First Draft Outline

 

The Influence of Educational Technology on Student-Centered Learning Environments

 

I. Introduction

         A. What is a Student-Centered Learning Environments?

              1. Brief history included with answering the question

         B. What are Educational Technologies?

              1. Examples will be included with a detailed definition

II. Impact

       A. Technologies

             1. Describing a variety of technologies and how they have impacted SCLEs

                  a. Types

                     (1) Computer

                     (2) Internet

                     (3) Social Networking

                     (4) Educational software

                  b. Troubleshooting

                      (1) Problems that can be encountered with technologies and SCLEs

                  c. What is next?

                      (1) Future possibilities with technologies and how they may effect SCLEs

III. Theories

       A. Cognitive Constructivism

       B.  Social Constructivism

IV. Resources

Aplin, C.T., (2008). Innovative Trends in Learning Tools. Journal of Cognitive

Affective Learning, Volume 4, Number 2.  Retrieved March 3, 2009, from http://www.jcal.emory.edu/viewarticle.php?id=121&layout=html

 

Active collaboration and problem-based learning are two innovative tools that are developing from the emergence of the internet and web-based education.  There is a never ending amount of information available.  Online classes form a new kind of community that is structured around tasks, goals, as well as assignments.  Learners must dive into deeper levels to engage these communities.  Collaboration in the classroom is essential.  Problem-based learning is also critical.  Integrating technology into our instructional design is important and demanding people out there that can create and design quality curriculum.  There needs to be a new way of thinking in creating curriculum which includes online learning environments.  Online environments are connecting students to people, places, as well as virtual labs.  It is a challenge to instructional designers and educators to keep up with the new challenges of these new learning environments.

 

Bender, B. (2003).  Student-Centered Learning: A Personal Journal.  Educause Center for

Applied Research, Volume 2003, Issue 11.  Retrieved March 4, 2009, from  http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERB0311.pdf

 

Bender takes on the topic that has been repeatedly analyzed; student-centered learning.  Bender claims that student-centered learning has been accelerated by introducing technology into the classroom.  The aspect of learning as being a social process is discussed.  It is stated that one needs to create a sense of community and in turn it will help foster collaboration.  From the article as well as other articles on the topic, I agree that when students assume ownership, they are more likely to “buy into the classroom.”

 

Boix Mansilla, V., (2008).  Integrative Learning: Setting the Stage for

a Pedagogy of the Contemporary. Association of American Colleges and Universities, Volume 10, Number 4.  Retrieved March 3, 2009, from http://www.aacu.org/peerreview/pr-fa08/pr-fa08_realitycheck.cfm

 

Mansilla sees the very nature of learning as changing in our transforming global society.  Students today learn experientially in both real as well as virtual worlds.  Today's generation experiences great pressures to perform, succeed, and move at an incredibly fast pace.  What we lack is the opportunity to have time to self-reflect.  Learners in today's society must be able to be agents for their own learning, be critical inquirers, be able to collaborate, and apply higher-level thinking skills to real-life problems. Integrative learning helps prepare students for today as well as tomorrow's society.

 

Garii, B., (2007).  Thinking About Thinking: Middle School Students Explore

Their Own Learning. Journal of Cognitive Affective Learning, Volume 4, Number 1.  Retrieved March 3, 2009, from http://www.jcal.emory.edu/viewarticle.php?id=81&layout=html

This article describes how being involved in research provides students with opportunities to deepen their understanding of their own learning.  The students are also able to recognize and describe their strengths and challenges in classroom and “real world” learning tasks.  The students, teacher, as well as the researcher explored how teachers use information to organize and anticipate classroom structures that differentially support all students.  They explore what middle school students know about their own thinking and learning, and how do students’ insights impact their participation in classroom activities? How students describe how they think was explored as well.  How does the use of various learning strategies influence their thinking?

Hai-Jew, S. (2008).  Scaffolding Discovery Learning Spaces.    

Merlot Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, Volume 4, Number 4.  Retrieved March 3, 2009, from http://jolt.merlot.org/vol4no4/hai-jew_1208.pdf

 

Discover learning can be created in online learning environments to encourage learner-directed learning.  It is important for the learner to be empowered through having autonomy in their learning. Self-efficiency and having choice in various decision-making processes is very important.  Discovery learning tends to be learner-initiated. There are a variety of technologies that help promote discovery learning such animated tutorials, screen captures, audio, video, eBooks, and interactive games.

 

Hung, J.L., & Zhang, K. (2008).  Revealing Online Learning Behaviors and Activity    

Patterns and Making Predictions with Data Mining Techniques in Online Teaching.   Merlot Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, Volume 4, Number 4.  Retrieved March 3, 2009, from http://jolt.merlot.org/vol4no4/hung_1208.pdf


Dr. Hung and Zhang explored how data mining techniques could be used to help improve online teaching and learning.  One problem in online teaching and learning is how it is tough to observe student's learning behaviors.  If there were a way to acquire information and activity patterns then the instructors could possibly provide adaptive feedback and customize assessment.  Currently, online instructors can use information about some basic information about when, where, and how long students were online.  It is a basic pattern of their learning, however, data mining techniques are very useful for discovering hidden knowledge and could reveal a lot of vital information to help not only online learners as well as instructors.

 

Land, S.M. & Hannafin, M.J. (2000). Theoretical Foundations of Learning Environments   (Jonassen, D.H., & Land, S.M., Eds.).  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.  

 

Chapter one was collaboratively written by Susan M. Land and Michael J. Hanafin is about student-centered learning environments.  Land and Hannafin explore how technological advances have expanded researchers and educators  concepts of learning as well as the possibilities for designing learning environments.   Land and Hannafin concur with the majority of peer-reviewed articles about how constructivism scaffolds thinking in order to deepen one’s  understanding.  They also believe that technology foundations can influence how media can help support and enhance a learning environment.  Creating student-centered learning environments is not without its obstacles like the difficulty in  getting educators on board with changing some of their current practices, moving  learners away from always focusing on what will be on the test, and prompting  learners to go beyond what they know that they know.

 

 

Middlecamp, C.H. (2005).  The Art of Engagement.   Association of American Colleges

and Universities.  Retrieved March 3, 2009, from http://aacu-secure.nisgroup.com/peerreview/pr-wi05/pr-wi05practice.cfm


This article asks the question and looks for the answer to what engages students?  It was said that if students don't engage then they are unlikely to learn.  Engagement for all involved in the learning process is a mutually beneficial goal.  The students can serve as a resource for classroom interactions. Teachers need to find a content hook to help get the students excited about learning.  There are three things that work well as being the content hook: intriguing questions, current issues or concerns as well as speaking about topics that are common for all of us.  No matter what our subject is that we teach, we need to engage students at several levels; their lives, our lives, and the world we all share.  It was stated that when you engage students they will engage you as well.

 

 

V.   Conclusion

      A. Benefits of the impact of technologies on SCLEs

      B. Wrapping all the points together in a brief summary and conclusion

Chip,

It looks like you have researched this topic well. You seem to have all the basis covered and your paper looks to be a strong one.

My suggestion would be to separate the Internet and social networking into two separate subcategories. The reason being that they are similar, but I would imagine they would impact the SCLE differently. I hope this makes sense.

Your resources look strong, and I would say it looks like you have plenty of references to support your topic.

 

Thanks,

Randy