ICT LEARNING AND DESIGN

                                         OMG! OMG!

                                   

                                                     

                                  What!! Week 1 was last week???!!!!

Has your heart ever done a thousand somersaults in your body??? And your stomach felt like it was coming out of your mouth preventing you from making even a droplet of sound! This was my reaction Monday noon when I casually strolled to my computer only too find out that I was 1 week behind!

                    Deep Breath! Deep Breath! Can’t think! Can’t think!

I knew exactly what was happening to my brain at this very moment thanks to learning about the theory of neurologist Dr Judy Wills. Yep! Uh Huh! If I didn’t quite understand this concept before I certainly understood it now!

The information I was receiving through my R.A.S (Reticular Activating System) was threatening and dangerous to me and my brain was giving it the highest priority. This information headed straight to the Amygdala, which acted as a conductor and unconsciously sent this threatening information to the

reactive part of my brain, which then caused me to go into FIGHT/FLIGHT and FREEZE mode!

I was unable to focus, read or think clearly hence why trying to work out and install black board collaborate in this state of mind was not very productive at this point of time to say the least.

So yes….this has been my very dramatic first week experience.  I am yet to conquer the computer and its systems in my very non-computer brain

 Note: to 'Teacher Self'

• The brain gives preference to information that is ‘novel’ and ‘engaging’ and gives highest priority to information that is ‘dangerous’ or ‘threatening’. 
• We as teachers need to make sure the information we teach and the way we teach our students is both ‘novel’ and ‘engaging’ to enhance their learning process. For example using music, costume, colour, advertisements and technology in different ways to get your point across is effective and beneficial to the learner. Be creative and think outside the box!
• We also need to make sure there is nothing the student may perceive as being dangerous or threatening in their internal and external environment that could restrict their learning. Fear of being wrong, embarrassed to read aloud, not understanding content material and boredom from a lack of stimulation are some examples of these threats.

What Judy Willis calls pair sharing.

             

                    Frustration can hinder learning.

We can create a safe environment for our students by placing familiar objects/pictures around the room and also by implementing routines and structure.  Other strategies include: giving feedback every ten minutes, getting them to share and compare notes with fellow students and also most importantly to me is letting the students know that it’s ok if they don’t understand something and not to get too bogged down on the details of things.  I can see from a recent experience I encountered how this simple statement could significantly reduce a student’s stress levels. While listening to the first recorded session on ICT, Wendy simply saying that she greatly welcomed and celebrated the diversity of the bloggers and their blogs gave me encouragement to move forward more confidently.

I found the video on the brain to be very practical on HOW we can create a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and the importance of stimulating the student’s brain so they are more engaged to learn. The examples Judy gave in her video have broadened my way of thought to be more outside the box when creating lesson plans. Click here to head to Judy’s brain Video!

Teacher engaging his students

Traditional vs. Today

As we look back now and see in retrospect the traditional classroom setting. We can see it was based on a more authoritative approach where each child was moulded into the same formula for learning. Rules/regulations and student conformity were more of a higher priority in the school system. Today we are learning and gaining greater understanding of the complexity of the student and the need for ‘personalization’ in the learning environment. (Shaywitz).

The interactive learning gadgets like the 1pad etc. allow the child (especially in the early years) to explore and expand their intellectual capabilities at a learning rate that is consistent and personalized to them. This is a great advantage. The quick and the slow learner can both move at their own pace.

I wonder how many students who dropped out of school before grade ten 50 years ago would have stayed had they been better considered, understood and appreciated for their ‘own’ uniqueness.  I do believe that ‘brain diversity is inborn’ (McCandliss) but in my opinion for a specific purpose. We need doctors, various artists, builders, cleaners, and carers in this world to operate cohesively together. That is why some are naturally smarter and some are more compassionate or artistically inclined than others. I feel everyone has the ability to grow and learn more but I do believe it is a choice that only the individual can make and this comes from the ‘attitude’ and the ‘spirit’ of a man. Change him from within and he will have ability to reach his potential.

In terms of the four learning theories: behaviourism, cognitivism, constructivism and conectivism. It seems they gain more strength when they are considered collectively and not apart from one another. I can see merit in all of them and see how the learning theories could each be implemented practically complimenting the subject area being taught. An easy to read website that expands on the notion of learning theories can me found here.

A Movie that illustrates beautifully the concept of knowing your leaner is the ‘ The Blind Side’ starring Sandra Bullock. I was very fortunate that while I was at the end of listening to Judy Willis’s Brain video my husband had just started watching this movie on TV. It is one of my favourite movies so I sat down to watch it too. Too my surprise, I saw great examples in the movie of what Judy was talking about about 'knowing your learner'.

Until next time!

Nicole X