Food for Thought
Light was essential for a plant's growth because it was its main source of nutrients and without it, no matter how optimal your soil or watering routine was, it would be difficult for plants to flourish (This was why decorative office succulents were dying slow deaths). I likened my window's indirect light to my school environment: I received ideas from colleagues on ways they found success with our current devices and I absorbed some coding knowledge through professional development workshops. There was some light for growth but in order to intentionally and consistently feed my plants regardless of what light my window gave me, I had to install a grow light. My "MET grow light" came in the form of ETEC 512 and ETEC 530.
My first goal in the program was to build up a strong theoretical background so that I could better understand and justify technology integration. Particularly in areas of constructive, authentic, and collaborative on the TIM, familiarizing myself with learning theories and current research would help me transition further from merely adapting technology to naturally infusing it in our everyday learning. Infusion, as per the TIM, supported student autonomy as it allowed them them to select a tool that best accomplished a desired outcome, bringing us back to the ideas of affordances as discussed in the soil management section. There was an abundant amount of theories in Applications of Learning Theories to Instruction (ETEC 512) and Constructivist Strategies for eLearning (ETEC 530) that changed and shaped my pedagogical practices.
Below are two artifacts that best represent how Universal Design for Learning, social constructivism and motivation, and the neuroscience behind learning continue to influence how I relate and teach my students. |
A mind map synthesizing the learning theories that have resonated with me.
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I hosted a research cafe on the topic of whether constructivist learning environments encourage motivation in students.
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HOME • METAPHOR • SOIL MANAGEMENT • LIGHTING • WATERING
FERTILIZER • PLANT PALS • PLANT SHELFIE • PROPAGATION
FERTILIZER • PLANT PALS • PLANT SHELFIE • PROPAGATION