Constructivist Learning Theory

Dr. Orey described the Constructivist Learning Theory as knowledge stating that each individual actively constructs his/her own meaning for things. The example he gave was a chair, I may be thinking of a lounge chair on Miami beach and the next person could be thinking of a bean bag chair in their own room, it has to do with perception.

In Chapter 11 generating and testing hypothesis is applicable to all content areas even Physical Education. When students are generating and testing hypothesis they are engaging in complex mental processes, applying content knowledge like facts and vocabulary and enhancing their overall understanding of the content.

This week we learned that power point, word and excel along with virtual field trips and voice threads help students organize, brainstorm, create and have unique experiences with the current lesson. For example my students take the state fitness exam, and there are six components: muscular strength, flexibility, body composition, aerobic capacity, muscular endurance and back and spine mobility. I could assign an activity where we use excel to track their improvement in their skill level. Another technology could be if I had the students to create a power point to use during student lead conferences (when they bring their parents into the classroom and they give them a tour of our class and explain their assignments and what they are working on) which would help parents understand more about the state exam components.

All of these resources can be used in any classroom, at any grade level, to help each individual student actively constructs his/her own meaning for learning things and thats how the resources of this week and the principles of the Constructivist Learning Theory work together.

Note Taking, Cues, Questions and Virtual Trips

I think I am finally getting the hang of this blogging. After reading Chapter 4 and 6 and watching the video presentations for this week I am excited about the virtual field trip but am having trouble finding one for Physical Education. Cues and Questions help students organize their thoughts and helps the teachers introduce new information to students. When I was in 11th grade my AP English teacher introduced and helped us master Cornell Notes, she said we would need this skill for college. Now it is more important than ever to expose our students to note taking that will help them organize thier thoughts and information earlier in their education than when I learned. The school where I was teaching fourth graders knew how to take Cornell Notes and I thought that was awesome. I found that the virtual field trip to the theater where Lincoln was assassinated helped me see just what students are learning and how it can relate to prior knowledge and connect to new information. I always say everyday you learn something new and I did this week.

Discussions and Application

I love the discussion area but I do not like so much the applications. How are you feeling so far in week two of this new course?

Rakeebah Bennett