When I originally attempted to put together my personal learning theory I compared teaching to training new deckhands on a fishing boat and highlighted some of the difficulties in training deckhands. I said “Every year attempts are made to explain to the new crewmembers what their jobs are and how to do those jobs, and every year the same lesson is learned again: explaining the job means next to nothing. When the crewmember actually does his job is when meaning and understanding is built. After the crew member has experienced the job discussions will have some meaning and benefit, but until there is an experience, there is nothing to discuss. People learn by relating knowledge to their own unique experiences, in other words, I follow the constructivist learning theory.” While I still believe this, I now understand that if a learner doesn’t have an experience to relate new information to, it is extremely important that an instructor do more than simply provide lecture. Paivio’s dual coding theory teaches us that a learner who is provided with both linguistic and nonlinguistic representation has a far greater chance of making a connection to new information and therefore understanding, and retaining, that information. While I am still thoroughly a constructivist and believe there is no substitute for the learner creating his or her own learning experience, this is the next best thing.
My immediate goal for my classroom is simply to make sure I don’t get too comfortable. I need to constantly challenge myself to try new things because I have had a habit of finding a strategy or two that I like and simply sticking to those few that I am comfortable with. One short year ago all I had my students use computers for was to do research and then type papers. My studies at Walden University have helped a great deal because, quite simply, I didn’t have a choice. I was forced to try new things, and I have loved it. I have been pushed well beyond my comfort zone and I am extremely happy with the results. My students have also enjoyed the changes. Student engagement on our recent blog and VoiceThread assignments has been far higher than my traditional lesson plans.
My long term goal is to quit complaining about my school’s lack of technology and see what I can do about it. I can’t build a new computer lab for my school, but I can look for grants to increase the number of computers for my classroom. In almost twelve years of teaching I have never written a grant. In fact, I don’t even know the process. It is time I changed that and see if I can do something about not having enough computers for my students other than just complaining about it.
Sources
Laureate Education Inc. (2009). Program five. Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and
Technology. [DVD]. Constructionist and Constructivist Learning Theories. Baltimore: Author.
