Week 1 e-Learning Activities

EA 1
I am more of an active leaner, however I sometimes tend to procrastinate (reflect) on how I am going to get to the end result. This is often due to the level of confidence I have in my own ability. I need to be stimulated and engaged with an activity to fully understand what I am trying to learn or achieve.
Based on this I believe my combination is an active reflector.

The learning experiences that would best suit me are practical and hands on activities. I need to talk-out loud and be involved  in group activities. I need to constantly stop and re-read to absorb content. I don't particularly like sitting still listening to someone waffling on. It is boring and after a while I completely switch off.

Understanding and identifying each type of learning style, structuring lessons to try include a variety of practical, repetitive, factual, diagrammatic and auditory experiences. Splitting up the class into sections an mixing up the various learning styles, so that collaboratively they are experiencing each other strengths.

To support my learners better (with my current lack of ICT knowledge), it would have to be colourful and interesting and engaging to grab the children's attention.

Profiling is something I need to learn how to do, as I am unsure of the types of questions that need to be asked. I would think that I would have to establish their likes and dislikes, also their interests.

To support differences in learning styles there are interactive games that get children thinking quickly, visual stimulation, individual or collaborative work, and access to the world.

Even in this first week, I have learnt so much. At the moment however it tends to be a little jumbled. However I can clearly see why ICT plays and important part in today's learning not only for the early stages, but for everyday education and life in general.


EA 2 Multiple Intelligences
I have taken the multiple intelligences test and here is my result.

Mmmm! No surprises here. I need to see, do, and talk about what I am learning (or in other words EDI (have it explained, demonstrated & immitated)). I need to be actively engaged and interact. However at the moment, this being my first week it is very onerous.

EA 3
Prensky's view point makes some sense, however I cannot believe that if all students who are not offered some form of digital learning are going to be enraged.
Today's learners want to be involved. Have more input in discussions and are prepared to share their learning experiences with each other. There is much substance to the catergorisation of 'digital native' and 'digital immigrant'. I am an immigrant. There are times I find myself struggling to grasp certain concepts, however my four year old daughter can play Mario Kart on the Wii with precision as she is a 'native'.

There are certainly places for interactive digital learning in the classroom, however due to a range of circumstances not all children have access to digital technology and therefore may not be enraged as they are being engaged in other ways.  I don't believe that in our current society there is much substance to Prensky's agrument. He has put the cart before the horse.

EA 4 Connectivism
With the way the world is changing, becoming more reliant digital technology. I don't entirely agree with these authors. Students generally know how to fnd the information they are seeking. However there are times when everybody needs help. We all need a source (teacher) to show us where to look and guide us. We need a refernce point. There is a lot more to learn today than there ever was. I know from my own experience that we are expected to keep on top of workloads, utilising multi-tasking skills. We don't always have the answers, and it is more important that we become self-reliant and KNOW WHERE to find information. Isn't this RECALL?

I can cleary identify with Siemen's point of view. I beleive in connectivism. It is the collaboration of the learning theories; behaviorism, cognitivism & constructivism.

Ways I could use this theory in the classroom would be to have children access learing mateials via the internet. Teachers are an integral part of our learning experiences. Going to school each day and interacting with student and teachers, forms part of our social learning, this cannot be gained from on-line sources only.