Sunday, February 12, 2012

Meaningful Learning WITH Technology


Meaningful learning asserts that “the nature of the tasks best determines the nature of the student’s learning” (Howland, Jonassen & Marra, 2012). Therefore, the five major components of meaningful learning engage students in tasks or activities which are active, constructive, intentional, authentic, and cooperative (Howland, et al., 2012).
Likewise, when incorporating technology into learning, technology must foster the components of meaningful learning by engaging and facilitating students’ thinking not by delivering information (Howland, et al., 2012).
The intentional and constructive component of meaningful learning can be fostered using simple technology such as weblogs. For example, my geometry lessons begin with an essential question that students must be able to answer by posting a blog. This task makes students, not only accountable for their own learning but makes them deliberately reflect on their knowledge to assess their learning and require that they articulate what they understand not what the teacher understands. Students can personalize their blog which further engages them in the learning process.
Click the following links to see blogs posted by my students.
                        http://deborahsgeometryblog.blogspot.com
                        http://swisschels.blogspot.com
                        http://bianqaadenisee.blogspot.com

References
Howland, A., Jonassen, D., and Marra, R. 2012. Goal of technology integrations: Meaningful Learning fourth edition. San Francisco: Pearson.

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