very important is, 3b. Establish a learning culture that promotes curiosity and ...

       The blog for my classroom will be for teacher use. I teach Kindergarten, so they do not have the skills of fluently reading or typing responses. I would use my blog to give my students a place to check announcements, get assignments of what we did in class each day, or see what is assigned for homework. I could post links to read alouds, videos, or important information that my students and families should be aware of. My classroom blog would be a place that my students are supplied with all of the information about their learning and school environment. Shannon (2017) stated I her journal, “Blogging is a great way to write and share ideas and serves as a jumping-off point for the many other ways that students can write and share content” (p. 23). Accessing my blog site can give my students more exposure to reading. The families can read the posts to my students as they try and read along. The students are able to use technology to receive information in vario...