In my eyes, cognitive learning is about enabling people to learn by using their own minds. When the students can use their own abilities in order to problem solve, cognition is then occurring. It really seems to me that cognitive learning is based around teaching “real-life” applications of problems. When I was younger and a high school student I had trouble making connections as to why something was important or why something worked in the way that it did. Because of this, I now make sure to show my students what is connected to what we have learned and how to apply it.
This week’s learning resources connected to cognitive learning in a few different ways. When looking at the concept maps, I was thinking about something that I do in my classroom called KWL charts. They have to make a chart of what they Know, what they Want to learn and at the end what they Learned. Concept mapping could be a way of doing this as well, but just through electronic means. I have it a little tough because there are not many field trips for math fields, but the virtual field trips would definitely be an asset to other fields. It connected to cognitive learning because then instead of just hearing about something, they can then physically see what they are learning about.
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Dear Anna,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog! I agree with much of what you had to say! I too believe that making connection in teaching is imperative. Students must acquire an understanding of not only what they must learn but why, and how it relates to them as individuals. I use KWL charts often in my classroom. Even now, it is one thing I was able to take with me from 2nd grade to Kindergarten. My students just completed one on Monday for their Social Studies lesson on apples. I really enjoyed seeing what they know and wonder about apples and we have really enjoyed re-visiting the chart all week to add things in the learn section! I have seen a true motivation to try their best as we constantly reflect on the KWL chart and our connections!
I am with you on the field trip aspect. We as well do not have access to field trips that would suit our subject. I had never heard of virtual field trips prior to this weeks lesson. I did have a slightly different view of what the field trip was going to be. I assumed it would be similar to a virtual tour, kind of like the ones they have if you are looking at a house you might buy. But this wasn't exactly the case and really to the better. It was truly an instructional tool with pictures and some interactive but all with text relating to the subject. I found many in my subject area and found them to be very beneficial and something I will use in the future. Did you find any that you will use? If so, which was the best and why did you find them to be beneficial?
ReplyDeleteAnna,
ReplyDeleteI loved your post. It sounds like your high experience is something similar to many students, unfortunately and is often why some students regardless of their age turn around and ask the questions: 'Why do we need to learn this? When are we going to use it again? What does this have to do with me and my life?'
I have used United Streaming through Discovery Education for virtual field trips in math for my students and they really enjoyed the fact their math was linked to the 'real world' not just something that they have to learn about in school. In actual fact it makes my life easier as a teacher because I can then point them in the direction of something like this and answer those questions visually.
Minty
The only field trip that I found that I may be able to use would be with the sun. I posted my content map to it!
ReplyDeleteWe also do KWL charts in my classroom but we add an S to the end to make it KWLS - What I KNOW, what I WANT to know, what I LEARNED, and what I STILL want to know. I think it encourages students to expand on a concept and go above and beyond the information they may get from one resource.
ReplyDeleteI also use KWL charts in my classroom. I try to first have my students participate in a little skit or role playing activity that would show them why this lesson is important to their lives. It's like their "aaa-haa" moment. Then I begin the lesson. Now with United Streaming and virtual trips, it's even better! My favorite thing is when a parent tells me about how their child used something they learned in class and transferred it to a true life situation.
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