Please have all posts completed by 8am on Thursday, Dec. 1. Thank you!
1. Title: Technology to enhance learning (15 points)
Please watch this video and create a list of the salient features regarding technology in today's education settings. Then, list your recommendations about how college classrooms could better utilize technology to enhance learning.
Next, read the article I send you via email on the use of technology in the classroom. Compare what the short video you watched says and what the findings and recommendations of the research article says. Are they congruent? How does the article match your list of recommendations? Please comment on what you feel were the most important points raised in the article. Importantly, how much of what the article recommends we do to enhance student learning do you see in your present (and previous) classrooms?
Last, please view this video. Khan has an interesting understanding of how to teach a curriculum. What would this have been like for you? Are there cons to this approach? What other thoughts or issues does this raise for you?
2. Title: What is curriculum? (10 points)
I'd like you to do some exploring on what a curriculum is. Here's a good place to start. Spend some time reading on this site, and then explore other links and search the Internet for a broader definition of curriculum. Find out what is meant by "hidden curriculum" and provide some examples ... Find out if the United States has a national curriculum. Bring links back to where you've visited. Find out what the national curriculum is in the United Kingdom. What's your basic definition of "curriculum."
3. Title: Education in the United Kingdom (10 points)
Please find answers to the following: Who and how are schools funded in the UK? What is the history of education in the UK? (provide what you think are 8 of the major events that depict the history of UK education during the past 200 years). Does the national curriculum also apply to all countries within the UK? What are the most pressing issues British students are dealing with right now, as it relates to education?
4. Title: Learning Theories (15 points)
We haven't talked very directly about learning theories. Please visit this site and familiarize yourself with learning theories. You don't need to become an expert, but at least be able to define what a learning theory is and to describe a few of the major learning theories (many of you already talked about Piaget, Vygotsky, Montessori, etc.). Of the four orientations to learning listed on this site, which one make more sense to you...which one do you "lean" toward...?
Next, a learning theory is different than a learning style. Check out this site to get a better sense of a learning style. Next, take this quick test to find out more about your own learning style and whether you're an auditory, visual or tactile learner. When you've learned that, please review this webpage describing another way of looking at learning styles. take this test and find out where you are on the axis of each of the different axis: visual/verbal, global/sequential, sensing/intuitive, and active/reflective. Report back here what your results are for both tests. What did you learn about yourself?
