Wednesday's Reflective Elluminate Discussion...

I really enjoy Wednesday whole class meetings. They are extremely educational because we receive many different opinions about all the topics for that week. Dr. S's blog was reviewed, and it discussed how students are not at all happy with the curriculum and how it is taught in schools. Even though that is something they do not decide, they are still the ones who are at risk. Is that fair? Why not involve something that it educational AND something that promotes creativity? When students are placed in an environment where different strategies that are fun and new are presented, they will have fun. When students have fun, they have the power to understand easier and like learning.
We briefly talked Webbits, which are smaller, yet effective, WebQuests. Webbits still require critical thinking and actively engage students to explore and investigate information at higher levels of thinking. The discussion about the Textbooks of the Future article was also very interesting. We are headed in the direction of everything becoming technologically-based, so seeing educational material such as an e-book, or a CD-Rom in a book bag instead of a 500 page book is something to expect in the future.
Inquiry-based learning was another thing discussed and something that I believe in tremendously. There is a quote from the article that I loved. It said, "Tell me and I forgot, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand." That quote was so powerful because when students are engaging in learning they are likely to understand more easily and effectively. Inquiry-based learning is a big picture of concepts that students need to be lifelong learners. When students are involved in the learning process, understanding is sure to follow.
The Ken Robibsin video was great. He was very funny, but so knowledgeable. I loved how he discussed linking creativity to learning and how they are very connected. Some on-line tools that promote creativity that I learned in this class are, Gliffy, blogging, WIKI, and Letterpop. The Gliffy site was very confusing. I tried using it and submitted a MindMap, but had a lot of trouble creating the big picture. However, I loved the Letterpop site. I was on it for about 2 hours and loved my finishing product. Tools like these are great educational opportunities where students can have the chance to show their creativity all while learning and understanding.
Are WebQuests Direct or Indirect instruction (or Inquiry)? I believe that they are Inquiry based where students have the freedom to search and explore the site, but the lesson and assignments are very directly given. Lessons are already planned around the WQ, however if there are many links, it allows the student to explore outside the given site and think at a higher level.
This was another successful class meeting where I learned a lot and am excited to get back to working on another creative newsletter!