Sunday, September 30, 2012

Classroom 2.0 Live: Inquiry Learning and Empowering Students Literature Review


 
Picture Date:  Saturday, September 29, 2012
Time: 9:00a
m Pacific/10:00am Mountain/
11:00am Central/12:00pm Eastern
Location: Blackboard Collaborate (Formerly Elluminate)





Classroom 2.0 Link: 

http://live.classroom20.com/archive-and-resources.html


Literature Review

        David Truss is a strong advocate for student driven, inquiry learning with the use of technology in the classroom.  He believes that students can greatly benefit from using technology to expand on what they learn and learn even more on their own.  His beliefs are echoed within EDU 533 and our overall philosophy that by using technology we can not only improve our teaching but we can thus greatly influence the learning of our students and take their education to another level.  Truss believes, "Internet and technology is a faster game than that of the past."  This idea is echoed in the outcomes of EDU 533 by employing the idea that with the use of technology in an effective way, teachers can be much more effective and students can improve and learn at a much faster pace.  Even the idea of inquiry learning, or a student driven self discovery, echoes the general philosophy of EDU 533 outcomes in that by expanding with technology each facet can be greatly improved upon.  The complete list of learning outcomes for EDU 533 is listed below:
1. Demonstrate the understanding of how technologies can effectively promote student learning
2. Evaluate and use a variety of current technologies to enhance content instruction and to advance studentsí technological literacy
3. Design meaningful and authentic digitally based learning experiences with multiple and varied assessments
4. Reflect upon and demonstrate effective use of digital tools and resources
5. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of safe, ethical, legal and moral practices related to digital information and technology
6. Illustrate through application how state and national standards are implemented within the curriculum (e.g., NH Curriculum Frameworks,
ISTE (NETS-Teacher/NETS-Student) and NH-ICT Literacy Standards for K-12 Students (306.42))
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the use of adaptive technologies and other digital resources to personalize and differentiate learning
activities for every student
8. Evaluate, adapt and reflect on emerging tools and trends by participating in local and global learning communities and by reviewing
current research and professional literature



ttps://blackboard.snhu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_73415_1%26url%3d

       However, Truss makes another great point, "It's not the tool, but how you use it that matters."  As a teacher I must facilitate my own teaching and the student driven learning with technology.  I must help my students to realize not only that they can expand on their learning but help them find ways to accomplish this goal.  On Truss' web site, Inquiry Hub, we can find the ideal layout on how to not only reach our students using the technology but the plan laid out via his "7 Ways to transform your classroom." You can view the philosophy here, but basically for a teacher we must start at the beginning of the spectrum with the use of the technology and the process that goes along with it and teach our students the same ideas.  As a teacher I must let my students inquire, while guiding with my voice but listening to them as well.  They must learn and share with their peers and our community both in and out of the classroom.  Kids must learn and play within the same technology and by doing so the network is extended and extended and our students will continue to learn more and more.  As Truss said, "We must help them learn by letting them explore with technology while helping them along the way."

        I learned so much in this one hour of live classroom.  Truss is an incredibly smart man who has the utmost respect in the teaching community.  He was able to create a student driven inquiry and share to many educators including myself how to transform your own classroom into this technological driven playground.  I learned strategies to incorporate student driven lessons based upon technology and not just how to employ this strategy but also how to monitor and help the students reach their potential.  I also learned the actual process in how classroom 2.0 works and how the webinar is ran.  I believe this is just as important and vital to understanding how to reach children based on the technology presented and using it to share new and fun ways to help improve their performance.  I really believe Truss' idea is an unbelievable leap into a new generation of technology driven learners.  I really had not considered the impact of community and audience in the education of our students.  Not just their ability to reach their audience but what they can learn from working with the community and sharing with a much extended audience.  I mean just think for a minute, even as I write this blog, I am learning and whoever reads this is learning what I have just discovered.  Technology is the means of the future and through educators like Truss and through ourselves we can ensure a better tomorrow.


http://pairadimes.davidtruss.com/7-ways-to-transform-your-classroom/
      




 

1 comment:

  1. Andrew, great post! I totaly agree with you when you say it is not the tool but how you use it. If we as teachers do not encourage our students to explore the potential of technology, then we are doing them a huge disservice.The expansion of learning is the key. If we are not willing to expand the learning of our students, then we are in the wrong profession. Like you stated, let them inquire, but you guide their curiosity with your voice. If students are taught to use technology properly, then the sky is the limit.

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