A learner is like technology, if they are not interested in it and it is not easy for them to understand, then they do not want anything to do with it. Like technology for us as adults, when some new type of technology comes out if it is not interesting to us or easy for us to understand how to use it, then we don't want anything to do with it. Teachers need to strive to make lessons more interesting to students rather that just note taking, reading, and homework. If a new topic is introduced to a student and it is made to seem interesting and taught in a way that the student will understand it then they will want to learn it, but if it is boring and dry they shut down and tune out the teacher. An important point that George Siemens makes in his article on Connectivism is that "Informal learning is a significant aspect of our learning experience. Formal education no longer comprises the majority of our learning. Learning now occurs in a variety of ways – through communities of practice, personal networks, and through completion of work-related tasks." Students need to be engaged and interested in order to learn and that is not done through formal learning like it used to be. Students need to practice and do hands on to learn, not be tested over and over again until they get it. Another good point George Siemens brings up in his video called the Network is the Learning is "The way we are connected to other individuals is largely responsible for our ability to continue to stay current in the field." If students get to communicate and connect with other students about what they are learning they are more likely to understand what is going on than just with the teacher telling them. There is so much information out there that we are not all going to get it all the time but through communication with others that can help greatly. Other individuals may help make it more interesting for them and sometimes easier to understand.
References:
The Network is the Learning http://www.youtube.com/watchv=rpbkdeyFxZw&feature=PlayList&p=3E43054A8703F57A&index=4
Retrieved September 15, 2009
Krystina-
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy and very interesting topics discussed. It is definitely true that we need to make our lessons interesting and exciting for our students so they want to learn more. I think even we have had our teachers throughout high school and college that have made us "shut down" and not want to learn...never fun!
Great post! I thought your points were very interesting. I especially agree with you on making your lessons more interesting and engaging. Especially at the secondary level, it is vital to keep students engaged and eagor to learn! I am sure you are doing a great job up in the high school working with the SmartBoards!
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteTry expanding a bit more with the analogy. A learner is like....what exactly.
Technology is such a broad concept with mulitple meanings. Think of a math methaphor or a cheerleading metaphor.
A learner is like a math manipulative ...
Or a learner is like a flawed routine...
Keep me posted.
A learner is like a routine in cheerleading, it takes lots of practice to get what you want. Learners just don't learn something the first try usually and if they do they do not have it perfected right away. With cheerleading routines, it takes a long time to make it perfect. Once everyone in the group has it nailed it is much easier to practice and run through over and over again, which is like a learner in the classroom with other students. Until every student in the class has it perfect it is hard for the teacher to move on because someone is always lost. Once everyone gets it things can be reviewed quickly and move through much faster.
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