Activity 2 - PLN

The acronym PLN (personal learning network) was new for me as well as web 2.0. In a way, I already use some of the web tools. I have used blogger, youtube, myspace. I have used blogger for educational purposes which have helped me learn to create it and use it. PLN can be defined as a strategy to create one’s own learning. Throughout this, we can start not only socializing but also commenting about educational topics or themes of or interest. I’m pretty sure students would like to have web 2.0 tools in the class. However, I would have first become adept to these tools to use them appropriately and usefully in my class. Some of the tools I would start are: twitter (it’s kind of the trend right now), metacafe (to get to know each other out of the classroom). Nevertheless, I still have to plan the way I can use them so that it works out. It may not be really difficult to be part of the outline PLN, but still I consider it a challenge, so I’m excited about it

Regards,

Malú

Personal Learning Network (PLN)

Activity 1 - Reflection


The school that I work for looks for new and innovative tools or activities where students can use technology. However, there is not such a thing for teachers. We, teachers, do receive training related to teaching strategies, evaluation, etc, but this training does not really involve technology. The technology I’ve learned to use has been because I observe and detect what students are using or looking for to learn. Then I try to use that technology to become familiarized so that I can integrate it with my students in the class. Nevertheless, due to the time I have with students, sometimes it is really difficult to include some technology in the class. Furthermore, the school has banned some of the web 2.0 tools such as facebook, msn, etc. This issue limits in a way integrating some technology in my lessons. Regarding the technology I use, I only use facebook, msn, moodle (educational purposes) most of the time. When I need material such as visuals, I use youtube, google.

Help

Alex, I need your help because I tried to copy - paste my info but when it appears here it looks terrible...can you help out please!!!!!!!

Question 3 - Seven Models of Distance Education

Hi Alex, my third question

What are the seven models of distance education and what is each one about?


1. Preparación para un examen = Exam Preparation
a. Self-learning
b. The university applys the exam
c. If the exam is passed, the student receives his diploma


2. Educación por Correspondencia = Correspondence Education
a. It´s the oldest
b. Distance learning
c. It’s similar to the Exam Preparation Model
d. Written texts are given to the students
e. Assignments are checked by the school
f. Regular correspondence between the student and school


3. Medios (masivos) Múltiple = Multiple Mass Media
a. Printed material along with radio and TV
b. Distance learning
c. Contributes to the open school system


4. Educación Grupal a Distancia = Group Distance Education
a. Uses radio and TV mainly to transmit conferences given by teachers
b. Conferences are watched or heard obligatory by students
c. Those students discuss the information, do their assignments and take their exams
d. No printed material, but notes


5. Estudiante Autónomo = Self – taught Learner
a. Independent learning
b. Students establish objectives, aims; select the contents, strategies and measure their achievement
c. Individual sessions with a tutor


6. Educación a Distancia Basada en Redes = Web-based Distance Education
a. Digital learning
b. Updated technology and devices
c. Take seminars, workshops, assessments, group discussion boards or platforms
d. New learning methods by searching, judging, evaluating, changing, etc
e. Self-learning when investigating


7. Enseñanza por Extensión Tecnológica del Aula = Classroom Technological Extension Learning
a. Cable or satellites are used to teach different groups
b. More economic
c. Presence Distance Teaching


References: Peters, O. (2002). La Educación a Distancia. Nuevas Tendencias y Retos

I'll be waiting for your comments

Question 2 - Five Perspectives of Teaching

Hi Alex, this is the second question:



1. What do each of the five perspectives of teaching mean or represent? In your opinion, which one is the best and why?


Pratt in Bates and Pool (2003) presents five perspectives which according to some studies help teachers identify their teaching panoramas.



Teaching Perspectives:

• Transmission:
  Conveying adequate content and make sure students master it
• Apprenticeship:
  Teacher’s management of the content and immersion of the students’ learning
• Developmental
  Identifying students’ reasoning in any content and evolving complex cognitive structures
• Nurturing
  Motivating students and creating a trustable environment to achieve anything
• Social Reform
  Encouraging students to take critical attitudes to make feel ready to take social action to improve their own lives and the lives of others
  

To pick out one of the perspectives may be really difficult. In my opinion, the content and activities planned the same as the teacher’s personality and students will define which of those perspectives will have a higher usage. As I have already said in question number one, there must be a balance or complement among the teaching perspectives to reach any objective set. As Bates and Pool (2003) argue “Different perspectives are likely to be influenced by the teacher’s epistemological position and views on how students best learn” (p. 42)



In this link, there is a questionnaire which can help us discover the perspective we use the most:
http://teachingperspectives.com/html/tpi_frames.htm

“The Teaching Perspectives Inventory can help you collect your thoughts and summarize your ideas about teaching. It can be useful in examining your own teaching as well as helping clarify the teaching views of other people”.


I couldn´t add my chart, but I aready completed the questions.
I'll be waiting for your comments Alex

Question 1 - Three Theories of Learning

Hi Alex, this is the first question

1. What are the three theories of learning? In your opinion, which is the best and why?

Behaviorism: This theory of learning is related mainly to a stimulus-response association. In other words, it focuses on observable conducts shown after any stimuli. It is thought that this theory of learning can measure attitudes or manners just by observing the responses. However, according to Bates and Pool (2003), “most behavior is more complex” (p.31)

Cognitivism: How knowledge is constructed in the human’s mind. Experiences and actions are built and changed inside of the mind to construct learning. Bates and Pool (2003) mention that “Cognitivists insist that there are mental processes – internal and conscious representations of the world – that are essential for human learning” (p.32)

The Social Construction of Knowledge: It is constructed by the society or anything that surrounds the human. It has a constant change due to the divers adaptations that society has.


I wouldn´t say that one of those is the best. Our society nowadays, requires changes by itself. However, a human can not only adopt the changes without being guided. Behaviorism and Cognitivism complement a conscious learning of what any person embraces and experiences in his daily life. There must be a balance and a combination among those three learning theories to avoid an incomplete acquirement of knowledge. If the Social Construction of Knowledge is having a huge impact on humans recently then this theory has to be exploded but combined with others to make it more effective.

Any comment?

Welcome

Hi eveybody, welcome to my blog. I'll be using my blog as a group discussion board to share information, comments, etc related to my masters.

Sincerely Malú