Double Journal Entry #4

Do Learning Styles Exist?

Response:

After watching the video about learning styles, I agree with the author that learning styles do exist but are not a surefire way to set up your teaching style.  The author states that learning is meaning based and I also agree with that comment.  When we learn we use a combination of all learning styles- kinesthetic, auditory, visual, tactile- but to really learn something we must know the true meaning of the content to actually remember it.  We use the clues of how we remember something as to the style of learner that we are.  If we are visual learners, we visualize the object but we also assign a meaning to the object.  If we are auditory learners, we hear the name of the object in our subconscious mind, but we also assign a meaning to the object…so forth and so on.  Theorists try to explain the learning process as a definite approach, but in reality no one knows exactly how we learn, and it can be different for each individual in question.

 

Wordle

I think that using Wordle in the classroom would be alot of fun for the students.  Using Wordle is almost a type of abstract art form.  A teacher could create a wordle image from a class poll, descriptive words of students in his/her class or have the students to create their own wordle image for a holiday gift for their parents.  There are many different ways that a teacher could use Wordle in the classroom.

 http://www.wordle.net/
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-methods-tips/58905-create-lesson-plans-using-wordle-web-technology/

Make Belief Comix

Double Journal Entry #3

Quote:
"The visual learners like to have a general idea about what they want to learn before they get the details (Al-Failkawei, 2005). Moreover, the visual learners like to organize their place, especially the place where they usually study and learn. A well-organized place will improve the visual learner's ability to comprehend a topic (Al-Failkawei, 2005). Posters can get the visual students’ attention (Al-Failkawei, 2005). There are some words (noun or verbs) that will attract the visual learners. The noun words are vision, scene, image, eye, show, color. The verb words are imagine, clear, recognize, watch, and see (Al-Takriti, 1997). Visual learners like to read books that have color pictures (Al-Failkawei, 2005)."

Response:
After reading the article on the three different types of learners, (visual,auditory and kinestetic) and taking the survey I have discovered that I am a visual learner.  I thought that the quote was very interesting in that all of these circumstances applied to my learning style before I even knew what type of learner that I was.  As a future elementary school teacher, it will be beneficial to be able to recognize what type of learner that each of your students are.  When using classroom instructional time, you will have to modify your lesson to be able to connect with all types of learners.  When doing a science activity with the students you can make sure that you have charts and graphs for the visual learners, class discussions for the auditory learners and hands on activity for the kinestetic learners. 

Web 2.0 and emerging learning technologies/learning styles. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Web_2.0_and_Emerging_Learning_Technologies/Learning_Styles

Picasso Painting by Debra

 Picassohead

I am a visual and auditory learner.

Double Journal Entry #3
Quote:
Naomi Baron, a professor of linguistics at American University and author of “Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World,” shares Crystal’s view. She predicts that the number of “textisms” will stop growing as people continue to develop more proficiency in using handheld devices and as the devices continue to grow more sophisticated than simple telephone touch pads. She adds that part of the appeal of texting shorthands is their novelty, and that that will fade.


Response:  After reading the article The Keypad Solution I can agree with Ms. Barron on her comment about the appeal of texting shorthand will eventually fade.  I think as the cell phones change over time, texting in a more formal way will be easier and faster.  I think that it will also depend on the age of the texter.  As a non-traditional student when texting I do use occassional "texting shorthands."  It also depends on who the receiver of the text is.  If the receiver of the text is a close friend, I may be a little careless with the spelling and abbreviations of my text messages than if I was sending a text to my boss about a project at work or my parents who may not get the lingo.  I don't feel that people who text are losing the ability to communicate verbally or the ability to spell. 
If the students get a good background of the English language throughout their schooling they will know how to use proper grammar and spelling and utilize it when needed.

Shea, A. (2010, 01 22). The keypad solution. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/magazine/24FOB-onlanguage-t.html

Polleverywhere Wordle Image