Week 11

      

Gee's principle of probing (p. 54) states that learning is a cycle of probing the world (doing something) and reflecting in and on this action and forming a hypothesis. Select 3 principles you think it would be important for education.

·         Identity Principle

This principle is students playing different roles using technology. This is a simple task that would pull form the students creative abilities and put them to further use. It is already incorporated in gaming systems. Most video games allow for children to create avatars in the image they want them to form in. For example, teachers could use the “Sims” software and allow each student to pick a career for career day.

·         Practice Principle

This states that the student will learn best when they are spending most of their time on the task. I totally agree. This the fundamental format for digesting information. The longer one spends on a task the better they will get as time goes on.

·         Multimodal Principle

This principle states that students can learn from cues, signs,that mean different things. For example, the teacher gains the attention of a class by raising her hand. This is an obvious way that the students know when focus and come to a silent halt.

If you were creating a simulation for your class, what activity would you support?

I would absolutely support the identity principle. Children need and want to create on various different levels. This is truly an extension of their inner expression, without getting into any trouble for doing so.

What variables could students manipulate?

Students could manipulate how they enter the workforce. If a student picked to be a fireman in the simulation then he could also pick if he wanted to be the chief of the house or if he wanted to be a regular worker. I feel the level of responsibility is a key factor for the children’s experience in the field they are taking part in for that simulation.

How would they affect each other?

The student would then experience what it would be like to congregate amongst peer of different business classes. In the simulation the students would then interact with each other and allow them to be aware of the atmosphere that comes with participating in the work force.

Conclusion

In conclusion I feel that simulation in the classroom is important to all that involved. In the military that have their men participate in several flight simulations using technology. That is saying a lot that the technology has not leaked down far enough to the classroom. I feel that it is time to afford for the school system to move into the technology age and get out of the dark ages.

References

Crismond, D., Howland, J., Jonassens, D., Marra, R. M. (2008).  Meaningful learning with technology. Columbus: Pearson, Merrill Prentice Hall