Using Technology to Facilitate Learning

In this activity, participants review the principles of learning as identified by InTime and then either engage in a technology-integrated lesson, watch videos, or analyze a technology-integrated lesson for the presence of the principles of learning. InTime, from the University of Northern Iowa, has established a model of education and several principles of learning and shares information on their website at http://www.intime.uni.edu/index.htm.

Step I: Principles of Learning

Share InTime's principles of learning with participants using the technology of your choice. For example, you might create a PowerPoint presentation that lists the principles, drop them into your course management system as a document, or go online and project them from the InTime site.

Principles of Learning

  1. Active involvement facilitates the construction of knowledge.
  2. Learning occurs when the learner is able to identify patterns, make connections and draw relationships.
  3. Learning occurs in both formal and informal settings.
  4. Direct experience helps shape individual understanding.
  5. Learning occurs best in the context of meaningful problems.
  6. Learning requires reflection.
  7. Learning occurs best in a cultural context that provides both enjoyable interaction and substantial personal support.
  8. Frequent, meaningful feedback provides opportunities for students to practice and refine what they have previously learned. (Callahan &Switzer, n.d.)

Step II: Looking at Lessons

Three options are included for this portion of the activity. Select the option that best fits your needs. In each case participants should be looking for evidence of the principles of learning.

Option I: Engaging in a Technology-Integrated Lesson

Materials:

  • Technology-integrated lesson
  • Additional materials as suggested in selected lesson
  1. Browse the COR lessons and select a lesson that is appropriate for your audience.
  2. Engage participants in the lesson. Instruct them to keep the principles of learning in mind as they work through the lesson.

Option II: Using Online Videos

Materials:

  • Computers with Internet access and ability to play online videos
  1. Select several online videos from the InTime collection.
    This link takes you to the Find a Video by Learning Element page of the InTime site. The drop-down menu requires that you select one of the principles of learning. Typically the videos that are returned demonstrate more than one of the principles of learning.
  2. Divide the participants into groups. Each group will watch a different video. It is advantageous for groups to watch the video more than once.
  3. Instruct participants to pay particular attention to what the teacher and students in the video are doing as they listen to the narrative describing the principles of learning.

Option III: Analyze a Lesson Plan

Materials:

  • Hard copies of the lesson plan
  1. Browse the COR lessons and select a lesson that is appropriate for your audience. Print and copy the lesson.
  2. Ask participants, either individually or in teams, to analyze the lesson looking for evidence of the principles of learning.

Step III: Analysis and Discussion

  1. Ask each team or individual to identify the principles of learning that were demonstrated in their lesson. As they are sharing, they should also share the evidence from their experience that supports their observation.
  2. Use the technology of your choice to record the principles of learning and supporting evidence each team shares (i.e. PowerPoint, SmartBoard, computer and projector).
  3. Lead a whole-group discussion about the impact of the technology on learning. The following guiding questions could be used for starters.
    1. What role did technology play in supporting the principles of learning?
    2. How could the principles of learning demonstrated in these lessons be supported without the use of technology?
    3. Describe the behavior of the teacher in these lessons.
    4. Describe the role of the student in these lessons.

Reference:

Callahan, W.P. and Switzer, T.J. (n.d.). Technology as Facilitator of Quality Education: A Model. InTime. Retrieved online at http://www.intime.uni.edu/index.htm on December 12, 2005.