EDU 528 Notes EDU 528 Notes Information collection of materials Information collection of materials

Introduction to Computers ► What is a computer? ► A computer is an electronic machine, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory that can accept data, manipulate the data according to specified rules, produce results, and store the results for future use.

Intro to Computers  Data and Information  GOOGLE GOOGLE  Data is a collection of raw unprocessed facts, figures, and symbols. Computers process data to create information.  Information is data that is organized, meaningful and useful.

Intro to Computers  Inside a Computer  Two main components on the mother board are the central processing unit and memory. The CPU also called a processor is the electronic device that interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate the computer.  During processing, the processor places instructions to be executed and data needed by those instructions into memory. Memory is a temporary holding place for data and instructions.

Intro to Computers Hard Drive – consists of several inflexible, circular disks, called platters. A platter in a hard disk is made of aluminum, glass or ceramic and is coated with a material that allows data to be magnetically recorded on its surface. Hard Drive – consists of several inflexible, circular disks, called platters. A platter in a hard disk is made of aluminum, glass or ceramic and is coated with a material that allows data to be magnetically recorded on its surface.

Intro to Computers Operating System – Contains instructions that coordinate all of the activities of the hardware devised in a computer. The operating system must be loaded from the hard disk into the computer’s memory. Each time you start your computer the operating system is loaded or copied into memory from the computer’s hard disk.

DIGITAL STUDENTS: WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY LEARN  Today’s youth are media centric. It is believed that the brains of today’s youths have actually become rewired to accommodate the thousands of hours they spend in front of a computer screen watching and creating video, listening to music and playing computer games.

Communications Networks Digital vs. analog signals –Modem ExternalInternal –Network Interface Cards Local Area Network (LAN) –Covers limited geographical area –Server manages resources Wide Area Networks (WAN) –Covers large geographical area –Can consist of several LANs

Home networks –Connects multiple computers in home –Share internet access School network server Example Classroom –3 Macintosh computers –1 printer Example school network –Classrooms –Administration –Computer Lab High speed or Broadband Access –Gov’t works to provide high speed Internet access to classrooms –Broadband technology transmits signals at much faster speeds

What is the Internet? Worldwide group of connected networks that allow public access to information and services No single organization owns or controls Estimated over one billion users Variety of users The world’s largest network is the Internet, which is a worldwide collection of networks that link together millions of businesses, governments, educational institutions, and individuals.

History of the Internet  Started as a network of four computers at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1969  Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) – ARPANET  More than 200 million computers today  Backbone first provided by National Science Foundation (NSF) – NSFnet  In the case of nuclear holocaust, government wanted a way to communicate if need of nuclear war occurred

 Backbone now provided by a variety of corporations  Various organizations help define standards  Internet2 (I2) Extremely high-speech network Develop and test latest Internet technologies Members include over 190 universities in the United States, along with 60 companies and the United States government

How the Internet Works Data is divided into packets Data is divided into packets Routers send packets across the Internet Routers send packets across the Internet Packet switching Packet switching Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) is the communications protocol used by the Internet Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) is the communications protocol used by the Internet Internet Addresses Internet Addresses –Numeric addresses –Domain name Domain type abbreviations Domain type abbreviations Country code abbreviations Country code abbreviations

The World Wide Web Started in the early 1990s Started in the early 1990s Hyperlinks Hyperlinks Uniform Resource Locator (URL) Uniform Resource Locator (URL) Hypertext transfer protocol Hypertext transfer protocol How a Web Page Works How a Web Page Works Hypertext Hypertext Hyperlinks Hyperlinks Target Target Relative Relative Absolute Absolute

Information Overload  The amount of information available to people is growing every day – as scientists uncover new facts; physicians develop improved treatments; technology firms design unprecedented products; and journalists record history in the making. Technologies such as digital media CDs, DVDs, and digital media on the World Wide Web make this vast – some say overwhelming – amount of information easily available to teachers and students. As a result of this potential information overload, experts worry that students might be spending more time sifting through information than actually applying and utilizing information. What do you think? Can there ever be too much information? Why or why not? How could too much information adversely affect teachers and students? What can be done about information overload? How can teachers help students avoid this?

What is Curriculum?  The knowledge, skills, and performance standards students are expected to acquire in particular grade levels  The Learning Curve plagues the teacher consistently Learn a lot of information in a small amount of time  Plan or written document

What is Curriculum?  Curriculum Standards and Benchmarks Curriculum standard  Defines what a student is expected to know at certain stages of education Benchmark  Specific, measurable learning objective

What is Technology Integration?  Combining of all technology parts, such as hardware and software, together with each subject-related area of curriculum to enhance learning  Establish connections between subject matter and the real world

What is Technology Integration?  Curriculum drives technology  Classroom integration versus Traditional Computer Labs Computer Labs  A designated classroom filled with computers  Teachers schedule time to use the labs for many purposes Point of Instruction  Teachable moments

The Classroom in Action  Introduction to Mr. Balado’s classroom Five student computers networked to the school’s local area network and the World Wide Web Instructional computer with access to the Web and connected to a large television set Allows Mr. Balado to access vast amounts of information

Integrating Technology into the Classroom Technology can motivate students and increase class attendance Technology must be integrated into the curriculum –Identify goals –Develop innovative ways to teach a diverse population of learners with different learning styles

Changing Instructional Strategies Teachers are shifting from being the dispenser of knowledge to being the facilitator of learning –Students can accomplish learning with the teachers’ assistance –Learning is not just storage of knowledge, but includes problem solving

Wellivers Instructional Transformation Model Familiarization – Teachers become aware of technology and its potential uses. Utilization – Teachers use technology, but minor problems will cause teachers to discontinue its use. Integration – Technology becomes essential for the educational process and teachers are constantly thinking of ways to use technology in their classrooms. Reorientation – Teachers begin to rethink the educational goals of the classroom with the use of technology. Revolution – The evolving classroom becomes completely integrated with technology in all subject areas. Technology becomes an invisible tool that is seamlessly woven into the teaching and learning process.

Barriers to Technology Integration Lack of teacher training Lack of administration support Limited time for teacher planning Placement of computers in remote locations Budget constraints

With Proper Technology Training, Teachers: Create relationships between active learning and active teaching. Develop an appreciation and an understanding of the potential of technology. Learn to be creators of digital media. Develop leadership skills and become role models for successful integration. Understand the power of technology integration. Design integrated curriculum activities. Learn the benefits of technology in the classroom. Develop ownership of the technology through authentic experiences. Learn to motivate students with technology. Achieve success by becoming informed and reflective decision makers. Become advocates for technology integration.

Technology Integration and the Learning Process The Learning Process –Authentic Learning Instructional activities that demonstrate real-life connections by associating the concept being taught with a real-life activity or event –Active Learning Students become active in the learning process –Anchored instruction Providing a knowledge base on which students can build –Problem-based instruction Students use the background (anchor) information to solve complex problems –Discovery Learning Inquire-based method for teaching and learning

Learning Theories and Educational Research Learning The process of gaining knowledge or skills acquired through instruction or study, or to modify behavior through exposure to a type of conditioning or form of gaining experience Theory A scientific set of principles presented to clarify or explain a phenomenon Learning Theories Provide frameworks for interpreting the conditions and observations of teaching and learning and provide the bridge between education and research

Behaviorism Learning as it relates to behavior Teachers cannot communicate information well if they cannot control student behavior Positive and negative rewards

Behaviorism Ivan Pavlov Famous for behavioral experiments with dogs Classic conditioning B.F. Skinner Operant Conditioning Learning is controlled and results in shaping behavior through the reinforcement of stimulus response patterns Reinforcement

Behaviorism Albert Bandura Focuses on motivational factors and self-regulatory mechanisms that contribute to a person’s behavior Social Cognitive Theory People acquire behaviors through the observation of others "People who regard themselves as highly efficacious act, think, and feel differently from those who perceive themselves as inefficacious. They produce their own future, rather than simply foretell it." Albert Bandura

Cognitivist Cognitive theory Activities like thinking and remembering seem like a behavior Thinking plays a role

Cognitivist Alan Paivio Dual coding theory assumes that people process information in two distinctly different ways Processing for images Processing for language Three sub processes Representational Verbal or nonverbal representations are directly influenced Referential Deals with when verbal system is activated by nonverbal communication and vise versa Associative When both text based and graphic representations involved

Cognitivist Robert Gagne Psychologist and educator Three principles for successful instruction Providing instruction on the set of component tasks that build toward a final task Ensuring that each component task is mastered Sequencing the component tasks to ensure optimal transfer to the final task

Cognitivist continued… Five Categories of Learning Categories of Learning Outcomes Verbal information Intellectual skills; composed of concrete and defined concepts Cognitive strategies Motor skills Attitudes Examples of Outcomes Learner can state what has been learned Learner can discriminate between facts, can identify colors, and can follow directions Learner reads books Learner can use a mouse or joystick Learner prefers reading to watching T.V.

Cognitivist continues… Nine events of instruction Gain attention of the learners Inform learners of the objective Stimulate recall of prior learning Present the stimulus or lesson Provide learning guidance and instruction Elicit performance Provide feedback Assess performance Enhance retention and transfer

Connecting with Today’s Kids Through Game-Based Learning Learning games have been the center of considerable controversy and discussion in recent years Thirty-six learning principles can be found in all successful video games, regardless of content

Connecting with Today’s Kids Through Game-Based Learning Learning Principles Found in Successful Video Games How players form an identity to buy into the content How players learn to connect different symbol systems (words, symbols, artifacts) How players choose between various methods to solve a problem How players identify, filter, and utilize different nonverbal cues How players leverage their knowledge to reapply solutions learned from one situation to newly discovered ones How players identify and develop a sense for story