Behaviorism brings to the classroom reinforcement, practice, and rewards to the classroom. As we connect our students to the technology available, we also bring some of that behaviorism with it.
Before my students can use their higher order thinking skills, they must have a background of knowledge to access. For example, if I want my students to solve a multi-step word problem, it is imperative that they first know how to calculate the problem and have basic facts readily available. To practice these facts, we can utilize technology programs that allow students to practice the facts and create paths in their brain to make those facts instant. With each addition of an online program to practice the basics, we add another way for our students to practice and get instant feedback, which reinforces their effort immediately. These programs are not limited to the classroom as more and more families join the online community. As we are connected, homework has also begun to change, with student able to work at home and email work to the teacher, or logging in to a site to take a quiz that can be accessed later by the teacher to be recorded in the gradebook. Students can work with programs that they feel successful using from home allowing them to continue practice at home.
Our world is changing and our schools need to access what is available to enhance our students' learning.
-Melissa
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Melissa,
ReplyDeleteIn your experience, do you think homework involving the use of technology is more likely to be completed than homework involving pencil and paper activities? I have found that students are more likely to follow through with their homework if it involves technology, even if all they do is type something into a word document and e-mail it to me. This is from my middle school experience. What are you seeing on the elementary school level?
Terri
Terri,
ReplyDeleteMy students are very excited about using technology and love to practice their skills on the computer. I do not assign homework on the computer because several of my students do not have access to the internet from home. I would agree thought that if I did assign practice on technology, I would see a higher likelihood of it being completed. The team I work on, however, does send home websites that we find to be useful in practicing skills and often have students share with us that they tried out the site.
Melissa