Evaluating and Identifying Online Resources

 

This week we have been reading about the brain and the learning process.  An important and crucial factor could be the difficulties that a student encounters when it comes to decision-making and solving problems.  We need to start teaching for success.  Understanding the way our students learn, makes us aware of the importance of providing multiple experiences in the classroom that will address the different learning styles and will motivate and keep our class engaged.  Today, I will present some articles that called my attention while learning how to guide my students to solve problems.  

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http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/think/methods.htm

Teaching problem-solving methods involves to use of creative thinking; in other words to generate ideas and critical thinking or evaluating ideas.  Both aspects are necessary to be able to solve problems.  Talking about solving problems not necessary requires inventing a big thing, is the ability to make a change using the information we know.  To solve a problem we are looking to a change that will make things better.  To teach our students to solve problems the teacher needs to understand the way the students learn and provide opportunities for them to build background knowledge and make connections to apply this information into a new one.  This article defines problem-solving strategies and provides us with links to study the terms presented.  It is an easy way for teachers to get started.

http://youthdevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/problem_solving_skills_for_teens

This article provides us with simple steps that could be used to guide our students to solve problems.  I found it interesting the way that we can have the students learn these steps without making it to complicated for them.  These steps include:  

• Defining the problem
• Brainstorming
• Evaluating options
• Making a plan of action
• Evaluation and modification

Teaching our students to make good choices is always a challenge.  Finding the way to make this option possible for them will help them take part of the decision they make and not fall into group pressure.

References:

Problem Solving Skills for Teens: Teaching Kids Decision-Making Strategies. (n.d.). Youth Development. Retrieved May 14, 2010, from http://youthdevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/problem_solving_skills_for_teen

Problem-Solving Skills (and methods) in Education & Life. (n.d.). The American Scientific Affiliation: Discussion of science and Christianity, ethics, apologetics, creation and evolution, the Bible and science. Retrieved May 14, 2010, from http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/think/methods.htm

Useful Instructional Design Blogs

Learning from others experiences is always a great experience.  Using blogs is a social way to communicate and inform other about your experiences.  During my search I found some blogs that will help me as an Instructional Designer.  As a teacher and technology coordinator in my school, I always look for new strategies that will help me facilitate trainings and workshops to the staff.  In these blogs I find ways to develop a community of learners with the faculty, steps to follow to plan an effective transformational plan and wonderful Internet based tools for instruction.

I invite you to visit these blogs and please share your comments.  Thanks for visiting.

http://kimcofino.com/blog

Always Learning

By Kim Cofino


The Way of the Workshop



   Kim Cofino works as an Educational Technology Facilitator in International Schools.  In her blog she shares her experiences as a teacher and the benefits of professional development.  Based on her experiences she designs and implements worshops for other teachers.  In her trainings and workshops she develops sense of community of learners.  She shares her experiences in her blog.


   As an Instructional Designer, is important to understand the benefits of collaboration.  This blog helps me learn from her experiences.

http://edutechintegration.blogspot.com/

 

The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness

by Michael Zimmer

  I was impressed about this blog.  Michael Zimmer as a teacher presents technology tools that he uses in his classroom to facilitate and enrich instruction.  He presents the benefits of using social networking as a professional development tool.  He also presents a copy of his book titled: A new way to Lecture, where he presents technology tools and the way to use these in an effective way in the classroom.  This book is embedded online and free to use.

   As a Designer, this blog and resources will guide me to explore others Web 2.0 Tools and integrate them into my instruction designs.  I hope you enjoy it the way I did.

My first blog...

Hi!

   Welcome to my first blog.  This is the first time that I explore this communication tool.  I hope to learn from others and to share my ideas with my friends from Walden University.  This blog is part of the course Educ 6115-5 Learning Theories and Instruction.

   I'm glad to learn from this experience, and hope to hear about your comments.

Thanks for visiting,
Evylyn