Reflection on Marc Prensky's article.

Critical reflection on article digital natives/digital immigrants.

Students find computing to be a boring and uninteresting subject due to the way it has been presented in the past. However with the latest digital generation constantly using video games as a source of entertainment computing is not such a boring idea if the correct approach is taken towards it.
Engineers in universities are now being taught using video games, this is enabling future engineers to stay interested with the subject rather than simply reading from a textbook. One thought that comes up is, it technology really that trustworthy that we should be teaching future generations solely on computers or should some of the traditional ideals in teaching still stay such as reading Dickens from a book. Should the traditional way of teaching die and allow the teaching of the future to lead the way. Not only this but what will happen to those people who are unable to afford a technology based education. Will they be unable to take part in university or many of the other studies that would rely on computers? It is these questions that are brought up when reading the article Digital natives and Digital immigrants. Question Are we stopping future generations from appreciating the past by completely ridding their education of the book?


There is always diversity in a group. This must be known and understood.

Blooms Taxonomy!

Benjamin Bloom created this taxonomy for categorizing level of abstraction of questions that commonly occur in educational settings. The taxonomy provides a useful structure in which to categorize test questions, since professors will characteristically ask questions within particular levels, and if you can determine the levels of questions that will appear on your exams, you will be able to study using appropriate strategies.

1. 
   Knowledge: arrange, define, duplicate, label, list, memorize, name, order, recognize, relate, recall, repeat, reproduce state.
2. 
   Comprehension: classify, describe, discuss, explain, express, identify, indicate, locate, recognize, report, restate, review, select, translate,
3. 
   Application: apply, choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, practice, schedule, sketch, solve, use, write.
4. 
   Analysis: analyze, appraise, calculate, categorize, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test.
5. 
   Synthesis: arrange, assemble, collect, compose, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, manage, organize, plan, prepare, propose, set up, write.
6. 
   Evaluation: appraise, argue, assess, attach, choose compare, defend estimate, judge, predict, rate, core, select, support, value, evaluate.

My view: Blooms taxonomy allows us to have a set of steps to stick to when discussing different ideas. These six steps mean there is an opportunity to break up our ideas and place them into categories. As stated above this taxonomy creates a way for students to study correctly for exam questions as well as analysing different points. This blog was made a lot easier to do by the fact we had the 6 steps in front of us.It enabled us to follow the steps and create an entry suitable for an academic blog. In my future learning spaces i will ensure all my students understand the taxonomy and when to apply the different points. This will allow them to understand the content correctly.

Piaget's Points

Piaget!


http://www.funderstanding.com/piaget.cfm
this website discusses Piaget's history and goes into detail of his four stages of development.

1. Sensorimotor stage (birth - 2 years old)
2. Preoperational stage (ages 2-7)--
3. Concrete operations (ages 7-11)--
4. Formal operations (beginning at ages 11-15)

MY THOUGHTS ON PIAGET

I tend to disagree with some of Piagets thoughts. This could be because i tend to agree with Vygotsky more. I struggle to see how we can place students learning abilities into stages when it is quite obvious that people learn in their own time. Why is it that Piaget is so famous? i'm sure many other people came up with learning strategies. But is Piaget more famous becasue he actually gave people the oportunity to categorise learning types. This is an issue to research more on. Thats not to say that Piaget doesn't offer some extremely valid points on teaching methods as well as learning strategies.

Vygotsky!

Lev Vygotsky, born in the U.S.S.R. in 1896, is responsible for the social development theory of learning. He proposed that social interaction profoundly influences cognitive development. Central to Vygotsky's theory is his belief that biological and cultural development do not occur in isolation (Driscoll, 1994).

• http://chd.gmu.edu/immersion/knowledgebase/theorists/constructivism/vygotsky.htm this document discusses Vygotskys theory and its relevance to education.
  


• Vygotsky and Social Cognition Definition The social cognition learning model asserts that culture is the prime determinant of individual development. Humans are the only species to have created culture, and every human child develops in the context of a culture. Therefore, a child's learning development is affected in ways large and small by the culture--including the culture of family environment--in which he or she is enmeshed.


• http://www.funderstanding.com/vygotsky.cfm

My View: I agree strongly with Vygotsky's theory of social interaction. As a party host i was able to see how children were able to help each other rather than asking an adult. By one child teaching another that other child then past there skills on. From this i have learnt that group work in every single of my lessons will play an important role in in my teaching strategies. This will mean there will be peer on peer learning rather than an authority figure constantly teaching them.

Glassers Points

Glasser's main theories include Choice theory and reality therapy. These theories take into account Glasser's five points.


Glasser's five needs

1. Survival


2. love


3. power


4. freedom


5. fun.

Choice Theory posits the existence of a "Quality World" in which, starting at birth and continuing throughout our lives, we place those things that we highly value: primarily the people who are important to us, things we prize, and systems of belief, i.e. religion, cultural values and icons, etc. Glasser also posits a "Comparing Place" in which we compare the world we experience with our Quality World. We behave to achieve as best we can a real world experience consonant with our Quality World.

Choice Theory involves 10 points: http://raider.muc.edu/~schnelpl/Control%20Theory%20-%20Overhead.html

My view: I agree strongly with Glaser's 5 points. This is because i find it quite obvious that all people have a thirst for survival, power etc. When this thirst is quenched then people have a level of satisfaction. Glasser has allowed teachers to have the opportunity to know why exactly their students are acting out and what can be done to help them. Eg: The need for survival. A teacher may see a child acting out because they have had no breakfast, and so a teacher may be able to organise some nourishment.

The idea of a quality world allows us to understand the child's past experiences and how they compare there experiences today with those of the past. I am interested to witness this idea of a 'quality world' during my prac teaching as well as how the students compare my lessons to their other teachers that fit into there quality world.

Points on Hattie

Hattie is most famous for his sixteen points.
As well as his table of effect. Which discusses the effect his ideas. have when they are introduced into schools.

• Microsoft PowerPoint - John Hattie's ppt slides res conf 05.ppt. This PowerPoint discusses what influences play the largest role in schooling



• Top of Hattie's list is feedback.

My view: For up and coming teachers Hattie's 16 points should be the most important and influential ideas/theories that are referred to. The idea of Feedback is sometimes overlooked by many teachers however, feedback should be made available for students and parents whenever they ask. From my experience at school i found that not enough feedback was given to myself or even to my parents. A simple 5 minute interview during parent teacher night isn't enough to discuss a students achievements over a 2 term period. Therefore in my opinion feedback should be given at least once a week Whether it be a discussion with the student or a phone call home to the parents. This will allow all parties to understand the level at which the student is at.