Journal Post 2

Focus question:

How do students use technology for visual learning?

                To begin with, what is visual learning? Visual learning is defined as gaining knowledge through the use of pictures, drawings, video, animation, and other visual sources of information. In traditional learning students only used pictures or graphs in their textbooks for visual learning.  Technology has opened many doors, especially for those students that are visual learners. Instead of only viewing static images, students can now use all of the visual sources listed above and more. For example in science class, rather than looking at bacteria only in a picture, students can now look at live bacteria through a microscope. Videos are also a great source, I know as a student I very much enjoy when teachers play videos in class, not only because I am personally a visual learner, but also because it gives you a better grasp of things, rather than just hearing it, or reading it. You are looking at it and hearing it at the same time, some videos also include text. In this way you are not only learning visually. Perhaps one of the most positive attributes of using the visual learning sources in technology is that many fulfill more than just the visual needs of a student.

 

                                                                    

Tech tools: Rome Reborn

        Rome reborn is a website that digitally reproduced Rome as it was on June 21, AD. 320. The website includes pictures, videos and clips. It is probably a good website for a student doing research on ancient Rome, who wants to get pictures for his or her assignment. As it is a visual tool, there isn’t much written information. The website seemed very simple and a little plane. I personally like a website that is mainly constructed to be a visual source to be a little more animated.

Chapter summary:

                This chapter included a wide variety of information. The beginning was very interesting because it included a parent-teacher conference in which the parent questioned the teacher as to why she encouraged so much technology in her classroom, where at home she is trying to do the opposite for her child. The teacher did not have a good response for the parent. Personally I have always felt the same way as the parent did in this scenario. I’ve always liked technology to be very limited because I associated technology with isolation.  After reading this chapter I understand that technology is actually a great thing to use in a classroom.

                There are three learning theories that teachers consider when they are using technology to teach. These three theories include behaviorism, cognitive science, and constructivism. It is important that teachers use technology in the right way therefore there are guidelines to help them do this. There are also active methods to engage the students; these include one-on-one tutoring, learning groups, inquiry learning, and meta cognitive thinking. My favorite of these is meta cognitive because it encourages students to reflect on their own learning and self-evaluation. The text also introduces two types of approaches to teaching, teacher-centered, and student-centered. In the teacher- centered approach the major focus and energy of a class comes from the teacher to the student, while in student-centered, the students are actively a part of the class, from planning lessons to engaging in discussions.

                Visual learning using technology is a very important part of using technology to teach. Students can use things as videos, pictures, telescopes, and microscopes. Reading about visual learning I found out that there is also something called visual literacy. I would’ve never thought of visual and literacy having any relation. However this is when a student learns to critically read color and form while assessing the types of visual presentations.

               The text emphasized that it is important to include active engagement, collaboration, and group work when using technology in a classroom. In this ways students can share their creativity and what they’ve learned with other students. After reading this chapter, many of the things I learned eliminated my old concerns of student isolation in a classroom due to the use of technology.