Response to Chapter 1

1. What is your first impression of this textbook based on reading the preface and first chapter? The book wants to give us ideas on how learners can use technology. It also wants future teachers to learn ways to use technology that will allow their students to construct their own knowledge. The book seems to really want teachers to step back, which is something that is commonly taught in many of our classes. The book also wants us to take risks. The book so far seems to have good information and should be helpful.
2. Jonassen identifies 5 characteristics of meaningful learning. How do these 5 characteristics compare with your own understanding of what meaningful learning is? Active, constructive, intentional, authentic, and cooperative are the characteristics identified by Jonassen. I very much agree with these as a person needs to be actively involved in constructing their own knowledge. A person also needs to be intentionally fulfilling his or her goal to learn something. A person will also want to learn something a lot more if they can see how it is useful in the real world and it will the be more meaningful to them. People also learn well when working with others and can learn from others.
3. As a student you have observed the teaching process for more than 15 years. Some authors refer to this as an apprenticeship of observation. Reflecting back as a K-12 and college student, how have you seen technology used as teaching and learning tool? I have mostly seen technology used to teach as in learning from technology. I have seen many teachers use power points or videos to spit out information. In high school and college I also used technology as a tool to make work somewhat easy by using word processing and spreadsheets, etc. In elementary school, I do believe I was able to explore and learn with technology a little, but at the same time I was mostly just being taught how to use the technology.
4. In your own words, what is the difference between ‘learning from technology’ and ‘learning with technology’? Learning from technology is having some form of technology present the information to the students or using technology as a device to help practice learning. Learning with technology is using technology as a partner that helps a student explore learning but does not tell the student what to learn.
5. Who is David Jonassen? Find out more about his background and professional interests. David Jonassen is a professor at the University of Missouri and works with educational psychology and learning technologies. He has been on many committees that have involved educational technology. His professional interests are cognitive tools for learning, cognitive modeling/cognitive task analysis, problem solving, and systems dynamics/systems modeling.
6. Occasionally, you may come across unfamiliar terms in the reading. Rather than ignore them (a strategy struggling readers use), be sure to understand what these new words mean. This is great practice for the GRE. Also, when we discuss the readings in class, I will randomly call on students to define unfamiliar terms using their own words. For example, do you know what an ‘epiphenomenon’ is? Can you define the word ‘nascent’? Both of these terms are used in Ch. 1. Epiphenomenon- phenomenon that occurs with or results from another but is not necessarily related to it. nascent- recently coming into existence
7. Choose one question from the ‘Things to Think About’ section on pp. 10-12. Respond to this question. Be sure to identify the question to which you are responding. 10. I have tried to cook things I have watched on TV and have not been as successful as they are. Usually the chefs on TV shows a recipe or some tips but now how to actually cook. For instance, they do not show you how to knead dough, just what to do after it is kneaded. Also, observing them does not let me practice, and I think they make what they do look so easy because they have done it many more times than I have. For example, they probably chop vegetables at least 3 times faster than I do. Although, my dishes usually turn out tasting pretty good because of their recipes, the dishes do not look nearly as nice. Overall, I think you can get ideas from watching cooking shows but you will not learn to cook unless you experience it and practice.