CONSTRUCTIVISM What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... Constructivism is a philosophy of learning founded on the premise that, by reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own understanding of the world we live in. Despite differences, all who study constructivism agree with the following principle: Learners construct, rather than record their own knowledge (Eggen & Kauchak, 2010). Each of us generates our own “rules” and “mental models,” which we use to make sense of our experiences. Learning, therefore, is simply the process of adjusting our mental models to accommodate new experiences. Characteristics of constructivism: Learners Construct knowledge that makes sense to them. New learning depends on current understanding. Social interaction facilitates learning. The most meaningful learning occurs within real-world tasks. Figure 8.1 Characteristics of constructivism (Eggen & Kauchak, 2010) Please look over and give ideas for editing within Etherpad to discuss as a group

How Constructivism Impacts Learning What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... Constructivism calls for the elimination of a standardised curriculum. Instead, it promotes using curricula customised to the students’ prior knowledge. Also, it emphasises hands-on problem solving. The Curriculum Instruction Under the theory of constructivism, educators focus on making connections between facts and fostering new understanding in students. Instructors tailor their teaching strategies to student responses and encourage students to analyse, interpret, and predict information. Teachers also rely heavily on open-ended questions and promote extensive dialogue among students. Assessment Constructivism calls for the elimination of grades and standardised testing. Instead, assessment becomes part of the learning process so that students play a larger role in judging their own progress. Provide learners with a variety of examples and representations of content Connect content to the real world. Promote high levels of interaction. Treat verbal explanations skeptically. Promote learning with assessment. Figure 8.3 Suggestions for Classroom Practice (Eggen & Kauchak, 2010) Please look over and give ideas for editing within Etherpad to discuss as a group

What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... Theories of Teaching and Learning BEHAVIOURIST THEORY COGNITIVIST THEORY CONSTRUCTIVIST THEORY “Teaching and learning are two of the most fundamental components of the educational process, and both topics have long been of interest to a variety of individuals concerned with education, from philosophers to educational psychologists. Within an educational context, the two phenomena are so inextricably intertwined that it often is difficult to imagine one without the other” (Schuell, T.J., 1993). “Few individuals would deny that learning (or some closely related concept to learning) is the primary purpose of education and that teaching (in one form or another) is the foremost means by which that goal is accomplished” (Schuell, T.J., 1993). Please look over and give ideas for editing within Etherpad to discuss as a group

What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... Today, the vocabulary of computing is all around you. (Shelly et al., 2008) Students today are real time learners using different technology to express themselves. Students who graduate from our schools in the 21 st century will have to have the skills needed to be effective workers, citizens, and leaders in the new global economy. Today’s students are essentially different from previous generations in the way they think, access, absorb, interpret, process and apply information. Above all, they are different in the way they view, interact, and communicate in this technology-rich world. Digital Students Students from Previous GenerationsToday’s Digital Students Passive communicators Single taskers Work orientated Linear thinking Relevancy not critical to learning Single sensory input Text-based first Reality-based Conventional speed Learning has to be relevant & fun Hypercommunicators Multitaskers Play orientated Random access Multisensory input Digital and graphics first Fantasy-based learning Twitch speed Understanding Today’s Digital Generation Figure 1-16 (Shelly et al., 2008) Please look over and give ideas for editing within Etherpad to discuss as a group

Teachers of Today…. Unfortunately, there are still educators in today’s society that are stuck in the old rote memorisation learning, lecturing, passing on information and not exploring or motivating students to learn. They are stuck in one teaching mode in the same old dull way, with dry lectures, boring worksheets and text books, repetition and drill. This would prove to be very boring for the students. What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... …Teachers of the Future In the future teachers are going to have to wear many different hats and be very flexible. Teachers will need to move away from single subjects and into a greater range of expertise. Jobs, now and in the future, are not for life. Educators are going to have to be diverse in following young people’s interests. It’s interesting, yet a staggering set of circumstances that is ahead of us and the children of today. Contemplating the amount of development and change in the last, nearly 100 years, it’s somewhat scarier, the concept that everything will move faster, be more involved and could quite possibly be less likely to be understood because of the speed of development. Please look over and give ideas for editing within Etherpad to discuss as a group

What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... Teaching Beyond 2010… In any society, educators have the ability to make an enormous positive contribution. Making such a contribution is a challenge, and teachers must willingly embrace new teaching and learning opportunities (Shelly et al, 2008). Today, teachers in K-12 schools are educating students who will spend all of their adult lives in a technology–rich society. Teachers in these classrooms must be prepared to utilise both current and emerging computer technologies. Unfortunately, too many schools are still teaching today using yesterday’s tools. Traditional 20 th century educational practices will no longer provide you with the skills you need to teach your students effectively how to become productive citizens in today’s high- tech, global workplace (Shelly et al, 2008). Please look over and give ideas for editing within Etherpad to discuss as a group

BEHAVIOURAL CONSEQUENCE REINFORCEMENT An event that decreases the likelihood that a behaviour will recur What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... PUNISHMENT An event that decreases the likelihood that a behaviour will recur POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT An increase in behaviour that results from being presented with a stimulus NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT An increase in behaviour that results from and aversive stimulus being removed or avoided. PRESENTATION PUNISHMENT An decrease in behaviour that results from being presented with a stimulus REMOVAL PUNISHMENT An decrease in behaviour that results from a stimulus being removed. Figure 6.1 Consequences of behaviour (Eggen & Kauchak, 2010) BEHAVIOURISM