Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology Relection

Upon reflection of this course, I remember my first application and how it required me to explain what my personal theory of education was. I am also reminded of the feeling I had when I thought to myself that I do not really have just one theory. I have learned, however, throughout this course that it is suitable to combine several theories and create what I think is the best process of instruction and learning for my students and for me as a teacher. I feel confident in my theories and feel better equipped having learned about all of the theories behind how students learn and how I can better assist and facilitate for my students. I today’s classroom, access to various forms of technology and web tools is vital in order to prepare my students to become 21st century learners. Technology creates a very engaging environment that students are interested in and they feel more power to construct their own learning. Upon completion of this course I truly feel more educated on the different ways in which we learn and how to best accommodate for my students in these ways. I feel as thought the most important thing I can do as a teacher is to utilize as many resources as I have to engage students in a variety of ways using a combination of senses. One technology tool that has been introduced to me throughout this course was Virtual Field Trips. I instantaneously loved this tool and was completely unaware of its existence prior to this course. I love this tool and feel as though it is a great way to create visual and auditory representations of many experiences that we may not otherwise get to have. This is an especially helpful tool to use with young students such as my kindergarteners because they are instantly engaged when they see pictures and on top of that, sound. I use these field trips often and I show them on the class SMARTboard. This way it is not only engaging visual and auditory learners, but tactile learners too. I am also going to be sharing a virtual field trip idea with my team for learning about the first thanksgiving and the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. For the first time we will all be utilizing this excellent tool and allowing our students to travel back to that time period and really experience what it may have been like for them. In addition to virtual field trips I really enjoy utilizing Voice Threads. Both of these tools allow students to be engaged visually and with their hearing. These tools both keep students engaged and they assist students in constructing their own learning.