Pedagogy+and+Technology

B. Create new learning environments and develop new roles of teacher and learner.

 * ==What constitutes a so-called "Learning environment?"== ||
 * **A learning environment is any place, real or virtual, structured or unstructured, where learning happens.**

**Examples of “Learning Environments”:** Create an environment that allows for social and cognitive growth
 * **Ski slope**
 * **Webquest**
 * **Video games**
 * **Kitchen**
 * **School / school bus**
 * **After-school program**
 * **Rhode Island coastline**
 * **Hell’s Kitchen**
 * **Super Mario Brothers**
 * **Life**
 * **Golf course**
 * **Poker table**
 * **Swimming pool**
 * **Constructivist Classrooms** ||
 * ==What are these "new roles" of the teacher and student?== ||
 * **Teacher Roles:**
 * flexible grouping
 * personal relationships
 * trust (approachable/accessible)
 * consider culture and backgrounds
 * Guide students, provide support when necessary (facilitate)
 * Provide activities that motivate students
 * consider/integrate student interest
 * Relate to students interest and events in their lives (be hip)
 * Mediator
 * Facilitator ||
 * **Student Roles:**
 * Collaborate with peers
 * Seek support when needed (from teacher, peers, professional, web & text resources)
 * Take ownership of learning (Self-advocate)
 * Technologically literate
 * Research skills
 * Scaffold learning to help create new ideas and strategies
 * Students care about understanding subject material rather than simply finishing an assignment
 * Relate new material to what he or she already knows ||
 * ==What is learner-centered pedagogy?== ||
 * * Topic is authentic, desirable and meaningful to the student
 * Problems are ill-defined to allow for investigatory, creativity, and ownership of of learning/information
 * Students are able to make meaningful connections between ideas and skills learned in the classroom to those in the real world
 * Students can:
 * synthesize information
 * form and test hypotheses
 * draw from prior knowledge/personal experience
 * solve problems
 * draw conclusions
 * Provide support for their ideas ||
 * ==How can technology help create environments driven by learners, not by teachers?== ||
 * * Create situations where the student can manipulate variables in order figure to out different possible outcomes
 * Learners are more likely comfortable and familiar with use of technological tools
 * Can often offer immediate personalized feedback to help learners set learning goals
 * Provide environments where learners can communicate and collaborate in a exclusive place
 * Pose questions using clickers to obtain a true picture of what the majority of learners in a class know and do not know to clear up misconceptions
 * Create environments and social learning networks with their peers
 * Customizable to fit the individual user/learner needs ||