Week 2 - Digital Learning Frameworks

I used Text2MindMap to create a mind map of the key elements of my chosen framework.

Upon researching and reading about the Big 6 process model and Engagement Theory I found that I related quite easily to aspects of both frameworks, which made it difficult for me to decide which one suited me and my digital learning the most. After creating a mind map of both frameworks, I realised that I understood and related to Engagement Theory more so than the Big 6 model.

The Engagement theory is an authentic framework which focuses on technology based teaching and learning. It outlines that the "students must be meaningfully engaged in learning activities through interactions with others" (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999) through tasks that incorporate levels of creating, problem solving, reasoning, decision making and evaluation.

As outlined in the above mind map, this particular framework is very much based on collaboration which is one of the main aspects that appealed to me the most about this framework. This component of collaboration is evident amongst peers and also a community of learners - which in today's technologically advanced society could quite possibly mean an online community of bloggers.... :-)

Because this is a 'real' framework and can be easily related to real world issues, it encompasses an element of positivity towards technology outlining the "positive role that technology can play in human interaction and evolution" (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999). I believe that this is definitely something that is needed in today's classroom and if teachers have a positive mindset about technology then this framework is essential to follow and perhaps implement.

When engaging in the Engagement Theory I could identify how much it related to other teaching frameworks, particularly the Marzano & Pickering's Dimensions of Learning (2006) which also has focuses on student engagement, interaction and collaboration. There are many possible learning activities that could be designed based around this framework, especially activities that promote student engagement through positive interactions with others - like small group work, problem solving activities and activities that relate to student's interests in general.

I am interested in what my fellow peers think about the Engagement Theory and Big 6 Process Model, as I am open to new perspectives on each :-)

References:
Marzano, R. J., & Pickering, D. J. (2006). Dimensions of Learning Teacher's Manual. Victoria: Hawker Brownlow Education.

Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999, May 4). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology based learning and teaching.
Retrieved July 24, 2010, from:
http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Digital Tool 2 - Concept Map

My Concept Map - very effective and engaging tool....

I found it easier to create a draft of my map on a piece of paper first, so I could physically see what I wanted my end result to look like. I really enjoyed positioning and colour coding each concept the way I wanted to and was quite pleased with how successful the finished product was :-)

I strongly believe that utilising this particular tool in the classroom would be very effective for both the students and the learning manager. It would be an engaging learning tool for all year levels as you could adapt and change how and why you use the tool according to the outcomes you want to achieve. For example, when a lower year level is focused on, a simple concept map using a variety of appealing colours would assist in an intial brainstorming activity. For a higher year level, each student could create their own map with a bit of earlier stimulation from the teacher about a particular topic.

After viewing my peers concepts maps, I did initially become quite overwhelmed with how complicated and time consuming this digital tool appeared. However, after satisfying my curiously and creating my own concept map using Bubbl.us I soon discovered how easy and engaging this tool is...

Week 1 - Multiple Intelligences & Learning Styles

Multiple Intelligences:
After completing the online Multiple Intelligences quiz I discovered that I was a close mix of 'Linguistic' and 'Intrapersonal' smart.

I was not suprised at this particular result because I know that as a person I love to work and just be by myself more than normal. I have always enjoyed the peace and serenity I feel when I am alone. I still love to have company, but I'm the type of person that thrives on being independent.

I find, as I get older and discover for myself who I am as a person, that I feel most comfortable expressing myself through the use of words. I personally love to write how I feel and find it much easier to use words to let the people around me know how I feel and who I am. I would rather write a letter than talk on the phone any day!

As a future learning manager, I can see how useful this tool would be to utilise in the classroom to find out on a more deeper level how each learner in my class views the world and essentially learns. I could easily embrace the results I discover to further enrich the learning experiences for the students in my class, as well as allowing them to find out who they are as a person and how they learn.

Learning Styles:

I found that the Learning Styles Inventory quiz asked very similar questions to the Multiple Intelligences quiz. My results indicated that the style I use most is 'Solitary' which to me, was very much like the 'Intrapersonal' style of the Multiple Intellligences. However, I was surprised to realise that the second style I use most often was 'Social' which made me think "how can I love to work alone, yet love to work in groups nearly as much?" This made me ponder just how I learn. Do I prefer to work alone or in groups? Then I thought, well perhaps I enjoy to work in groups to gather a wider range of perspectives and points of view and then like to figure out, alone, what I know based on what I have learnt through group work and my peers.

In a typical classroom of 25 students, I believe that there are so many opportunitites that can arise from the varying learning styles that would be identifiable amongst the students. By having an evident amount of diversity of social, solitary, visual etc learners I could provide learning experiences that would focus on including activities suitable for each learning style. Visual learners, for example, would thrive on learning a new concept through incorporating the use of technology because they would be learning through 'seeing' the concept in front of them.

Due to today's generation of students being brought up as 'digital natives' in such a quick-paced modern world, it would be quite vital for the learning manager to plan and implement learning experiences that incorporate ICT's as frequently as possible, because each learning style whether visual, aural, verbal, physical or solitary can be accounted for in the classroom due to the large variety of technology that is available.

I cant wait to see what is created within the next 5 to10 years!! The opportunities are endless....

Week 1 - Welcome to Blogging Hannah....

Upon being introduced to the Managing E-Learning course my head has been spinning with a range of words I had only ever heard and never really spoke of - blogging being one of them.
To me, the purpose of blog can vary from person to person depending on the topics or tools you are exploring and reflecting upon. I really like the fact that a blog can be so expressive in the most simplest ways just by writing, uploading an image or creating your own unique space. Being brought up in such a tecnhnologically advanced world, I am familiar with the functionalities of most technologies including facebook, msn messenger etc. However, it was not until engaging with this course that I have realised how useful a blog can be in many learning contexts. I like the 'atmosphere' of the blogging world and how each of us embraces and engages differently with each tool and how we then work collaboratively and contribute to eachother's opinions and ideas accordingly.