How can technology support student understanding and building of knowledge?

Technology can help support understanding and knowledge in many ways. Using short video's found on U tube can help reinforce a topic that is discussed in class. Having a student create and present a power point on a particular subject. Students have the ability to research additional information quickly by searching a topic on the Internet. Students who are shy can communicate through social networking sites and create their own web sites or blogs.

What do students need to know before engaging in Internet searches and online social networking sites?

Before students can use the Internet to search for information they need to learn some basics. There are many different sites that can be used, some are better than others for different types of research. Many search sites work in a similar manner but some will have more recent and relevant information. One site I have found to work well is Bing.com. Students need to know how to narrow down a topic that they are researching so that they do not have to look at to much irrelevant information.

Social networking is something that I believe has its place, and can be a useful tool for students. However, it also has many inherent problems for students and can be very harmful.

My own experience with social networking is what I have discovered with my teenage daughters. I have always allowed my teenage daughters to us social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook. My children have used these sites for communicating with their friends and for the most part have been responsible using these sites. They keep their profiles on private and are very careful who they let communicate with them. We have had problems with others being able to post comments on their sites and sometimes make threats. I once printed out these threats and gave them to the parent of the child who sent them. She commented that she did not even know how to use a computer and did not know how to monitor her child when she was online.

We would not let our children take the car without setting up some rules and limits. When they use the car we need to know where they are going, with whom, and when they will be home. We should set the same limits on social networking what site are they using, who are they communicating with, and how long they can spend doing this each day.

You Tube and Increased Knowledge

The video I have chosen to use in my blog addresses the importance of verbal and non verbal communication during a job interview.

I would use this video in my Employability Skills class when we discuss the topic on interviewing skills. I currently discuss the areas that are brought up in the video, but I think that by watching this video it will help reinforce what we discuss. The clip was from a channel 5 news with an anchor discussing the topic with a comminications expert.

According to (Cruse) in her article Using Educational Video in the Classroom: Theory, Research and Practice , research show that by using video in the classroom it helps to reinforce lecture material, and enhances students comprehension and discussions.

Learning

I do not know that I have a theory of learning or more of an observation. I believe for learning to occur there has to be some motivation. It can be a simple interest in something, some importance or relevance to an individual, or simply because it is required. Learning occurs on all different levels, and I am a firm believer that in order to really understand something there has to be some reinforcement and a connection to something relevant.

I teach mainly to adults who need to learn skills that will help them get a better job or are in the process of changing careers. My students need to acquire knowledge quickly and become proficient in a skill in a short amount of time. I need to use different techniques to help my students not only acquire the skill but understand the importance of it and how to apply their knowledge.

I believe students learn better when they are given real world situations they can relate too. My classes are mainly technology based so the students need as much time as possible to practice the skills. Researching using technology is very important to link the skill they have learned to something practical, which in my students case is a job. Discussions of real situations and coming up with solutions to problems that occur enhances the learning process as well.