How I Learn Collage - Joseph Birk by Joseph Birk

science/research within educational psychology

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:36:21 UTC

The study conducted focuses on showing a lack of difference of learning between people who fall under different "learning styles". This article aims to challenge a preconceived myth (learning styles) by suggesting a different approach to the idea of different learning types (evidence-based approaches).

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Example article found on EBSCO, authored by Anna Touloumakos et al., published on 29 August 2023.

Preschool - Scaffolding

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:36:48 UTC

Scaffolding is used in teaching the alphabet in preschool, in order to prepare for when the alphabet is in full. One way this can be done is through physical cards, in which the letters are taught one by one and taken away until the full task of singing/reciting the alphabet is learned in full.

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Example of alphabet card used in a preschool class, taken from a full chart at https://doozymoo.com/alphabet-worksheets/.

Elementary - Digital Tools & Metacognition

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:37:00 UTC

Presentations in class can be tied into an elementary version of metacognition. In order to stay on task and effectively present the information from a student-made presentation, students must think about how they will present the information later on, and not create a situation of having to think on the spot. Creating the presentation and drawing in the video involved learning pronunciations and organizing information, as to streamline my sources into a presentable piece. The video above also shows my lack of proper thinking of the presentation at 0:47, when I realized I failed to include a visual component.

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Video from Nick Moore on YouTube, "Joey B", uploaded 7 April 2014.

Secondary - Creative Writing

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:37:05 UTC

Pictured is my "Young Authors" book from 2016, in which I was tasked with creating an original story with illustrations. This task builds on the creative abilities of students, which aligns with the ideas of John Dewey in which building on students with creative ideas is key, since they are also the brightest. This task was given to my honors class in fifth grade, tying into the idea of enrichment for gifted students.

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Page 2 of "Life's Paintbrush" by Joseph Birk, 2016.

College - Humanism

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:37:09 UTC

In my Introduction to Ethics class, the second half of the semester involves "dialectical journals" rather than quizzes. These are basically mini papers that involve application of theories and commentary on quotes from a journal. This allows for a humanistic application of opinion from students, within them tying in their personal beliefs. Specifically, the bioethics of the chapter allows students to give their perspectives that are rooted in personal feelings, along with a consideration of scientific viewpoints.

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"Ch 14.2 Dialectical Journal - Joseph Birk", taken from PHL-102, 6 November 2023.

Learning Process/Theories - Cognitive Load

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:37:22 UTC

The cognitive learning theory involves the idea of using different workloads at different times to optimize teaching. Specifically, high cognitive load scenarios involve encoding of novel information, while low cognitive load scenarios involve only prior knowledge. In my educational history, cognitive load levels were applied by my class being given "brain breaks" in second through fourth grade. Dancing to a video involves little to no building of new knowledge, and also involves no specific instruction, leading to a low-cognitive load situation.

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Video from Nick Moore on YouTube, "Brain Break Required", uploaded 1 May 2014. Video features students of my third grade class dancing to the 2006 video "Dancing Pandas".

Critical/Creative/Complex Thinking - Shirt Designing

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:37:57 UTC

Shirt designing involves visualization and physical application of an idea into a final product. Specifically, creating and pressing a vinyl design involves a hand-on type of activity for that particular assignment. While this may sound like an application of the learning styles myth, it is rather a way to use a physical type of learning for a specific task.

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Design preview of a shirt created by me in 2018, for my 8th grade technology class. The shirt uses iconography from a 2010 My Chemical Romance album, Danger Days. The design was created in a .svg (scalable vector graphic) editing program, and was cut into vinyl before being pressed onto a blank t-shirt.

Motivation - "How Am I Doing Today?" Card System

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:38:12 UTC

Students might not understand that a system like the "flip card" system is meant to be a guideline for behavior, and might fear if their card ever falls on a warning (yellow). Furthermore, flip cards could be used by instead giving students positive reinforcement while having no punishment cards. Still, systems which display statuses for a whole class can become problematic. In particular, knowing other student statuses may cause jealousy and isolation within the group.

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Example of the "flip card" system often used within elementary classrooms.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/card-flip-system-using-greenyellowred-cards-as-a-visible-reminder-to-students-c--740912576211857440/

Studying - Gimkit

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:38:17 UTC

Studying in class might seem counterintuitive, but it can prove useful to creating a full class of informed learners. In the modern classroom, a teacher can help themselves achieve this goal by using real-time games that test knowledge. This ties into the idea of "gamified" learning, which can be a type of accidental learning. Specifically, students might participate in a game in order to beat others, while unintentionally gaining knowledge.

This practice is best to be limited, though, as it might prove frustrating to struggling students, and reward the students who excel. Perhaps, gamification can be used as a resource outside of class, by giving students access to resources or extra credit, instead of taking up valuable instruction time.

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gimkit.com, an educational "game show" that can be used within a single class session by giving students a code to enter on the website.

Technology - Chromebooks

jbirk23_ — 2023-11-30 02:38:22 UTC

The digital divide will always exist in schools, as the standards of technology evolve, but it can be challenged. One way this can be done is by giving students free access to technology among every learner. Chromebooks were utilized in my intermediate and middle schools to give all students experience in using digital processes. While this does not solve the issue of technological resources between districts, it can give lower-income students resources while in class.

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An example of a Chromebook similar to the ones I used in middle school. The link provided goes to an article about a 2016 model of the type of computer I used.