Reflections

As I have gone through this course I do not have many modifications that I would like to make to my Personal Theory of Learning.  The few modifications that I would like to implement is to use a more cooperative learning in groups of three or more instead of simply using a partner to practice new Spanish vocabulary. 

Some adjustments that I would like to make with regards to technology integration is the use of Virtual Field Trips.  There really are no places to take my students to experience an authentic Latino trip in Cincinnati, but I can take my students there in a virtual way.  They will be able to explore new places that would be nearly impossible otherwise for a plethora of reasons.  I would also like to have my students produce more power point presentations using the new vocabulary that they are learning in my Foreign language class. 

I would also like to use more WebQuest projects with my students along with Virtual Field Trips.  These two uses of technology would take my students to distant lands that are so different from the inner city of Cincinnati.  I was fortunate enough to take a group of students to Puerto Rico a few years ago with the generous funding of two Cincinnati Bengals.  The experiences that these ten students have will last a lifetime, but I know that was a rare, once in a lifetime opportunity that may never happen again.  By using the technology available to use these types of instructional practices, I will be able to show my students a world that they can strive to visit in the future.  Seeing something and learning about it may inspire them to achieve in school in order to go see the places that they will experience virtually through a WebQuest or a Virtual Field Trip.  

Voice thread

Here is my voice thread let me know what you think. http://voicethread.com/share/1386679/

Connectivism and Social Learning in Practice

Cooperative learning in social learning in practice.  I do believe that in human nature we want to have social interaction to give meaning to everything.   I see that cooperative learning plays an important role in developing social skills and social learning.  Cooperative learning works to a point but it is not the end all learning strategy that a Charter school that I unfortunately worked at for a year believes it to be.  The school wanted every lesson of every day to be completed with cooperative learning, more accurately, using Kagan learning structures.  They believed that those structures made everything fun and then the students would learn.  This was unfortunate because the students at that school were performing at a very low level in every subject but believed they were great students because of the success of the "cooperative learning" that they had in class.  I believe that cooperative learning does reinforce learning and build up social skills.  Cooperative learning is integral in learning a foreign language by relying on your classmates to affirm pronunciation and understanding. It is a tool that is useful when used appropriately,  but is ineffective when over used.  This strategy is just like diet plans, what works from some will not work for all.  Like with everything in teaching every person needs to find what works for them and for their classes and be happy.