Chad West's blog

What is learning?  If knowledge can be represented in 3 ways: iconic, enactive, and symbolic, then it seems that learning takes place in three ways: iconic enactive and symbolic.  I think that any time we find another way to represent our understanding of the world around us we have found another way to learn.  And another way to teach for that matter.

What is learning?

I like the idea that learning involves acquiring a new skill or tool.  What's the point of learning if we can't use the knowledge in real life?  Skills and tools go hand-in-hand.  As educators, we are trying to arm our students with the skills and tools necessary to succeed in life.  And there is more to life than high-school.  As they enter their occupation, they will become apprentices and either sink or swim. 

Learning definitely involves acquiring a new skill or tool.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?

Topic: Can virtual math manipulatives improve student achievement?

A math manipulative is an object that is designed so that a student can learn some mathematical concept by manipulating it. Math manipulatives have been around for centuries. Countless studies show that they help students can connect the concrete and abstract by the use of manipulatives. There is a new type of manipulative. The names include: virtual math manipulatives, virtual manipulatives, or interactive math tools. This new type of manipulative is generated on the computer and manipulated by way of the mouse. Students can now manipulate the concrete expressions of even more abstract math concepts.

Some questions to consider concerning these new tools are:

What are virtual manipulatives?

How did they come about?

What are the different types of virtual manipulatives?

     We had parent-teacher conferences last week.  A few parents let me know that they wanted their child to be more active in participating in class.  They wondered if their child ever asked for help in class.  I answered accordingly for each student.  The parents' comments and this week's reading really made me think about my classroom.  I tried to think if my classroom was a classroom where the students felt comfortable enough to raise their hand and ask questions.  I performed a self-evaluation about what I do that helps them to ask questions and what I do that helps them to avoid help-seeking.

    I was eating out with my family and I couldn't help but listen in to another conversation.  Two mothers were speaking about their children.  One mother said that her son had taken some math class for a second time this year from a different teacher.  She told her friend that this second teacher was so much better than the first.  "She could just explain the material so much better," she said.  As she said this, I thought of Piaget's stages.  I thought that this student had been taught the same material two times.  He had two separate experiences in learning.  I wondered what would have happened if the teachers had been switched.  What if the first teacher had the second chance to teach, and what if the second teacher had the first trial run to teach the student.  (I hope that made sense.)  After the student had two doses of the class and had progressed in his development, I'm sure that he was more reClick here to read more »