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This is a very helpful and rich source for us, thank you for sharing it. Especially the situated documentary idea is very interesting I think. Making use of technology, simulations, games are such effective ways for solving the mismatch between classrooms and real-world situations.

I really liked the use of situated learning genres to make some theoretical concepts more concrete via real world experiences and scenarios. These genres can be integrated with classroom practices depending upon the specific requirements of the subject area, learner group and curricula to be implemented. While watching the video I thought that the situated documentary would help me while learning history when I was at high school. I had difficult times trying to learn history by reading dull history books.

As you mentioned Pınar, the videos on the website helped me to get the theory very well because of some concrete examples. And also the video "field research" provides a good example for science and vocabulary teaching, I think.

I deeply believe the power of motivation to learn and classroom technology can be used to enhance students' motivation in learning of the specific content. Still, it is open to debate effective use of technology in classrooms, especially in our country. To deal with this inefficiency of classroom technology, we need to focus on teachers' technology literacy and try to develop this literacy.

Hi Özlem Hoca, BBC news you shared with us is very advisable to our friends. (1) I agree that computers may have the possibility to be distractors for learning and they may be abused by some students. Students may prefer to use computers for activities other than for school activities. When I was an intern teacher, I wanted to show how a literature search is performed to my 20, 9th grade "Project" (noncredit course) students in 2006, I ended up running from one student to another because as I leave him/her with his/her search, s/he began to sign in facebook and their emails. (2) I also agree that plagiarism may occur in homeworks due to internet resources. (3) Another interesting opinion in this news is that "We're training the students to use technology which hasn't yet been invented." We are training the students to the future that is not defined, not yet clear.

I think integrating technology in classrooms is inevitable as computers have been being used in lots of areas in the world and it is a little bit optimistic to assume that education will escape from this "invasion". Today's students live with technology and indeed, technology can enhance the representation of a topic, communication among learners, eliminate time and space limitations in reaching information, etc. The article says that "frequent" use of computers in schools is more likely to be associated with lower results. Instead of frequent use, one should know how one can healthily get benefit from computers, when to use it, how to use it, when not to use it, etc. Those questions are still major questions in modern educational science research. Findings from such research can enhance the positive impact of technology in classrooms.

Having read this week's reading assignment, a part of which focuses on this particular result, I felt the need to comment on your share Özlem hocam. It is mentioned in Chapter 1: Introduction that "in the 1980s, cognitive scientists like Roger Schank and Seymour Papert made claims that computers would transform the schools and learning. This was a rather radical claim and it helped form a strong consensus among parents, bussiness community, politicians that getting computers into schools was a must. During 1990s, installing computers and the Internet in schools was a major trend. By 2003, 95% of all the schools in the US had their computers and were connected to the Internet. However, the impact of this huge investment was highly disappointing. Studies had shown computer use was not correlated with improved student performance. When the reserachers began to study to find the reason, they found out that the computer use in schools was not based on learning sciences; instead, they were being used as an extension of instructional classroom. By this I mean, bringing technology to the classrooms was not enough without changing the structure of instruction. Educational software has been based on instructionist theories, with the computer performing roles that are traditionally performed by the teacher. Teachers and students were not aware of how to use those computers efficiently. Students read the texts on the computers instead of reading them on books.Learning scientists continue to emphasize the powerful role that computers can play in transforming all learning. But they reject instructionalism and behaviorism. Instead, they present a new vision of computers in schools. They suggest that computer should take on a more facilitating role, helping learners have the kind of experiences that lead to deep learning."

I totally agree with you :) Also insistence is important (especially for Sheldon). I also think that it is not just for learning but also for everything in life. Inner energy, self-motivation, triggering and curiosity come first before other steps while doing smt.

yes I agree there:) all very important constructs for learning and other important tasks in life to occur. And I especially love the part where Sheldon yells "how can you not know, I have just told you" :)))

It is really enjoyable, thanks for sharing this. But, it reminded me of myself as a novice teacher and I was totally like Sheldon but I had not one Penny and almost in every class there were 40 Pennys:) Every class was project gorilla for me and at the end of every class I got exhausted. At the end of that year I admitted that I was bat at teaching and even I decide to quit. Now, I cannot say that I am perfectly good at teaching but I have realized and admitted every student has their own rate of learning and as you have said interest, motivation and piror knowledge is indispensable.

I was also thinking about 'Project Gorilla' and who or what they are in our 'Agora's! For me teaching itself is 'Project Gorilla' and all learning environments are 'Agora'. Unknown objects, stars, are could be learners who are waiting to be discovered. I did enjoy while watching Sheldon and how Penny behaves during the lesson. Thanks!

I agree with you Afranur, the video reminded me of my personal teaching experience as well, especially at my first year, getting to realize that each and every student had unique characteristics was difficult for me and I had hard times like you:) But we will get better I am sure, by taking into account the things we both underlined. Teaching itself is a Project Gorilla, that's so true :)

I also present a brief paper on this method. You can download it clicking on the link below: http://www.williamsburgmontessori.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/The_Montessori_Method.pdf