EPY 370

Upon reflection of the Weblog activity and subsequent activities and discussions, I believe I have gained a new understanding for the purpose of the Internet. In the beginning of this class, I knew how to utilize the Internet to my advantage, but I did not know why I believed it was so useful. I will agree that the Weblog activities have informed me of some uses of the Web that I was not aware of, such as the availability of Subject Directories like ”MERLOT”.  However, I believe the most important thing that I have gained through this activity is an understanding for why I think the Internet can be so useful to students, and people in general, based on Vygotsky’s theory of Cognitive Development.

Vygotsky’s theory of Cognitive Development says that people learn through the use of social tools and through people’s cultures and societies (Snowman & Biehler, 2005). The Internet is, without a doubt, one of the most highly informative and widely utilized resources for Americans, as well as many other societies around the world. Not only does the Internet provide us with a source for information, it provides us with the ability to discuss that information with other people through chatrooms, message boards and webcams. That being said, the Internet is certainly a social tool that can help aide and stimulate learning for anyone who has access to it.

I have made a few other connections between my previous understanding of the Internet’s purpose and Educational Psychology principles. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I stumbled upon the realization that the Internet can be used as a way to accomodate disabled students’ learning. There is also the chance that people, because of diversity issues such as poverty or a person’s living environment, will not have access to the Web, which could limit their ability to learn (Snowman & Biehler, 2005).

In conclusion, what I find to be the most intriguing part of applying Psychological theories to the use of the Internet is the fact that so many principles can be used to describe and define the practicality of utilizing it. For example, I could express how I believe that Gardner’s theory of Intelligence explains how a person can learn using the Internet in that the person had logical-mathematical intelligence and was therefore able to navigate the Internet skillfully (Snowman & Biehler, 2005). I believe that since I spent so much time reflecting on and applying the different principles in Educational Psychology, I have learned many different ways to identify them and utilize them in my thought process.

References:

Snowman, J., & Biehler, R. (2005). Psychology applied to teaching (11^th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 

Cool School – Global Schoolhouse’s Connected World

This youtube.com video demonstrates how students in schools can benefit from talking to other children around the country using the Internet. The students are using a webcam, a small camera that sends video over the Internet, to view and speak with other students from different states in real time. The students get to learn about other people's cultures and lifestyles without leaving their schools. The use of this technology may also be advantageous for the teachers of these classes because they can learn new methods of instruction from the teachers of the other classrooms. If you would like to find out more about this exciting and educational use of Internet social networking, please visit the foundations' website at http://www.globalschoolnet.org/.

EduSims…

This looks so interesting…I’ll have to do a bit more investigating.

Check it out here: Mashable: Edusims

About Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can be a worrysome topic for many parents whose children are internet-active. Here is a blog specifically directed at the subject: Dealing with Cyberbullies: No Easy Answers.

A realization and a memory

While researching some subject directories suggested by my Professor, I came upon a sudden realization. I was viewing a website that was dedicated to disabled people in order to keep them socially active and informed and realized that this is a wonderful use of social networking and the Internet in general. The website is now located on this blog page under The International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet,

I remember watching a 20/20 episode, or a similar show, which was about a young boy who could not leave his home due to illness. Instead, the local school district and the boy’s family set up his room like a digital classroom. He had visual accessibility to his actual classroom and had the capability of vocally and visually interacting with his classmates. The boy was able to send in his work via e-mail and had all the resources the other children had in class.

I am surprised that I forgot about this wonderful use of technology. People who are disabled or chronically ill may not have the ability to physically enter a classroom or communicate properly with other students or faculty. Entering a computer into the equation makes the problem much easier to solve. No, the child is not physically experiencing everything in a first-hand manner, but he may not be capable of doing so. This new technology grants the child the ability and provides him with irreplacable experiences.

Kids to the Moon

I just found a cool little contest that is going on through Google. Middle school and high school students are being called upon to design a robot for moon exploration.

 Read more here: Mashable: Google Lunar-x

New Beginnings

Hello all and welcome to my new blog. I am putting this blog together in order to simplify and organize the newest developments in education and technological advancements in social networking. I am intending on connecting these new developments with teachers, families and students through this blog.