Week 2 ......Hat's off to Bloom!!!

 

To begin my journey through week 2 requires a map to show everyone where I live in Goondiwindi, and where Toowoomba is 3 hours away as indicated by the yellow line. It will all make sense at the end so read on please........

Source: Google Maps 2013

 

 

 

 

Week 2 - The week that was.....

Reflection on TPACK Concept

TPACK is an acronym for Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge. The TPACK framework is based on combining ICT with sound pedagogical strategies to achieve specific learning outcomes. Teachers make decisions on how to deliver learning content to students. For this they need excellent ability in the use of technology, they need to be experts in the knowledge of their content and the way they teach the content needs specific pedagogies that combine to support the learning of the students (Study guide, EDED20491: ICTs for learning Design, 2013). It is the students’ use of technology guided by the teacher to support learning.

 

Reflection De Bono Hats/Mobile Phone

This week has been an interesting learning curve as I change‘hats’ to consider the question about mobile phone use in the classroom. The exercise not only highlighted how I have conflicting views on using this technology but it also highlighted a strategy that has become second nature to my husband, a primary school teacher, who now naturally uses these thinking strategies to help me see another point of view to a situation. Damn those hats and his ability to win arguments!

From the readings, another important point on the use of mobile phones is that regardless of what technologies are employed in the classroom, they do not replace effective pedagogy and any use of these technologies must incorporate a combination of framework - TPACK, and thinking skills – Bloom’s Taxonomy. When these elements combine with ICT and digital tools learning is the outcome. As stated by Punya Mishra and Matthew J. Koehler (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge: A Framework for Teacher Knowledge) learning is achieved by placing the emphasis on doing and the learner by not playing a passive role has ownership of their learning.

The Learning Theories reflective in this forum include constructivism, cognitivism, and connectivism. Constructivism is evident in the way that all respondents have their own beliefs based on their perception of mobile phone use in the classroom. Scaffolding has occurred as I weigh up the PMIs of different comments and I can see a similar wiki used in the classroom contributing to their learning especially through other scaffolding exercises such as SWOT. This collaborative learning would begin a discourse and give opportunity for people to substantiate their reasons and explain why they have made the comments they did. Cognitivism is reflected in this forum as the 3 stages of the cognitivism process model are in action as each participant uses sensory memory, working memory and long term memory to respond to the questions posed under each of De Bono’s six hats. Connectivism has occurred, as this is the digital age and as participants we have engaged in this exercise although, as what Marc Prensky refers to as a digital immigrant I feel a bit of a phony.

The wiki design requires learner participation which has been engaging and informative so has extended my learning. The learning theories mentioned come from what I believe was required to participate in the exercise. Behaviourism is not evident as there were no reshaping, positive reinforcement or step by step instruction however higher order thinking was needed to apply the different types of thinking with the change of hat. This exercise did make me think about why I responded the way I did. I enjoyed participating in this activity.

Expressing your opinion can at times be controversial if your views differ from many of the participants. However, some good points were made and ideas voiced that made me rethink some of my own views. For this topic I do not think it would cause too many issues but other topics in the hands of school children may cause friction among the group. I do believe in my future role as a teacher and with many more wiki experiences behind me I would use these sharing exercises as part of the students learning experience. I would be careful as to what topics we discussed using this forum.

As the journey continues.....

Technology such as this blog or the wiki activity used to model various hats are very foreign to me.This has been made even more difficult with the problems I have experienced since the beginning of March with internet connection. My cognitive domains found in Bloom's Taxonomy have been running in overdrive as I asked myself, "Why did I choose to return to internet provider 'X'?" Knowing and remembering what happened the last time I purchased their product. I faced very few options as according to the "Other" provider I was with, I am located in a "black-spot" which became very obvious when internet connection with them stopped working altogether. Understanding that due to my location it does take a little longer for Express Post to arrive, I was delighted when the wireless device arrived four days after ordering it on the phone. Keen to reconnect with De Bono and Bloom, I Applied the previous skills and knowledge to activate the wireless device. There was no signal!!! Analysing the situation led to numerous phone calls on the initial day and continued technical consultation over the following four days. All was in vain. Evaluating the situation led me to a six hour return trip to "my nearest X Store" as advised by the technical consultant on the end of the phone. When asked if I needed assistance by a very helpful staff member of "X Store",*Karen (*not her real name), I set about unpacking my TPACK in the hope that I would use sound pedigogical strategies and choose the appropriate content knowledge and processes, for effective learning to be the outcome. *Karen who spent over an hour on the phone with the technical consultants obviously is a quick learner, or my pedigogical strategies were impressive. The problem was to remain a problem and this is where the learner taught the pre-service teacher by Creating a solution that would be sufficient in the intrim. *Karen devised a plan that saw me walk out of "X store with an internet device that should work until the real problem is fixed. Forty-eight hours was the expected timeframe to rectify the problem. Less than twenty-four hours later I receive a text message from "X" saying they are working hard to fix the technical issue with my order. If I am not connected within FIVE days they will contact me with an update. It is about now that I would like to throw something at them however, I don't think that is part of Bloom's Taxonomy and I am not a kinesetic learner, so I will just put on my Bright Red De Bono hat and get over it!!!!

Post Script: I was finally reconnected to the internet 19 days after receiving the wireless device.