Assignment 3

Inquiry and creativity enhance the learning experience. These two elements make learning facts and content a more enriching experience. Teachers can use lessons plans that integrate inquiry and utilize creativity in order to make the facts and content more accessible to students. Rote memorization of facts does not engage students. By using methods of inquiry and creative exercises, students will be more engaged and more eager to learn. Learning the content is still the goal of lessons but inquiry and creativity are the means in which students meet those goals.

Setting goals will allow the students to understand what they are supposed to learn. The type to technological tool used will help the students to understand what is to be learned. The technology itself cannot become the focus of instruction but rather must serve as an assistant to learning. Different types of technology can used a variety of lessons. Teachers can find very specific types of technology that will suit their specific goals.

“Teachers must immerse learners in complex, interactive experiences that are both rich and real.” (Solomon and Schrum, page 38) Interactive elements only enhance students learning experience. The real world is an interactive place and our minds are activated by interaction. Memorizing information from the pages of a book may allow you to retain information but the information will be meaningless and the experience of learning bland. Teachers can find creative ways to use interactive elements to make students learning experiences more meaningful.

Being able to apply the knowledge that we have is essential to success. The focus of student learning seems to be based on the focus of state and federally mandated assessments. So instead of teaching our students how to think, we are simply teaching students facts and how to memorize facts. This is of no benefit if the students do not know how to use the information. So the hype surrounding thinking is the acknowledgement of the notion; that students need to be able to meaningfully use the knowledge that they have. Students can be taught the certain science that is on a standardized test but that knowledge is meaningless unless the student knows how to apply that science in other ways.

Teachers can incorporate real world elements into their lessons by understanding why the content is important in the real world. By understanding the situations students may use the knowledge in the real world, teachers can show students the importance of the knowledge they are learning in real situations. Showing students the importance of the information in a real world application will engage students because it will provide some purpose to the lesson.

The big deal behind the updated Taxonomy is that it recognizes the cognitive approach to learning. It takes into account the different ways in which the brain learns. It doesn’t simply include the knowledge to be learned but includes how knowledge interconnects with other aspects in a large picture. Knowing something isn’t enough. How we learn to know and use what we know is just as important.

Brain functions are important to understand because if we can begin to learn how different individuals learn and process information, then we can begin to better educate larger numbers of people successfully. Knowing that each person’s brain processes information differently will allow educators to teach to those ways of learning.

The ability to make connections between a broad range of knowledge will be essential to students in the real world. Solomon and Schrum page 40, points out several trends regarding connectivism. They point out that learners will move between several unrelated fields within a lifetime and finding connections will be a benefit during these transitions. Technology as also made learning a community effort. Students can find networks or surf a wide range of resources to find information and understanding where to find correct information is important. Technology connects each and every one of us and incorporating those connections into learning are essential to student success.