BEHAVIORISM IN PRACTICE

This week in our reading, we explored two different instructional strategies that embed technology which is "Reinforcing Effort" and "Homework and Practice". While exploring these two different examples of Behaviorism-Based Technology, "Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn and Malenoski (2007) states that "Reinforcing Effort" enhances students understanding of their effort and achievement while at the same time helping the student to address their beliefs about their learning. Also, "Homework and Practice" allows the student to review and practice what has been taught in the classroom and display what they have learned through practice and homework." The behaviorist learning theory focuses on reinforcement and punishment. Therefore, I believe homework and practice should be used as reinforcement for the student but should never be used as punishment for any student. Students should be allowed to work with homework and practice at their own pace and should never be overwhelming to the student. Dr. Orey (2009) mentions that teachers should reinforce the behavior they want to see through reward and punish the behaviors they don't want to see. Therefore, the environment should accommodate the behaviors the teacher wants to see.

In our classrooms as I mentioned before, I students practice math facts on a daily basis. After practicing the math facts, they are given a certain group of facts they should know each week. The students are given a pre-test over the math facts and they they can practice for a week and then they take the post test over those same facts. Students are encouraged to create flashcards so they can work on the ones they don't know until the post test is given. Therefore, the website: http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/math.html would be very beneficial to my students because it has several websites list that will help the students practice their facts and also students could use these same website at home for reinforcement of those facts they have studied already in the classroom. We also use graphs were the students keep track of their performance from pre-test to post-test. Students are able to look at the graph and see their improvement and downfalls if any. Likewise the teacher can use view the graphs and keep track of student performance as well, so we can know how to help the student make improvements if needed. Pitler, Hubball, Kuhn, and Malenoski (2007) mentions as an extension of the classroom, homework provides opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of the content and to gain proficiency with their skills.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. [DVD]. In Designing curriculum and instruction. Baltimore: Author.

Reflection: A New Mind Set

My Reflections..........

This course has helped me to realize my development of my technological skills. The course has helped me in ways that I did not know could become alive in my professional adventures. The course as a whole has helped to show me different ways I can use technology in the classroom to better help my students now and in the future.

My continued goal with be to always integrate more technology in the classroom. I will start with the blogging and then maybe move on with the wikis. My students really enjoyed giving their input on the on the recording of the podcasts. I believe that they students would love making their own podcasts and building their own recordings.

My first goal is to incorporate blogging in the classroom. Blogging will become apart of my lessons and laptops will be set up in a central location in the room in order for the students to go and blog to the teacher and explain any problems or ask me any questions. My second goal is to have my students create a wiki page. We will work on this project in groups. Students will be responsible for setting up their pages and adding whatever they want added to their page. I will do a lesson with them before allowing them to work on their own. Therefore, I have to increase my knowledge of this type of lesson as well.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Hello Everyone,

My Reaction:

The Partnership 21st Century Skills website was very interesting. I love the resources that are available to download to view at your leisure. I think the website was not user friendly even though it had a lot of information that is valuable. I like the top tabs that were available to you. However, you had to go through a lot of tabs to find what you needed. I do indeed like their mission to be a catalyst for building 21st century skills by including everyone who can play apart in this mission. I do agree that every child that we are educating now needs to be 21st Century educated in order to function properly in the work world that is ahead of them. We collaborate a lot at my school, which is a good thing, because we can teach our students how to become more effective in this area. We struggle with our students being critical thinkers and them being successful with problem-solving.

Information: What surprised me

I don't believe nothing surprise me. Not even the fact that Georgia was not on the list. Seems as though every business that has any type of technology available was represented. Just a little surprise that there was not as many teachers represented on the Strategic Council of Members. We are the core of education and we are really the voice of the classroom, therefore more of us need to be there in order strike a serious balance for our students. :-)

Disagreements:

I would not disagree with anything that will work as a catalyst for our schools becoming 21 st century schools.

Implications for my students and Myself as a Teacher:

How can your state become apart of this program? How can we use this in the classroom to better involve our schools and students? These are just a few questions that cross my mind when thinking about such a powerful resource.

What are your thoughts and comments?

Amy Hollis-Lawson

Math.......Journals.........Now Blogs

Hello,

I have decided that I am going to use blogging in my Math Class. I will allow the students to Blog a message to me at least twice a week. I will use my desk top computers as well as a few of the laptops in my class for the students to sit and blog about their experiences in Math Class. Right now, we are using Math journals. I think they are a great tool for students to express themselves about Math class, however I will include the blogging along with the Math journals. If anyone has any suggestions or if you have used blogging any Math, please feel free to share.

Thanks,

Amy

Technology Concerns

Hello,

In the school where I teach, we have a lot of technology available to the students. I have a concern about the students and the technology. I believe the technology will eventually make students lazy to the point where they began to depend on it too much. What are your thoughts concerning this? I believe the students want to be on technology rather than doing other assignments that does not require technology. I have a few students who are more concerned with technology rather than doing their work. How do I fix this issue? I have explained to them that we don't use technology everyday. We use it when it is appropriate for the lesson. Your help is needed!

Co-Teaching Models

What model is best when Co-Teaching in the Classroom? I would like to think the parallel teaching model is best. But need suggestions. Thanks in advance!