Week 4-2 Personal Blog Reflection

1.  30-word micro session summary: 

Week 4-2 spells out the differences between consultative versus traditional teacher-centered teaching approaches.  Along with consultative teaching it demonstrates various styles of student-centered instructional strategies including, fish-bowl, jigsaw, and exploratory talk. 

2.  As a student, I would evaluate my overall college classroom learning experience in terms of developing my higher-order thinking skills as average.  Honestly, it depends on the course I am taking.  I tend to perform better in the interactive courses which facilitate regular in-class discussions rather than a course being heavily focused on the reading.  College courses with discussions help me to (1) synthesize disconnected pieces of information, (2) associate facts received from different sources, and (3) evaluate the importance of information through exploratory talks.  

3. I do think consultative teachers are more likely to incorporate various instructional strategies into instruction than traditional teachers because the instructional strategies studied were very collaborative and interactive in nature.  The instructional strategies are always guided and facilitated by the teacher but are very student and problem solving centered  whereas traditional style teaching is  more rigid in structure.  

4. From a consultative teacher's perspective one instructional strategy that I find most effective for a creative thinking approach is role playing.  Role playing is effective because it encourages students to actively participate in performance-based measures and linking new knowledge with already learned knowledge.  Role playing also promotes creativity because it requires imagination, improvisation, and problem solving! 

5. From a consultative teacher's perspective one instructional strategy that I find most effective for the critical thinking approach is jigsaw.  Consultative style teaching is collaborative and interactive where the teacher is a co-learner and facilitator.  While learning in a consultative teaching environment peer dialogue and problem solving is encouraged.  I believe that the jigsaw strategy is most effective because is encourages students to work together in a co-learning environment rather than competition.  The appreciation of collaboration and teamwork can help increase critical thinking skills while increasing students overall motivation and self-efficacy. 

6. Do you have any questions or concerns about course learning? 

No! 

7. Week 4-2 Activity Completion Check

	Modules	Topics  & Activity	Check ✓ if Completed
Week 4	Week 4-1 *Due by August 8 at 10:59 am	1) Week 4-1 Reading Quiz	✓
		2) Week 4-1 Discussion Forum: one initial response & two peer feedback replies	✓
		3) Week 4-1 Personal Blog Reflection	✓
	Week 4-2 *Due by August 8 at 10:59 am	1) Week 4-2 Reading Quiz	✓
		2) Week 4-2 Discussion Forum: One initial response & two peer feedback replies	✓
		3) Week 4-2 Personal Blog Reflection	✓

8. Social Blog Activity: 

Courtney Eaton's Blog

Hi Courtney, I enjoyed you inclusion of videos in your blog, it really helped my understand of your perspectives! I also enjoyed your discussion of how project-based learning is most effective for student-centered learning.  Of course it is important to remember that not every student favors working in groups, however I think it is broadly very effective for critical thinking and problem solving skills discussed in the readings. 

Sadie Robinson's Blog

Hi Sadie, I like how you recognize the different implications of both student-centered learning and teacher-centered learning.  They both serve different purposes.  I also enjoyed your thoughts on how critical thinking skills have decreased as the internet has become more popular.  While I agree the use of the internet allows most of the thinking to be done for us, I also think that it can help students attain endless information to help facilitate learning.  Not to mention, most of the students in our generation are very tech savvy.  The use of technology of the classroom may also help engage students further. Thank you for sharing your ideas! 

Week 4-1 Personal Blog Reflection

1. 30-word micro session summary:
There are two main approaches to teaching, teacher-centered instruction and student-centered instruction.  Either of the two approaches are used depending on the way the educator personally views the learning process.

2. Direct Instruction K-8 Video: 
When thinking back on my prior learning experiences in the classroom as a student, teacher-centered teaching approaches such as direct instruction have influenced my personal learning in a way that made learning very robotic.  Every grade from K-8, at least in my own experience had a strong presence of direct instruction lead by the teacher.  Lecture/lesson, activities, homework, quiz, activities, test, repeat.  Especially as shown in the video, my experience with direct instruction looked similar to the "call and response" teaching method, where the teacher would engage the class through verbal repetition or an out loud response said in unison for reinforcement.

3.  Thoughts/perspectives about teacher-centered instruction: 
"If you want to change the world, you have to change the metaphor." -Joseph Campbell
After watching the provided videos, my thoughts on teacher-centered learning made come to the realization that the current public education system is more heavily focused on the product rather than the process of learning.  I believe that education needs to been reimagined because there is too much stress on a highly concentrated curriculum.  Students are consistently having new information thrown at them and are required to achieve mastery on these subjects in order to be successful.

4.  Thoughts about teacher-centered vs. student centered teaching:
If I am being honest, this video has a "feel-good" movie trailer vibe to it.  It left me feeling very inspired at the end!
I think that teacher-centered learning enables a factory learning style because like the direct instruction video in question 2, it is very robotic and every student is expected to reach a unified expectation of success regardless of personal needs or ability.  I think teacher-centered teaching is best effective for short-term academic results.  On the other hand, a student-centered teaching model is more beneficial for long-term learning goals because it enhances students' learning experiences as it is a personalized form of learning.  In addition to student-centered teaching having a personalized learning approach,  it also recognizes that learning happens everywhere and not just in the classroom.  As a result, student-centered teaching promotes self-discovery learning and students being able to take ownership of their education because they play a direct role in their academic success.

5.  From a teacher's perspective...I think discovery learning, an aspect of student-centered teaching is the most effective and is also practical in the K-12 and college educational settings because it pushes students to take responsibility for their academic success no matter what age or level of development they are currently in.  In one of the videos, the science teacher would not automatically tell her students the answer if they were struggling, she would let them work it out individually or with their peers.  I think discovery learning is most effective because no one learns from being told the answer, rather than being able to find the answer autonomously giving students that eureka moment.  

6.  Do you have any questions or concerns about course learning?
No!

7. Week 4-1 Activity Completion Check 

	Modules	Topics  & Activity	Check ✓ if Completed
Week 4	Week 4-1 *Due by August 8 at 10:59 am	1) Week 4-1 Reading Quiz	✓
		2) Week 4-1 Discussion Forum: one initial response & two peer feedback replies	✓
		3) Week 4-1 Personal Blog Reflection	✓
	Week 4-2 *Due by August 8 at 10:59 am	1) Week 4-2 Reading Quiz
		2) Week 4-2 Discussion Forum: One initial response & two peer feedback replies
		3) Week 4-2 Personal Blog Reflection

8. Social Blog Activity: 

Bridget O'Hare's Blog: 
Hi Bridget, 

I like when you pointed out one of your weaknesses in the classroom, the way you don't always like asking for help so you work your brain until you get it.  I am very similar to you in that respect.  Although, it is always okay to ask for help!  Also, I enjoyed your example of you using yourself as the MKO in order to help your peers learn.  This combination of individual as well as collaborative learning relies heavily on social interaction.  This promotes teamwork and as you mentioned small group work can be a great source of learning because you are able to "talk through" ideas and perspectives.

Erin Rodriguez's Blog: 
Hi Erin! 

I enjoyed your visual of the Zone of Proximal Development in your blog as well as your personal experience!  I think it is important to remember that scaffolding, although it is guided by a MKO usually the teacher it leads to the student being able to become self-sufficient and autonomous.  It is a small boost the teacher gives to the student, so the student may being learning by their own trial and error, so eventually the teacher is able to fade away from guided instruction.  
I agree that this method also gives me a sense of pride!  Great ideas, thank you for sharing!

Week 3-2 Personal Blog Reflection

1. 30-word micro session summary: 

Cognitivist Lev Vygotsky's social constructivism perspective explores the importance the fundamental role of social interaction in the development of cognition.  MKO and ZPD help us to understand how this learning occurs.  

2. What is learning from Vygotsky's Social Constructivism perspective?

Learning from Vygotsky's social constructivism perspective emphasizes the collaborative nature of learning.  Collaborative learning methods require learners to develop teamwork skills and guided learning by a MKO (scaffolding) in order to increase a student's ZPD.  

3. What are the big things that you learned about Vygotsky's Social Constructivism?

I think the most important aspect I learned about Vygotsky's social constructivism is the Zone of Proximal Development.  The ZPD is defined as the distance between the actual development of independent problem solving and the level of potential development through problem solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with peers.  The Zone of Proximal Development is a very interesting topic because it is almost like a sliding scale of a student's ability.  The ZPD is the area between the tasks that a student can do on his or her own and the tasks that he or she cannot perform yet without assistance.  This zone phenomenon shifts to the right as a person masters more tasks on their own. 

4. Do you think Vygotsky's Social Constructivism demonstrates your own beliefs in how human learning occurs well? 

I do think Vygotsky's Social Constructivism learning theory partly demonstrates my own beliefs in how human learning occurs.  I value the social learning environment this theory nurtures.  As the MKO in my own classroom, I think I would apply the collaborative learning and scaffolding/fading teaching methods because these strategies requires the development of teamwork as well as autonomous learning. 

 However, I do disagree with Vygotsky's idea that "social learning tends to precede development".  Although humans are always communicating and learning new social skills.  I think nature vs. nurture does have an influence on the role of social interaction in the development of cognition.  For example, as a special education major I think of those learners who are born with social as well as cognitive deficits   Their ability to perform tasks may vary by being delayed or even never being able to biologically develop past a certain cognitive threshold.  

5. Do you have any questions or concerns about course learning?

Not at the moment! 

6. Week 3-2 Activity Completion Check: 

	Modules	Topics  & Activity	Check ✓ if Completed
Week 3	Week 3-1 *Due by July 31 at 10:59 am	1) Week 3-1 Reading Quiz	✓
		2) Week 3-1 Discussion Forum: one initial response & two peer feedback replies	✓
		3) Week 3-1 Personal Blog Reflection	✓
	Week 3-2 *Due by July 31 at 10:59 am	1) Week 3-2 Reading Quiz	✓
		2) Week 3-2 Discussion Forum: One initial response & two peer feedback replies	✓
		3) Week 3-2 Personal Blog Reflection	✓

7. Social Blog Activity 

Sadie Robinson's Blog: 

Hi Sadie, 

Great ideas in your blog!  I agree how learning from a cognitive constructivism is an effective way of teaching because it is engaging and motivating to students through the use of schemas, assimilation, and accommodation.  You focus a lot on the theory being mainly intrinsically motivated.  While this is true because in order for the learner to be engaged at any stage of cognitive development they have to be motivated to want to learn.  Of course this is not always the case due to any combination of factors, extrinsic motivation can come from the teacher and most importantly peers.  An important point that stood out to me in the chapter is when Piaget states, "children will talk for hours until the come to the truth".  Thank you for sharing!

Jiongnan Liu's Blog: 

Hi Jiongnan!

I really enjoyed how you stressed Piaget's recognition of "past experiences, culture, gender, and many other factors" when it comes to learning in contrast to the way cognitive information processing theory works.  The human brain is more unpredictable and complex than a computer.  Furthermore,  I agree with you that visual tools and schemas are extremely helpful tools when learning in the classroom.  Especially from personal experience, I always learned best when I had an engaging visual stimuli to make the content stick!  Don't forget about Piaget's stress in the importance of collaborative learning - this was a key  part of the section! Thank you for sharing your ideas!