Thursday, November 26, 2009

633 Post for 11/26/2009

Happy Thanksgiving first of all...and Yes, I am doing school work on Thanksgiving. 633 has a new question as well as assignment.

Make a connection between learning theory and your action research. How will (or can) your AR be guided by the theories we have studied in this class? Make specific connections, where you can.

Final Project

Ok, the SL project is off (unless you really wanted to do it - then go ahead)

Here is the alternate:

1. Choose something that people learn how to do. Could be anything, from baking a cake to snow skiing. Something you know how to do, to something you know little about.

2. Create a lesson or lesson plan for learning to do the thing from #1 that represents how your theorist would teach someone to do it.

3. You will be graded on the following:

  • How well does it reflect the theory?
  • How creative is it?
  • How cool is it?
  • Does it represent your best effort for a class at this level, given the number of days you have to invest?
4. I'll leave it to you as to how to present to everyone. Please let me know how I can be of assistance.

I will answer the first set of questions on the Moodle by this weekend, but I wanted to reflect on my AR and Learning Theory first. Definitly have some ideas of how to respond to the question. (Individual learning vs. social) Why people don't collaborate at work. Vygotsky? Piaget? not only on the 'kids' development sense...but for adults too.

As for the Final Project, the SL looked 'easier' to do, (harder to code) now Let me think first of what I can do now...I might still do the SL object....

To be continued...

MT

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

633 Blog for 11/18/2009

Today is a good day, let's start with 633 first. I am currently looking and thinking of ideas with Scott Mortensen on how we can create and Item in Second Life that would represent Lev Vygotsky. I was initially thinking of some sort of hammer, or Vodka bottle, or something. That might be too stereotypical so, perhaps we'll make a *target* symbol, and make that represent the (Zone of Proximal Development)...I like that Idea. I'll run it by Scott. Next is to spend some time to read up on how to do such a thing. I would like to get it out of the way, so that I can focus on the next project!

As for Junior Achievement, I had a GREAT time, I love my 3rd Graders (most of them) their innocence, their curiosity and just their enthusiasm for me being there. It's so nice to see that. (Unlike work)

I also like the way the classes are relational to each other. Papert, Piaget, Vygotsky et. al..

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

633 Post for 11/11/2009

This week has been interesting to say the least. We did however have class for 633 so that was a nice break from the other 2 classes. Second Life is fun to be in. Malibu Island is still interesting, but yet 'strange' somehow. The whole concept is really strange somehow. LOL.. Anyways, we are now tasked to create an "item" that resembles our Theorist. I think I will somehow relate Vygotsky's image/item to something 'Russian' ooo so creative. Perhaps something 'hoovering' in a circle...similar to Vygotsky's ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) hmm...I think that's a GREAT Idea. I'll need to collaborate with Scott and see what he thinks...We now have to 'link' our theorist to another theorist..Not too sure what that means..perhaps it's linking the same thoughts/teachings and also linking UNRELATED items too? I know Piaget and Vygotsky saw some similar things, but they also saw things differently as well.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

633 Blog for 11/5/2009

what a week. Lit review was due last Friday, and finally got a breather from that beast. I was definitely behind because it's been years since I had to do such a thing. Good thing for Dan Wood, and DJ Benjamin. I took a look at their work and it helped me move forward with mines. (Also thanks Bill Moseley for giving us some breather room)

I just completed my Vygotsky Essential questions and sent them to Scott Mortensen. We will both combine our 'findings' and answers so that we can submit them to Moodle. I found Vygotsky extremely interesting, smart and powerful. I would have loved to meet him, but unfortunately he died at such a young age, and lived long ago. I believe that I am 'somewhat' caught up with Learning Theory, but you never know. I need to get back in the grooove of things. (not that I was ever out of it) but when you have these online courses, it tends to Creep up on you FAST if you are behind a little. I just hope I can keep this up for a prolonged period of time. heck it IS November, just another month and a half and I get xmas break!

MT OUT!