Month: July 2023

What drew me into Anna’s blog page was the beautiful flower on her home page; however, I was continuously engaged while reading her posts. Anna does an excellent job at defining direct instruction and linking it to her groups Interactive Learning Resource on “How to Use Social Media Effectively in the Classroom.” She states that direct instruction is where a teacher provides structured lessons. My groups ILR called the “Journey to Understanding Finances,” will also display some aspects of direct instruction through the assigned Youtube videos, and readings. Additionally, the students will have assignments that they must submit for assessment. After reading Anna’s post, it is clear that my group’s ILR could fall into many learning approach categories. I certainly need to discuss with my group which one would best fit our aims.

https://nervousteaching.wordpress.com/2023/07/24/learning-design-ii-direct-instruction/

Experiential learning is an educational philosophy inspired by John Dewey. He believed that knowledge is best acquired through hands-on activities and a reflection of those experiences. Today, the ideology of “learning by doing” is widely embraced as it allows students to be actively involved in the learning process. Learners will partake in real-world experiences such as labs, practicums, or field experiences, and gain valuable skills, practical knowledge, and a deeper understanding of how theoretical concepts apply in real-life situations. The approach directly connects to the First Peoples Principles by learning through experiences. Experiential learning has proven many benefits including, increased motivation and engagement, as well as improved problem-solving skills. Furthermore, experiential learning develops a growth mindset as students must learn from their failures and adapt their approaches accordingly. Our interactive learning resource incorporates activities that align with experiential learning principles.

One of the activities involves having the students track their spendings for a week. This exercise allows them to understand where their money goes, encouraging conscious financial decisions beyond casual card purchases. At the end of the activity, students are encouraged to reflect on their spending and compare it to the previous week. Did they spend less money by being mindful of their purchases? Did any aspects surprise them? Through this activity, students gain practical knowledge about budgeting and personal finance management. Additionally, they gain awareness of the value of their purchases.

Another activity integrated into our course is having the students create a budget. This skill is exceptionally valuable as it equips students with familiarity of various types of expenses, such as fixed and variable costs, and setting realistic financial goals. As students actively plan and allocate their resources, they develop critical financial management habits, ensuring financial stability and independence. Learning how to budget will prove especially useful when students aspire to save up for significant purchases, such as a car or vacation.

References

Boston University. (2023). Experiential learning. Center for Teaching & Learning. https://www.bu.edu/ctl/guides/experiential-learning/

Pedagogy4change.org. (2022, May 3). Great pedagogical thinkers: John Dewey. Great Pedagogical Thinkers . https://www.pedagogy4change.org/john-dewey/

There are many times that I can think of when I was taught through behaviorism. When I was in elementary school, my teacher would give us a sticker if we read for a certain amount of hours at home everyday. This example involves positive reinforcement as I would recieve a reward (the sticker) for doing the desired behavior (reading).

In my high school English class, we would review the elements of poetry and then be given poems to analyze. Through this experience, I engaged in various cognitive activities that involved understanding the meaning, structure and literary devices used in the poem. I was taught poetry through cognitivism.

I recently went on a trip to Bali and it was my first time leaving North America. While I did conduct extensive research on the country before the trip, nothing taught me more than the physical experience. Connectivism emphasizes the importance of networks and connections in learning, and traveling to a foreign country was an amazing opportunity to practice networking and experiential learning.