Reflection Journal 11

Video Sharing and Constructivism

I think video sharing is a great tool to use in a constructivist classroom. Websites like You Tube and Flicker give students the opportunity to post and comment on different media. As a teacher I have the option to pick and choose certain videos or images to have students look at. After students look at the media they can post comments or write reflections about what they thought and learned about. The students can also see what other classmates wrote about and make comments as well. These sites can make for a great class discussion at school. I think it is amazing how easy it is to share media on the internet for educational purposes.

Reflection Journal 10

E-Portfolios

When I was getting ready to graduate from college my degree program started using e-folios instead of the old tradition portfoilio. This was a relief for me because I am not the most organized person in the world. The e-folio was a great change for me because I was able to scan my work on the computer and not worry about losing the my work sample afterwords. I think the e-polio is a wonderful creation great for teachers and students alike. I think it is great for teachers to see students progress but students can use their portfolio as a motivating skill as well.

The e-folio has many different purposes. It can be used to store written work, art, reflections, tests, and much more. I hope more teachers will start storing student work through this program. It is much easier to look at student work . There is also a lot less paperwork to go through.

Resource Logs 44-54

Authentic Learning & Instruction

44. Cavanagh, S. (2004, April 28). Survey: Teachers support real-world learning. Education Week, 23(33), 17-17. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from Academic Search Premier database.

45. Educational Broadcasting Corporation. (2004). Workshop: Constructivism as a paradigm for teaching and learning. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/index_sub4.html

46. Experiential Learning. (n. d.). In Encarta Dictionary Online. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/dictioaryhome.aspx.

47. Herrington, J., & Kervin, L. (2007, September). Authentic learning supported by technology: Ten suggestions and cases of integration in classrooms. Educational Media International, 44(3), 219-236. Retrieved February 24, 2009, doi:10.1080/09523980701491666

48. Honebein, P. C. (1996). Seven goals for the design of constructivist learning environments. Constructivist Learning Environments.

49. Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R.M., & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful learning with technology (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc

50. Mims, C. (2003, Winter). Authentic learning: A practical introduction and guide for implementation. Meridian: A Middle School Computer Technologies Journal, 6(1). Retrieved from http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/win2003/authentic_learning/

51. National Geographic Society (2009). Forces of Nature. Retrieved February 25, 2009 from, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature/interactive/index.html?section=t

52. North Dakota Teaching with Technology (TWT) Initiative. (2003). Authentic learning. Retrieved from http://www.ndtwt.org/Blackboard/P2SST2/authenticlearning.htm

53. Rule, A.C. (2006, August). Editorial: The components of authentic learning. Journal of Authentic
Learning, 3(1), 1-10. Retrieved from Directory of Open Access Journals database.

54. Zaulkernan, I.A. (2004, May). Towards a framework for developing authentic constructivist learning environments in semantically rich domains. Knowledge Platform. Retrieved from http://www.knowledgeplatform.com/Content/Pdfs/constructivist_semantically_rich_domains.pdf

Resource Logs 34-43

All of these resources support ways to assess student work in a constructivist classroom.

34.University of Saskatchewan College of Education. (1995). Evaluation of Constructivist Learning. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/Skaalid/eval.html.

35. Constructivist Teaching Methods. (n.d.) Retrieved on March 8, 2009 from The Psychology Wiki: http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Constructivist_teaching_methods#Constructivist_assessment

36. Gallager, C. (2009). Kairos and Informative Assessment: Rethinking the Formative/Summative Distinction in Nebraska. Theory into Practice, (48) 1, 81-88. Retrieved on March 17, 2009 from ERIC database. DOI: 10.1080/00405840802577676.

37. Holt, D. G. & Willard-Holt, C. (2000). "Let's get real – students solving authentic corporate problems". Phi Delta Kappan 82 (3).

38. Miami Museum of Science. (2001.) Constructivism and the Five E's. Retrieved on March 14, 2009 from http://www.miamisci.org/ph/lpintro5e.html

39. North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. (1993). Assessment in a Constructivist Classroom. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from Learning Point Associates Web site: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs?areas/issues/methods/assment/as7const.htm

40 Ohlsen, M.T. (2007). Classroom Assessment Practices of Secondary School Members of NCTM. American Secondary Education, (36) 1, 4-14. Retrieved on March 24, 2009 from ERIC database.

41. Price, M., O'Donovan, B., Rust, C. (2007). Putting a Social-Constructivist Assessment Process Model into Practice: Building the Feedback Loop into the Assessment Process through Peer Review. Innovations in Education & Teaching International, v44 n2.Retrieved from ERIC on March 17, 2009.

42. Reeves, T.C. & Okey J.R. (2004). Alternative Assessments for Constructivist Learning Environments. In Constructivist Learning Environments: Cases in Instructional Design. Brent G. Wilson (ed.). Forward by: David N. Perkins. Educational Technology Publications: Englewood Cliffs New Jersey. Retrieved March 15, 2009 from https://www.fdi.vt.edu/summer/2004/Content/TrackG/Unit4/PDF/reeves.pdf.

43. Skaalid, B. (n.d.) Evaluation of Constructivism Learning. Retrieved on March 6, 2009 from http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/Skaalid/eval.html (originally from "The Impact of Constructivism (and Postmodernism) on ID Fundamentals". Wilson, Teslow, & Osman-Jouchoux).

Reflection Journal 9

Blogs for Journaling and More!!

This week I wrote my wiki text for class on how Blogging is an excellent way to journal for personal knowledge construction. Blogging is a great newer technology that enables educators to expand learning by the use of blogs. Originally Blogs were used to tract the pages on the World Wide Web but today they are used for every topic imaginable.

As an educator today many teachers are turning to Blogs for classroom discussions , journaling, responses to images and much more. This type of writing is giving students an wonderful opportunity to improve not only writing skills but high level thinking.

Blogging is a great addition to the concept of constructivism. Students can organize group work and write and respond back and forth on the internet through the use of blogs. I am a big fan and hope more teacher start to implement the use of blogs in the classroom.

Resource Logs 27-32

All websites below offer good information on why Blogging is a great tool for teachers to use in a Constructivist classroom

27. Uses of Blogs in Education

Downes, S. (n.d.). Uses of Blogs in Education. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from Educational Blogging Web site: http://www.pembinatrails.ca/program/technology/uses_of_blogs_in_education.htm

28.Constructivism as a Paradim for Teaching and Learning

Educational Broadcasting Corporation. (2004). Constructivism as a Paradigm forTeaching and Learning. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/ constructivism/explor_sub5.html

29. Blogging? It's Elementary, My Dear Watson!

Jackson, L. (2005, April 13). Blogging? It's Elementary,My Dear Watson! . Retrieved April 15, 2009, from Educational World Web site: http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech217.shtml

30. Languages for Social Cohesion

Languages for Social Cohesion. (n.d.). A peer-to-peer collaborative writing platform for language learning. In Web Journals in Language Education . Retrieved April 15, 2009, from http://www.ecml.at/mtp2/Blogs/html/BLOGS_E_pdesc.htm

31. Blogging in Online Education

Leslie, S. (2005, January 27). Blogging in Online Education: . Retrieved April 15, 2009, from http://www.slideshare.net/sleslie/using-blogs-in-online-education

32. Blogging and Journaling are the same but differnet

Technical Committee on Learning Technology. (2006, October). Blogging and Journaling are the same, but different. Learning Technology, 8 4(4). Retrieved April 14, 2009, from IEEE Computer Society Web site: http://lttf.ieee.org/learn_tech/issues/october2006/index.html#_Toc148658498

33.Introduction to Blogging!

Word Press Organization. (n.d.). Introduction to Blogging. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from Codex Website: http://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging

Reflection Journal 8

What are the five E's in Constructivism
This week I am researching how to evaluate or assess the learning in a constructivist classroom. Once source I ran across has some really good information on how to assess this type of learning. The Miami Museum of Science published a webpage called "Constructivism and the five E's." The E's consists of engaging, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. Each E is a different stage. The first E engage is the part of learning where the student identifies past learning and makes connections present learning objectives. The second E explore is done by getting students to participate in hands on learning. Students may do this stage in small groups of teams. The third E explain is when students develop their ideas based on the learning experiences done while they were exploring. The fourth E elaborate means the students will expand what they have learned and try to apply it to real world experiences. The final E evaluate is done when students fill out their own assessments over what they learned from a particular lesson. Teachers will also conduct an assessment such as a rubric or a checklist to determine the students learning.
After reading about the five E's I realized this method is something we are taught in school on how to really help students learn the curriculum. Even though constructivism seemed like a new subject to me i am starting to realize how close to my classroom it is. I use the five E's when teaching many of my classroom objectives.

Resource Logs 22-26

I have found a few different websites that have quality information about using assessment in a constructivist classroom.

Resource 22: THE INTERNET ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF PERSONAL CONSTRUCT PSYCHOLOGY

Neimeyer, R. A., & Levitt, H. (2004, February 15). Constructivist Assessment. In The Internet Encyclopaedia of Personal Constuct Psycology. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from http://www.pcp-net.org/encyclopaedia/assess.html

Resource 23: Assessment in a Constructivist Classroom

North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. (1993). Assessment in a Constructivist Classroom. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from Learning Point Associates Web site: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/ areas/issues/methods/assment/as7const.htm

Resource 24: Evaluation of COnstructivist Learning

University of Saskatchewan College of Education. (1995). Evaluation of Constructivist Learning. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/ c802papers/Skaalideval.html

Resource 25: Constructivism and the five E's

Miami Museum of Science. (2001). Constructivism and the Five E's. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from http://www.miamisci.org/ph/lpintro5e.html

Resource 26: GUIDELINES AND CHECKLIST FOR CONSTRUCTIVIST EVALUATION

Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2001, November). Guidlines and Checklist for COnstructivist Evaluation. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from Western Michigan University Web site: http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/checklists/constructivisteval.htm#2

Resource Log 21

Learning Styles

This webpage has a chart that gives good examples of how people with different learning styles comprehend information. When I looked at the date on this webpage information I was shocked. I feel the chart is still applicable today and so I posted it here. .

Rose, C. (1987). Learning Styles. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from Accelerated Learning Web site: http://www.chaminade.org/INSPIRE/learnstl.htm

Resource Log 20

Classroom Democracy


I came across and intriguing article about a social studies teacher using democracy as part of the classroom environment. It wasn't her just teaching democracy she was enabling her class to use a democratic process in the classroom. Her student had made their own classroom bill of rights and students rights in the class. It is very interesting. The students are giving choice which is very important especially to teenagers.

Shaw, L. (2003, March 13). Democratic Classroom [Teaching Social Studies]. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from Learning Central database: http://www.learningcentral.org/plp/nec/plpportfolios.nsf/ WorkSlidesByFolder/86256D0D0059A21487256E7A00738FAD?OpenDocument

Resource Log 19

This is an interesting article about the history of democracy and how it applies to teaching. This is part of developing a learning community. This is one of the chapters discussed in the wiki book.


Pryor, C. R. (2004, Winter). Creating a Democratic Classroom: Three Themes for Citizen Teacher Reflection. In Reference Publications. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from Kappa Delta Pi Record Web site: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4 009 /is_200401 /ai_n9395744.

Resource Log 18

Assessment Resources for Teachers!!!

This website has links to all different authentic assessment resources. There are rubrics, performance assessments, and links on how to help teachers create better forms of assessment to judge students learning.


Vandervelde, J. (2008, October 25). Online Assessment Resources for Teachers. In Authentic Assessment. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from University of Wisconsin-Stout Web site: http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/assess.shtml

Resource Log 17

Authentic Assessment

There are many ways to judge or grade the performance of students in class. This article shows the difference between tradition assessment methods and using authentic assessments. An example of traditional assessment would be selecting a response. An example of using authentic assessment would be performing a task.


Mueller, J. (2008). What is Authentic Assessment. In Authentic Assessment Toolbox. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/whatisit.htm

Resource Log 16

The Council for Exceptional Children's take on Authentic Learning!

This is another article about authentic learning. It gives another good description of what this types of learning is. It also gives teachers ideas on how they can change there lessons to make a better learning environment. It doesn't really apply technology but I sure most creative teachers could come up with some ways to incorporate it anyway.


Council for Exceptional Children. (2007). Authentic Learning. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Experiential_Learning&Template=/TaggedPage/ TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=24&ContentID=4697

Reflection Journal 7

This past week I have been investigating what authentic learning is. I have found a few very interesting articles about what it is and how I should be incorporating it into my classroom. I have always felt learning by doing is the best way for students to really understand learning objectives. I myself did not always learn much by just having a teacher tell me about a subject. I needed to have a hands on learning experience to fully understand course material. This is why I chose to teach in the Applied Technology department at my school. Most of my lessons are paired up with some type of experiment or real world application. This semester my Culinary Arts students are hosting a catering event for teachers in my building. It will be set up just like an event in a restaurant or banquet. They have many different jobs and they also will have to figure food costs and see if we make a profit. They all like to make food but we are teaching them how to use their experience with food as a possible career path. It is very cool and I am excited for them.

Resource Log 15

Authentic Learning for the 21st Century!!!

This journal article gives great information of what authentic learning is. It also is a really good article because it discusses ways to incorporate technology into the learning process. Is is a great article. I can't post it in my chapter 3 sandbox but I do want to use the some of the information for our wiki book. If you are participating in the chapter 3 wiki please take a look.


Lombardi, M. M. (2007, March). Authentic Learning for the 21st Century. Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved February 13, 2007, from Educause Web site: http://net.educause.edu/ir/ library/pdf/ELI3009.pdf

Resource Log 14

Real-world learning in a virtual environment

A former North Carolina Technology & Learning Teacher of the Year talks about how she worked with the North Carolina Zoo to get students excited about learning.

Walbert, D. (n.d.). Real-world learning in a virtual environment. In Learn NC. Retrieved February 11, 2009, from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Web site: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/ pages/802

Resource Log 13

Real World Learning with the Hybrid Model

This is an interesting article about the concept of real world leaning. It gives a great summary.

Spilka, R. (2002, March 20). Approximately "Real World" Learning with the Hybrid Model. Teaching with Technology Today, 8(6). Retrieved February 11, 2009, from http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/articles/ spilka.htm

Reflections Journal 6

Student Centered Learning

After spending time reading through different theorists and getting a better idea of what constructivism is I am ready to apply it to my lessons. I feel I do already use a lot of student centered learning activities but many of them do not include technology. I have thought about how I can change my class while using the same curriculum. My students usually fill out journal after hands on cooking lab. They will usually have a few refection questions to answer. I think I am going to transform this into a class blog for the students to talk about the labs. I would like to use a program where each student could set up their own blog like the one we have in this class. Are there any suggestions for other blog sites teachers are using? I need something that I can have a lot of control over. Another idea I have is creating a recipe quest for my students. I want my students to be able to find good recipes to use in our class that apply the concepts we are learning in the chapter.
I know students really enjoy using the computer labs at school and are often more likely to be engaged in an assignment if we use computers. The only problem is we are only allowed to use the computer labs so many times a quarter. I am concerned about getting the students to comment on blogs as a homework assignment because some of my students do not have a computer or the internet. I think I may try the blog assignment as an extra credit opportunity to get it started.

Resource Log 13

Constructivist Design Conference

After watching a clip on teacher centered learning I looked for some videos on Student Centered Learning. I came across this short video on the Constructivist Design Conference. I thought this type of conference would be a really great staff development opportunity for my school. The conference focuses on having teachers do the same activities they want the teachers take back and use in their own classrooms. I thought it was very interesting.

Mesibov, D. (2008, October 29). Constructivist Design Conference 2007 pt. 1. Message posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzzli9P3NLI