Activity 4. Behaviourism

Dear Colleagues,

The most powerful lessons that I learnt about learner behaviour during this activity:
How we as teachers react to students appropriate and unappropriate behaviour determines if it will increase or decrease based on the choices (consequences) we present them with. Therefore, students may only have a change in their behaviour according to how we manage their behaviour.

Activity 3. Social Cognitive Theory - Reading 2

Dear Colleagues,

The most powerful lessons that I learnt from my learners during this activity about learning and teaching are:

1) Learning and teaching is a two way street
2) Learning and teaching involves observation
3) Learning and teaching depends on the environment created
4) Learning and teaching involves background knowledge
5) Learning and teaching is a ongoing life-long process

In addition from reading the self-activities I became more aware of the importance of Modelling.

As a result, my learners look at me as a role-model. Therefore, I must try and model the appropriate behaviour that I would also like them to exhibit, for example:
1) puntuality and regularity
2) confident in content
3) ability to collaborate and cooperate
4) ability to provide appropriate and timely feedback
5) ability to apply knowledge in given situations

In this day and age where information is so readily accessible by many, it is how persons are able to process the information allows them to construct meaning of their world and thus be able to survive within it.

Activity 2. Information Processing Approaches

Dear one and all,

Students need to know how they learn. The strategies and tactics that they may use to assist them to learn is important. As a result, facilitators of learning should help students to know what are their learning styles and methods that are appropriate for them.

Everyone have their strengths and weaknesses, however once they know what they are and how to work towards their learning goals, they will improve over time.

Activity 1. What is learning?

Dear one and all,

There are different theorist whose views on learning depend on their own thoughts and life experiences as a result, I believe that learning is a permanent change in behavoiur based on experiences that allow the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes.

In order for learning to occur there are many things that educators need to take into consideration. To mention just a few: students individual differences; mental processes, physical faculties, learning styles, motivation, values and beliefs, inter and intra-personal communication skills, personal experiences, previous knowledge and socio-economic background.

Therefore, it is important that the process of teaching and learning is based on responsibility, respect, trust, confidence in self and others, humility, affection and knowledge of the content and the how to apply it, and why it is important.

The self activities made me realize how much I know about how I learn, and still how much I need to know about learning and learners.

Just to give an example, doing this activity was a learning experience for me.

It showed clearly that everyone thinks, reasons, and perceive things based on their experience no matter if they are given the same information to read. As a result, it is really the way we incoorperate what we have observed, imitated, made connections with, memorized or inquired about that change us as individuals, and determines if we have learned anything.

Hello Activity

Dear one and all,

This is Terry-Ann Marsh-Roberts from the twin island state of Antigua and Barbuda, where tourism is everything; with the sun, sea and sand we have to offer from our 365 beaches.

I am an Educational Psychology and Research Methods lecturer at the Teacher Education Department of the Antigua State College.

I enjoy reading, cooking, travelling, hiking and swimming in addition to that, I love life and the people who I am blessed to share it with.

As a result, the students who I facilitate are aspiring teachers and seasoned teachers from a wide gamma of public and private institutions in Antigua and Barbuda.

Therefore, I strongly believe I will gain a variety of competences in this course as they relate to the teaching and learning process with the integration of ICT.

In relation to computer access, I have two computers at home, one faculty member laptop, along with a 20 computer equipped classroom (at one of the two Teacher Education locations).

In addition to the before mentioned information, there is one other thing that I have now found enjoyment in, that is participating in this CCTI course as it allows interaction between other educators and acquisition of ICT knowledge, etc.