Jeannine's+Page

   **Here is the link to my wiki: http://jlode.wikispaces.com/ “What does this article teach us about learning?” (Community space)** “How do I understand learning to occur?”

How do we get students to understand what they are learning rather than just memorize the facts? How can I actively help students to take control of their own learning? How do I help them to re-think what they have been taught to apply it to solve problems?

"People construct new knowledge and understanding based on what they know and believe". In other words, making connections to prior knowledge helps us to remember, to understand and to learn new things! Reading this article made me realize the importance of accessing prior knowledge --making that connection--- so that it makes more meaning for the students. This accessing what they know and believe ultimately helps students take control over their own learning.

"The ability to think and solve problems depends on a rich body of knowledge about that subject matter". This says to me that the students must have the foundation of facts and knowledge about something, before they can analyze, apply, synthesize the information. How can the students apply what they have learned? How can they think about what they have learned and apply it to solve a problem?

I think that therefore in order to truly understand what the students are learning they must access prior knowledge, create connections to be able to apply and critically solve problems to what information they have already learned.

For example, I gave my students the notes for the steps to the scientific method. We had a discussion about what each step entails. We practiced it by doing multiple demonstrations. I then decided to see if they could apply what they had learned by creating their own scientific method from a description of an experiment. Could they? Some could--it was really hard for them to change their thinking patterns--a lot of students asked the question--Do you want us to write the definition or what it is? No! I want you to think about what you have learned and apply it to a different scenario. Getting my brain to teach in a different way and getting the students out of the habit of regurgitating information is the challenge that I see teaching and learning today.


 * “How does what we have explored relate to learning and teaching with technology?”

I'm not sure how to answer this question. It just makes me think of more questions: Does technology engage students in this age? Does it help or hinder student learning? Does it make them think about the entertainment value of the technology or is it meeting them where they are at? Does the technology help the students to solve problems more easily or create new problems?