Final Learning Log

What: So while taking the quiz my mind was thinking duh these are easy answers. However, as I got farther in the quiz it became some what hard for me to pick an answer. Some questions I was hoping for a 4! However at the end my results were as follows: B's (behaviorism) 38 points, C's (Cognitivism or Social Cognitivism) 39 points, and H's (higher order of thinking) 38 points. It seems to me that I feel all of these are important to the students learning. I think that while looking at the behaviorism questions and theory it has become apparent to me that it doesn't just mean "how does the student act". This theory relies on students being engaged and learning. If the student is engaged they are less likely to have behavioral problems. Cognitivism focuses on the interactions for the students. How do they cope in different environments, how do they learn and when do students learn the best. Higher order thinking occurs when a student can be totally develop not only cognitively but also socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. A student can figure many ways to solve problems and often times "teach" themselves.

So What: My personal theory on how people learn varies. Every person has a different way to learn. I feel everyone learns differently and can interpret a concept differently. However, I feel people can learn the best when they are engaged using fun hands on learning techniques. Most often it seems people can learn the best by doing the task or learning through a peer and own experiences. I feel people also learn best when presented with "facts","group learning" and many compliments and encouraging words. Giving students the motivation to learn is a key factor to learning, in my opinion. It is also important to help students organize their thinking by teaching them general concepts before they learn more specific information. The students can learn the best when they have the opportunity to observe an demonstrate an example of what is being taught.

Now What:I think I will try to incorporate these theories into my classroom by holding classroom meeting every morning to see how the students thought the day before went. I hope this would eventually promote higher order of thinking as well as encourage students and start helping them to see what goals are and create personal goals and not only classroom goals. I feel that my students would learn best by experiencing what we are talking about. I will use the arts to engage the students in what is being taught. Use dance, singing, drama, fine arts etc. This is a great way for students to express themselves and obtain critical information. I also would like to have the good compliment sheet in the classroom. This will enable every student to see what they are good at weekly. I still have to think that one through a little more I would want students to compliment each other but that can get kinda tricky. I would like to purchase a few books in educational psychology, I like to read an I think I could obtain a lot of good teaching and discipline techniques. I also would like to learn more about the brain...very intriguing. An area I need to work on is recognizing a behavior problem and fixing it. Making sure I understand the situation and to resolve it, not shove it aside. I need to review techniques for handling those situations.