learning
What is learning Nov. 9th: Situated cognition
What is learning? Acquiring new information or skills but through activity and a context. The heart of situated cognition is that the learner readily applies knowledge at it is acquired: he or she learns by doing. I agree that school is too often boring, too easy, and unapplicable to life because the kids are simply fed information that has nothing to do with anything. Example: in Spanish I could certainly give my students worksheets and have them translate sentences but after one sentence of Mario ________ (ir) al Mexico the kids want to pull their hair out, or mine as the case may be.
Click here to read more »What is learning Oct. 19
Learning is acquiring a new skill or knowledge. As we read this week, the learning is easier when the motivation is right. I am currently working on losing weight, If this does not sound like learning to you, give it a shot: there is a lot of learning! Anyway, from June through September I was in a weight loss contest as well as being a member of Weight Watchers. Each competitor put up $10, with a total of 11 members, so $110 bucks. I am not sure why but I fixated on that prize and I did not let go! Well, okay, a couple of times I was less than disciplined but for the most part I was determined and I followed my Weight Watchers plan. I was so motivated by that prize! Plus, the weekly accomplishments kept me going in the right direction; they served as reinforcement along the way, keeping me going. You can guess who won the money, Oh yeah, it was me! And I was so happy!Click here to read more »
The Digital Melting Pot: Bridging the Digital Native-Immigrant Divide
Over the past decade or two a term has been generated and passed around the educational field. Teachers are noting their students can run computers, and all computer "things" at a very young age and seem to live, eat, and breathe technology. The teachers themselves may feel at a loss, or even stupid, by comparison. Thus, a belief has been growing and it is that the children entering and passing through our schools now are technological superiors and the educators inferior. Also, many educators assume that education must be reformed to suit the current generation's penchant for all things digital.
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