Laura's+Page


 * Reflection – based on reading “How People Learn”**

It teaches us that in order for learning to be real and genuine, it has to have connections that are rooted to the learner. Since there are many types of learners, it should follow that there are many different ways that people learn. Learning should be meaningful and should focus on understanding rather than an ability to regurgitate information.
 * “What does this article teach us about learning?”**

I have varying views on this. Utopically speaking, I think for learning to be real, it has to have meaning, relevance, and have content with which the learner can connect with. I think this is challenging for teachers to do with one learner, let alone with 30 (with diverse learning styles) in one room at one time. I think being accountable to such specific and often irrelevant curriculum (especially for secondary teachers who are often ‘bound by’ standardized testing such as provincial exams) takes away from learning for pleasure, and instead forces learning for performance. How do we break down the barriers of time, space and curriculum to get back to the root of learning? What is our goal as educators? Do policy makers have the same goal?
 * “How do I understand learning to occur?”**

I think that technology has the potential to bring learning back to the learner. I think that this is so different than how many of us were taught as students, that the shift for us as educators is a challenge. I sometimes wonder if the technology is just a distraction, a bunch of bells and whistles that take away from the content and just doll up the presentation. How can we as educators be aware of this and find the right balance of incorporating technology so that it is used for enhancement/engagement/enrichment and not for entertainment/disguise/distraction?
 * “How does what we have explored relate to learning and teaching with technology?”**