There was a lot of good information in this week's DVD with Dr. Orey leading the way for both sections. The second one about the virtual field trip entitled "Spotlight on Technology" was a lot more of just watching the lesson unfold in its entirety as opposed to "Cognitive Learning Theories" where Dr. Orey sat and spoke more. I enjoyed the point that Dr. Orey made regarding forgetting information after it has been stored in the long-term memory. He said that you don't forget the information itself, but rather, the connection; how to get to that information in the long-term memory. That made sense to me and he made another good point when he mentioned that it should be the goal of educators to get students to store as much information into that long-term memory as possible.
What bothers me the most is that both classrooms used in the DVD as examples were fully equipped with top of the line equipment / technology and one even had teacher aides. This is in now way accurate to the school that I teach at. If we are lucky, we can sign out a projector on a limited basis. One lady had walls lined with computers, a laptop, a top of the line smart board and even a sexy cart to set the laptop on. I was jealous that all of her desks matched and didn't have permanent carvings in them. One year, if all of my students were present for fifth bell, three students had to sit on the ground. Can you imagine? Pathetic.
What was I supposed to be discussing? Damn. Sorry. Hard for me to avoid the inaccuracy of their published DVD examples of a classroom to that of my own. I enjoyed Paivio's dual coding theory and agree that people tend to remember images much better than text. I am constantly saying "I may remember them when I see them" or something to that regards. Dr. Orey mentions that this theory also correlates smell and other senses with both the image and some type of label (code). One of the best things that I can paraphrase from Dr. Orey this week is when he stated that images were some of the most powerful tools a teacher can use in their classroom (Laureate Education, 2008).
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program five. Cognitive Learning Theory [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program six. Spotlight on Technology [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore: Author.
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I can not understand how you are frustrated that you do not have all the resources that you need to follow all the examples in the video. I am blessed to be able to have the use of technology at my finger tip. I know that at times it might get frustrating because you are held to the same standards as other school districts that have all the technology at their finger tips. I am not sure that you have a state test where you live but I know that in Ohio where I teach we have a test that we are held accountable for. The lower income school districts are the ones that do not pass the tests and yet they are held at the same standards as the school districts that are given all the resources. I know it is at times backwards in that the schools that are not successful are those without the "extras". Yet they are not given any help.
ReplyDeleteI did though like the resources this week and I do think that images are powerful tools so that the students can remember what is being taught. That way students can make the connections needed to remember information.
I completely relate to you about not having technology so available as in the DVD. I was fortunate to have a promethean board for the past semester, but moving grades and classrooms I will lose that.(Hoepfully I will get one this coming year). Before last Christmas though I was lucky to get our laptop cart once a week, and that they would all work for thrity minutes. I hope that someday all students will be in classrooms like those on the DVD.
ReplyDeleteHow can you not understand my frustration Deidson? I acknowledge your comments if you are suggesting me to be optimistic but it is a tough pill to swallow when you know you are doing the students a disservice and can't do much to change it. I know the hollywood answer to this is what Gandhi once said, "be the change that you would want to see in the world." However, reality has to set in a little and realize that we have a very big mountain to climb in regards to funding education and I hope that changes will be made. Like you mentioned, there are many schools that are without that are held to the same standards as those with. Thanks for your comments!!!
ReplyDeleteMarkeeta, I completely share your optimism and hope that one day all students will have the same opportunities as those blessed students in the DVD.