After reading about cues, questions, and advance organizers, I thought that they directly correlated with a constructivist approach to learning. The cues allow the students to start thinking about the topic before really getting into the material. This allows them the chance to think about what they already know and try to connect it with what is to come. The questions basically do the same thing that cues do, but they are a little more direct than cues. The advance organizers allow students to take the material that they are learning, or about to learn, and connect it to material that they have already learned in an organized fashion. Another neat thing about the organizers is the connections that are made while the students are developing them or going over them. The work involved in creating these organizers make the material more memorable for the students.
What I have learned about virtual field trips was quite interesting. The ability to show students things all over the world while they are still in the classroom is great. I think that the field trips will stimulate more parts of the brain for the children, and it will allow them an experience that some of them may never have the chance to experience. For other students, they may see something interesting in the topic making the information taught more meaningful to them. I think that virtual field trips have a lot of promise in increasing students' learning by increasing the connections made from the experience.
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Erus,
ReplyDeleteI agree that virtual field trips are an excellent way to introduce our students to new place. By visiting other places (online), we might spark an interest in our students that inspires them to seek things outside of their own community/culture. I'm not sure what grade you teach, but you could look into getting connected with a classroom in another country.
Jennifer Brock
Erus,
ReplyDeleteI also share your feelings about the virtual field trips. I took an online course in October through my school district about Virtual Field Trips and forgot all about them. I have so many websites and resources that I learn about on a daily basis. So many, that I forget about them. I need to find a way to organize my resources. I am trying to wrap my brain around this. "My Favorites" is usually out of control by October. How do you keep track?
Erus,
ReplyDeleteYour point of view on virtual tours was well stated. I never thought of the fact that some of the students will never see some of the places that will be shown through a field trip online. As I was reading this, I thought about a student in my class. I was talking about erosion and how wind erosion can cause sand dunes on the beach. A student rose his hand and said that he had never been to the beach. I felt horrible because I was making an assumption that something that seemed inevitable, turned out to be a slight embarrassment for the child. These tours are highly motivating and will maintain student interest. Due to this, students will be more likely to remember concepts learned throughout the "trip." Dr. Orey discussed that in order to increase the chance of students retaining information in their long term memory, it would be helpful to integrate multiple senses (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). Virtual Field Trips can accomplish this. I visited a field trip on animal adaptations and not only did it incorporate visuals such as pictures and graphs,it also included a brief audio clip that students would enjoy. If you attach a concept map to this tour, you are incorporating numerous learning styles that will enhance the education of your students.
Meghan
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Program five. Cognitive Learning Theory [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore: Author.
Erus,
ReplyDeleteI agree that organizers not only help students to organize concepts and make connections, but it also helps make the material more memorable by looking at it in a different way. If all information was present in the same way it is easy for information to get lost. As you said, by having the students simply create and fill out the organizer, the information becomes more memorable.
I also agree that virtual field trips are a great way for students to explore ideas and places at a level that they could not reach without these virtual field trips.
Amber Barrett
I think that the virtual feild trip will help many students make connections that they couldn't make before. I also think that some students will have a higher interest level when information is presented with virtual feild trips.
ReplyDeleteThey say that for every bit of technology gained, there is something lost. We gained the calculator and lost the ability to do long division, etc. Well, I cannot think of a downside to virtual tours. In fact, I think they will open all new horizons in virtual reality. Wait till the 3D T.V.s and monitors come out, then we will have it all. All we will need is a little sand under our bottom and a Pina Colad in our hand and we will be on a tropic island with the stroke of a key. Sorry, I just saw Avatar in 3D and I am all wound up. Seriously, technology offers a great deal and it is just beginning. The key is to keep it in perspective and not abandonned our basic educational principals.
ReplyDeleteConnections is the key. I remember when I was teaching how to respond to a Writing Prompt and I picked a topic that I thought all my students would know and love. The city I taught in has 35 miles of coastline and beaches. So the prompt was about the beach. One of my students, lived in Milford his whole life and never went to the beach. We did a class brainstorm about Main Ideas and details. The next day I brought in a jar of salt water, some sand, and pictures of my family at the beach. The student did not do as well as the other students, but better than he would have if I did not bring in those items. Students all have different exposure to society and to media. Virtual Field trips, even Google Images, can make a world of difference in a child's ability to make connections.
ReplyDeleteTo Jenn-
ReplyDeleteI teach high school mathematics. I could look into using technology to get in touch with other countries, but I think it would be to show my students the different materials being covered in mathematics around the world. Definitely for the case of most asian countries because of the stereotype. I think that if I showed my students what those countries are teaching it may explain why many asian students have higher math scores.
To Sonia-
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I don't keep track. I usually just search for topic, and then if I found a good one previously I look for the purple font. However, if I wanted to be more organized, I would make a folder in my favorites sidebar and titled them with the topic that they cover.
To John-
ReplyDeleteI would not suggest the pina coladas in the classroom, but I like your style.