Group items tagged

I've watched the video twice and in the end I've felt some concerns about the results of the studies. In the "how people learn" part, researchers were testing the storage and connection system of the brain through some high-tech tools. However, does neuropsychology provide enough evidence on the functioning of the brains? Can we generalize the results to all people from all cultures? I am not the one who is against neuropsychology, but for me one discipline may not give an appropriate answer to such a deep question. My second concern is about the integration of computer programs into the curriculum as a major learning tool. We see a program where "Betty" is speaking and giving feedback on the video. The program seems user friendly, but what about the negative aspects and limitations of the integration of technology into learning? Ok, I agree that we have to adapt to the rapid technological changes in the society. However, is technology the key to all learning processes? Plus, the program is designed on the mapping of the concepts. Does concept mapping make a curriculum compelling all the time? I am not sure about all characteristics of the program, but if it hasn't been designed in a challenging style and if all students come up with the same products, then how will they develop their knowledge and reasoning abilities? I couldn't find an answer to that. As for the part "effective teaching", I am in the same opinion with the researchers that there should be a connection between the real world and the subject taught. Moreover, I think the integration of the disciplines is difficult but a very good way of giving meaning to life. Besides, in the video we see teachers as a guide, as a facilitator and there is no doubt that providing individual support to the students helps students feel more involved.

Firstly, even if it is designed by utilizing modern technology and different understanding, which makes it a more developed and complicated one, the program used in the video reminded me the teaching machines of old times. It gives the priority to the cognitive aspect of learning. This seems to be a one-dimensional approach which underestimates the social aspect of learning. I think the value of classroom interaction for effective learning cannot be replaced by any kind of computer programs. Research on brain is really important and it provides very useful insights for learning and instructional activities. However, it should be supported by the findings of research by social psychologists as well. The very same individual may perform at varying levels when he is taught with the same methods in different environments. I personally experienced many times that even the absence of one individual in my classes affected the teaching an learning processes in a negative or positive way depending upon the classroom dinamics.

1. The purpose of this paper is to share reflections of the three authors on the process of instructional design and implementation of blended learning for teachers' professional development (PD) in rural western Kenya. 2. There are for different reserach questions but one of them is caught my attention as we have the same problem in our country I think; How appropriate is blended learning for teachers in a rural setting? 3. The design-based research methodology in the study comprised a number of research methods. The methods included ethnographic observations, qualitative interviews, narratives and documentation of design artifacts

The article is on the integration of case-based reasoning to problem-based learning, it is an example to a merging of them. Examples of science instruction can be found and CBR in detail is explained by Kolodner and her colleagues.

The article totally reflects my opinions about blended learning. Technology integration is necessary but to what extent?

I agree with you Sermin, use of technology is considered as a must for effective instruction by most of the teachers nowadays. However, in some cases using traditional methods and techniques can be more feasible, cost-effective and practical.

I am interested in social learning theory and this famous experiment can let us discuss this alternate view on learning in the classroom. Is it influential after 50 years?

Yes actually following this experiment, we know that it has been influential in education. But still today, it provides us with alternate views for our classrooms.

Canan, I think social learning theory will be alive until societies will die..:) Main concern of the theory is related to people who is living in the society. However we could not mention the social learning in online learning or distance education settings which is without interaction between learns and instruction. Interaction at least observation of someone leads revealing social learning in every settings.

Here is an interesting example how learning is practiced in social media. If you want to find out more about the theoretical background, google "Professor Sreenivasan".

Some of social media samples can be used during some spesific classes such as History, English, Biology and likewise. But as a Maths teacher, I do not believe that I can use it as a tool to teach a subject. However, I definately aggree that it is obviously a great thing to exchange new ideas, to make brain storms, to create a discussion platform and broaden ideas according to several perspectives.

I liked the idea of integrating social media into instruction. But the teacher or instructor should be extra careful and strategic as it may be risky. Such devices or technology are mostly to capture the attention of the students or to keep students engaged in the lesson. I still think that the magic is in the hands of the teacher to keep the students attention and ensure effective learning. It may be too much technological to use facebook or tweeter in each lesson, which constitutes a balance issue. The students need to be close to the books, pencils and notebooks, papers etc. The dose of social media should be arranged carefully and strategically.

We should completely be aware of the informal learning through gaming. they can be more motivating than any type of instruction as they have lots of insteresting aspects.

After I read this I become more worried about our students especially in secondary schools. There were SBS (exam for entering high schools) and they were taking 3 different exams at each grade, 6,7,8 but now with the new regulations they will have 36 exams. Apart from that in 10 years the system has changed for 5 times. what can be more devastating their chilhood than that?

I agree with you about the testing system in Turkey but it is only the top of the iceberg. For me, childhood ends for children who start the formal education in Turkey. Our system is so demanding and competitive that children cannot endure the difficulties they encounter. First of all, we have very overloaded curricula and students always need to be alert and hardworking to keep up with the required activities. While trying to make use of constructivist understanding curriculum developers missed some points: the opportunities and facilities the schools and students have, the difficulty level of activities, background of the learner and student and parent profile in Turkey, teacher characteristics in our schools and so on. The curricula cannot be implemeted in most of the schools so teachers invented their own methods and techniques which do not match to any of the instructional theories properly. Parents started to find out ways to protect their children and they made lots of mistakes. For example, some parents do projects of their children and smarter children started to sell ready-made projects at schools. Although teachers know the truth, he grade these projects because the system makes it nearly impossible to fail. In short, our system is working but not in the way writen in the curricula. The changes, negativities and difficulties in the system is damaging the childhood and future of the students. Somebody should change it, not the curricula:)

World is getting more populated, and each individual wants to have a better life. And a better life is significantly related to education. So, exams still appear to be a "must" in this racing system. Actually, I am a supporter of the exams if we want to have a more "fair race". I remember the terrible old days when successful people couldn't get what they deserved because of the bribery system in Turkey. On the other hand, I agree about the side effects of the overtesting. And as an individual who has been exposed to overtesting, the question I ask to myself is "How has the overtesting affected my mental health?" The truth is I have been stressed, depressed and sad because of the tests :(

I hope that you'll like the video because I really liked it. It can set a good example for the modifications of the instructional techniques and learning environment since it approaches performance from a different perspective.

First of all, I really enjoyed the way the video is presented, it was fun to watch. It provides inspiring ideas on autonomy, letting people have genuine, meaningful purposes and finally letting them feel valuable and creative. Thanks for sharing this.

This Matrix is divided into 5 "independent characteristics of meaningful learning environments" namely: active, collaborative, constructive, authentic, and goal directed. Each of these categories is aligned with five levels of technology integration in education, the total sum of which is 25 cells. And according to Arizona K12 Centre, "Within each cell of the Matrix one will find two lessons plans with a short video of the lesson. Each lesson is designed to show the integration of technology in instruction and classrooms as well as the Arizona Educational Technology Standards."

Perhaps, you've watched it before, but pls watch it if you haven't...it is one of my favourites...Enjoy it :-))

The video presents the reality of women, we are really complicated;) I really enjoyed watching it Şermin thanks for sharing:)

Wow that was funny! I want to share what happened when me an my friend were trying to assemble my disassembled table:) I was following the directions 'step by step' at the mean time thinking where to put the table according to day light,the lamp and so on when he just started to assemble it without thinking anything, really anything and for sure without checking the instructions. He had a glance what it is supposed to look like in the end and just gave a start. I think this is also the way men perceive the life :)

I liked Table1 - Design-based research variants and methods and Table-2 Characteristics of design-based research. Thanks.

"Design-based research and TELE (Technology-enhanced learning environments) designs are reciprocal and, thus, need to be interdependent. In order to stimulate contextually-sensitive practices of learning and instruction in the design and implementation of TELEs, practical, detailed, and contextual advice is necessary. Design-based research, as a pragmatic methodology, can guide TELE designers while generating practical knowledge to be shared among a broad design community. Conversely, TELE design theories, models, and procedures need to ensure that design-based research methodologies can be made operational, formalized, and systematized."

The article shows the connection between cognitive neuroscience and mathematics education with experiments.

Sinem this is really a good reading for math educators and have direct applicability to math instruction.

This excerpt is taken from the book "The Gamification of Learning and Instruction: Game-based Methods and Strategies for Training and Education" Game-based learning have been increasingly used in educational settings in the last 10 years and there is a lot of research on this subject. I wonder if there is any on game-based learning how experts and novices solve certain problems in the game environments. Sounds a promising research area.

The example of Making sale in differentiating novices and experts is stunning.While novices focus on making the sale , experts develop relationships. The former aims to think, organize information for a limited time for that thing only.However the latter thinks more elaboratelly, develop ways for a long period of time for future connections which is wiser.Thus, we can see that experts know how to use their long term memory effectively compared to novices.

It`s a short introduction of how teacher education is treated in Finland.it talks about the classroom environment they create, the goal of teacher education and the inservice training they provide after teachers get their Masters degree.

The compulsory and voluntary intense in-service trainings for all grade teacher as in Japan and Korea, is very critical I think. These training are very well structured focusing on different topics such as educational philosophies, relationships with parents or different instructional methods.

I agree with Canan. Because I know that Shanghai-China is the first country according to latest PISA results. Also, Shanghai's population is over 14,5 million. With this population they can have high achievement level in an international exam. I think the success is not related to population. This is only related to educational policies. Especially teachers quality have huge impact on countries success in such exams. Educational policies on teacher candidates' selection and education should be revised as soon as possible. As turkish idiom said: "Az olsun ve öz olsun-less number- higher quality"(I'm not sure about the translation, can English teacher friends help me that point?.). Goverment should select teacher as many as the country need.

This article talks about the relation btw metacognition and expertise. It was published in 1998 in Instructional Science Journal. The main argument of this article is that metacognition is an important part of human abilities which are forms of developing expertise. To the extent that our goal is to understand the bases of individual differences in student academic success, we need to understand metacognition as representing part of the abilities that lead to student expertise.

In this study, they compared CSCL based instructions and pen and paper methodologies in Mathematics education to enhance Student learning.

This is a research on the effect of technology and collaborative style on learning. This is another discussion topic we wil cover in the classroom. This effect paradigm reveal many inconsistencies that make it difficult to draw generalizations.

This news is talking about the importance of oral language and vocabulary introduced to a child at a very early age, and differences between children from wealthier families and children from low-income families in terms of vocabulary knowledge and reading skill.

It is really sad to see this unjust difference between children and the fact that the gap gets bigger. It is mentioned that later reading comprehension success is related to this difference which can influence people in a variety of situations in life such as reading a newspaper, reading the instructions of usage of a mechanic device etc.