Dear room 4 parents,
Welcome to room 4’s online blog that is also a place where you the parents can post questions, concerns and ideas. This is where I’ll keep you updated. As you know, technology has become such an important and vital part of our lives and most importantly in our schools and classrooms. I am writing to ask for your assistance and involvement in raising money or resources to incorporate more technology into our classrooms at the same time providing our students greater educational opportunities.
As some of you might be skeptical, hesitant, or plainly concerned about technology use in the classroom and it is comprehensible. However, there are greater advantages of using technology in the classroom. Technology enhances critical thinking, team work, tolerance of similarities and differences, and career success. As our society has become much more digitally oriented, it is important for our students to acquire technological skills to help them prepare for future careers. It is also critical help our American students to become technologically competent in order to compete with nations.
Let me get you acquainted with two prominent technological theories as they would help in determining the use of technology in our classrooms. Please click on learning theory that will help you to acquire basic information in our educational learning theories.
Directed learning theory sees learning happens when knowledge is transmitted to people who store it in their minds (Robley, 2006, p. 37). The theory sees teaching should be directed, systematic and structure and teacher-centered Constructivists believe in hands-on activities and knowledge is constructed (Robley, 2006, p. 37). Unlike directed learning, constructivists see teachers as knowledge providers who allow hands-on activities in which students generate their own knowledge. If you want to find out more about these theories, please click on this link.
For example, I can use direct learning through verbally instruct students how to create an email account, provide necessary learning materials such as printouts, and hope students to pass the test. Using constructive learning theory, I will direct students through the use of a projector, steps by steps, and allow them time to follow along. I’ll also make sure each; if possible, student has a computer to work on. I’ll allow creativity in the process.
Parents, please help us in making this fundraising a successful one. Please keep in mind your child’s educational success and opportunities depend on your enthusiasm and efforts. Additionally, please remember this blog is where I’ll update any educational information and it should be where you feel comfortable discussed your ideas, questions or concerns.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is an assignment for an educational technology course at National University. It is not a real fundraising blog.
References
Robley, M (2006). Integrating educational technology into
Teaching. (4 ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.
Smith, M. K. (1999). Learning theory. The encyclopedia of informal
education. Retrieved from www.infed.org/biblio/b-learn.htm
Stiffler, G. (2006). Overview of Directed and Constructivist Models
of Learning Theories Greg Stiffler's Online Teaching Portfolio.
Retrieved from http://tiger.towson.edu/~gstiff1/theory.htm
