11-21-10 Visual Thinking Strategies

Blog Post: 11/21/2010:

How can visual literacy and the use of the Internet impact the teaching and learning process in the classroom? What are some visual-thinking strategies you would like to use in your classroom? What role do you want the Internet play in your classroom?

Visual learning is one key concept to technology and literacy in the classroom. This week we learned many new strategies in visual learning and how students learn through visualization in many different modalities in the classroom. I really associated myself with the following; "There are many ways teachers can teach visual literacy though technology. From the moment students turn on the television or computer, they enter the world of imagery, where they are constantly making assumptions and creating expereinces that will impact their learning. By allowing students to create their own visual images, teachers are allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge and critical-thinking skills at a deeper level." (Weekly reading,http://angel02.gcu.edu/section/default.asp?id=826082).

I use a gaming strategy to promote visual literacy. We start with unit one in history Geography and students are allowed to choose between six game types and then they are able to develop their game using characters they make and their game must use every topic in the units we learn to develop their character and game (actually, they develop a travel expedition. They must use one scenario and place it in their game for each unit they can edit the challenge for their character to a point and they watch as the game they are making come alive before their very eyes). This type of visual learning allows students to connect the curriculum to a "real world" scenario which allows more effective learning to come to the forefront in my classroom. Furthermore, it allows at the end for students to receive a CD of their game which they can keep forever.

In addition to the gaming scenario my student are enriched by an online website at www.historyto1877.com to allow for everyday access to the internet, blogging, powerpoint slide presentations, and feedback to me about their learning experiences.

I really appreciated this unit of study because it brought together some of the subject matter I know but it also allowed me to learn about new technology offerings for my students.

Cheers,

Jeff

Week 2 Response - 11/07/2010

Week 2: I have been asked to describe the importance of the using a variety of instructional strategies and the value they add to education of students in the 21st Century. Evaluate the role technology plays in the implementation of various instructional strategies. How will this impact your teaching of students?

It is important to utilize many different learning styles to effectively engage all student learners. Many students may be visual learners, while others may be kinesthetic or others auditory. The key is that students come with a variety of mindsets, learning styles, and environmental challenges. The key is to be an effective educator is to embed technology into effective instructional strategies such as; direct and indirect instruction, independent study, interactive study, and experiential study. What is key for every teacher in developing effective strategies within their practice is that, the last decades of research in human learning have presented new insights into the ways that learners are active in constructing their own understanding. Constructivist learning theories have shown the limitations of viewing 'learning' as something we can 'give' to students that they will 'receive' or learn in exactly the same form, at exactly the given time." (CLassroom Curriculum Connections: A Teacher's Handbook for Personal-Professional Growth; Saskatchewan Education, 2001, (P30).

The Constructivist view will effect the way I approach instruction and plan for student success; but it has also provided effective ways in developing student centered activities in my instruction--namely technology. My classroom has been transformed from a highly traditional class to a 21st century technology rich classroom. Technology is not a standalone way in-which to challenge, motivate, and effectively teach students for success but it does provide a pathway into effective connections to life experiences for students and their life learning processes. So my current lesson plan and strategies as a history teacher has drastically changed, please see attached unit lesson.