Neuroscience

The focus on educational technology is to use the right tools so the studenrt learner can be able to understand the material.One of the aspects of being an teacher is developing the skills needed to organize and present a set of concepts to a classroom Mathematics is one of those tools that makes students to analyze and break down a problem.Students abalyze the giveb problem and then select a aproblem solving technique. This eventually lease to the students tackling real world issues and providing solutions to those questions.Problem solving involves decision-making skills that are necessary for an individual to learn,It is unbelievable we only use ten percent of our brain."We are making use of only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources" (from The Energies of Men, p. 12).What are some tools or techniques you use in the classroom to sti,ulate the student learner?

Motivation Theories

This chapter discusses the theories of motivation and the drive that fuels us in many different ways. Once we need the basic needs of life, such as food,water, and shelter then we can continue to nourish our mind and body with additional resources.According to Maslow, people want to be held in esteem both by themselves and by others.After we have attained the other traits then we try to reach a higher level of accomplishment.Self actualization is the highest desire we as humans desire and strive for.An example of that is my younger brother, who strives to be the best at his level. He has 2 Bachelors and 2 Masters and is working on his PHD. What motivates him is different than what motivates me because we both have different needs and wants.That can also be said about the classroom environment. What are some motivational techniques you use in the classroom or workplace?

Development Theories

The human development starts as soon as a baby is born and ends later on as an elderly person. In the early years child development was seen as another set of hands to help with the chores. No emphasis was placed on the child's cognitive abilities.Development of the mind continues on in an orderly fashion.A topic that has been debated over time is the nature vs nurture debate.On one side we argue that an individual from an earlier age starts maturing and learns as they grow up. The other side argues that learning is major part of growing up and thus needs to be emphasized.So does heredity or environment come into play in either one of this sides? Bruner's theory recommends that students go back and reexamine material studied earlier and study it again thru a process called spiral curriculum.We as technology instructors need to match the correct training and tools to the appropriate student.As a technology instructor we need to apply the right tools and applications so a student can learn correctly.What are some tools that you have used in your classroom?

Cognition and instruction

This chapter helped understand the different kinds of learning models being used today. The discovery model uses methods where they learn material better when they have studied it on their own.A group project we did 2 semesters ago for our Biology class help us understand the material because we were our own teachers. We set up a survey of students working full time or part time and the effect on thir GPA. We had to provide a premise and then set up the hypothesis aand show the results to the class.I also liked the article on worked examples. It is true that model did help me to understand my Algebra courses better.By viewing the complete problem step by step I was then able to work the .problem out. Technology has changed how students learn. Teachers need to use the fundamental skills of reading,writing, and math and use them with new methods of teaching within the technology field.New technologies have helped students interact socially with one another.A recent class interacted with the NASA shuttle launch. We need to provide emphasis on critical thinking and have the students process the information slowly so as too understand it better. With the internet everywhere information overload can also be a problem.

Constructivism

This chapter helped me to understand how students and adults in general use the power of the mind to progress and build up undererstanding problems.Its the teacher or educator who need to use any available resources to motivate and help feed the creative mind of children.Whether its multimedia or lesson plans designed to assist teachers in showing their material its ultimately falls on how it is presented.If students do not understand the material then the teacher must use any tool or software to help the students understand. For example, a biology teacher can use an skeleton made of plastic so the students can feel and see the material and then give them 3d interactive models of human skeletons. What software or educational tool have you used to help the students interact with their learning?

Cognitive learning processes

Learning starts as soon as a child is born.Once the child starts walking their expectations of a whole new world will astound them and make them want to explore everything that is around them. Cognitive learning has three perspectives that enable the brain to mold itself. Behaviorism,social cognitive theory, and cognitive psychology. When learn a new idea or problem when we associate it with something else that we understood. A teacher can inspire her students by adding new material and use methods used in her class earlier that helped students to learn it. Ask questions such as How do you relate to this problem or how would you solve it? A teacher can also use visual aids and student interaction to retain the material learned. What cognitive processes seem to hamper students learning at an early age?

Information processing theory

I understood the chapter that we read on information processing.Short term memory relates to what we are thinking about at any given moment in time. Long term memory also called conscious and unconscious memory can be triggered by an event or location. I relate to this chapter because I understand how a computer processes input. A computer can easily recall any information that is requested because it is saved in memory. In that way our brain is similar but we cant hold vast amounts of data because short term memory is easily forgotten and long term memory is recalled by an event image or situation. Things a teacher can do so the students retain focused on the material include, walk around the classroom, review assignments and coursework in different ways so students will not get bored easily, and let students interact with one another as student teachers.

Social cognitive theory

In his famous "Bobo doll" studies, Bandura proved that children learn and imitate actions they have observed in other people. The children in Bandura’s studies witnessed an adult acting aggressively toward a Bobo doll. When the children were later allowed to play in a room with the Bobo doll, they began to imitate the aggressive actions they had previously observed. This observational learning can then manifest itself later on in life as the children become adults. For example, if an adult is smoking and drinking around his children then those same effects will be seen as the child progresses. Constant bad habits’ and unfavorable actions will pose a risk to any child once that action has been done. Another example is when a young child learns the f word or any negative comment they randomly picked up as they played with their toys. Thus, observational learning occurs when a person watches other people’s behaviors and the reinforcements associated with those behaviors .Another example is when a teacher reinforces her strategy for solving a problem .As the student learns how to solve that problem in the future that student will use that same strategy to solve problems. As a result we need to control our actions around our children because they will mimic us down the road as they grow up.It is also important for our children too have good role models because they in turn lead by example.

Which of the theories seemed most appealing to you? Why?

Which theories seemed too complex or confusing? Why?

Learning and Cognition

Discovered by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavolov, classical conditioning is a learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus.This kinds of reactions are triggered by a certain smell,sound or even an image.For example, I can remember the taste of a cookie still made today that my grandma would always give me. Now everytime I go and purchase those cookies my thoughts are sent back to my childhood memories. A classical condition can be used in a classroom by the teacher as she tries to assert herself during the first month of school.