Communication Technology

Communication is a process in which ideas, information or feelings are exchanged to the maximum benefit of all parties.

We communicate every day. We speak, write and draw to let people know what we are thinking and feeling. When those people respond, our communication becomes interactive or two-way. All communication involves a sender, a medium (such as voice, image or print), and a receiver.

Communication Technologies make it easy to talk to a friend next door or around the world. We can call them on the phone, e-mail them or put up information on our web pages.

We also receive information daily through a variety of sources. We listen to the radio, watch television, and read magazines for both information and entertainment. Businesses use communication technologies when they advertise to sell us products and services. In fact, Communication Technology is a big business in itself. Our basic need to communicate for fun and profit drives these industries. make it easy to talk to a friend next door or around the world. We can call them on the phone, e-mail them or put up information on our web pages.

We also receive information daily through a variety of sources. We listen to the radio, watch television, and read magazines for both information and entertainment. Businesses use communication technologies when they advertise to sell us products and services. In fact, Communication Technology is a big business in itself. Our basic need to communicate for fun and profit drives these industries.Communication Technology is a big business in itself. Our basic need to communicate for fun and profit drives these industries.

Lisa Gibson

http://www2.frederick.k12.va.us/wq/techinfo/intro.html

Troubleshooting for Teachers Webquest

The vast majority of classroom computer problems have simple solutions that can be sorted out in less than five minutes - or could have been avoided in the first place by the application of a few commonsense guidelines. With the growing utilization and integration of technology in the classroom, teachers need to understand basic troubleshooting procedures. Being aware of some basic steps, teachers will be able to fix many of the problems they are having in their classroom which will result in less downtime of computers and a more effective use of the technology. This knowledgebase will contribute to the empowerment of teachers. This webquest is designed for a workshop or faculty development type environment with around 10 participants.

You will be faced with 5 situations in which you will research the problems that the teachers are having with their computers and decide how to resolve them. After completing this web quest, you will have a guide to assist you in troubleshooting problems with computers in your classrooms.

Lisa Gibson

http://pangea.tec.selu.edu/~rbradburn/finalwebquest.html

Great Science Webquest

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to share this great Science Webquest titled: "A City in Space." It's geared toward 9th-12th.
The webquest is by Gail Lake. http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/mission/iss/t-index.htm

This webquest highlights the exploration and construction technology used for the International Space Station, while incorporating the communication technology of the Internet and computer applications. It was designed for a high school Technology Core class. (Technology Core classes are based on the idea of self-paced, self-directed learning modules where the teacher acts as a facililtator for student learning.) Each Technology Core module is completed in 10 hours (approximately two weeks).
This webquest could also be used in a middle school and could possibly have applications for both science and social studies.

Tell me what you think!

Lisa Gibson

Four Psychological Perspectives

Four Psychological Perspectives

Unit 2

Lisa Gibson and Brenda Duraski

Kaplan University

ET503-01 - Professor Carleen Shaffer

November 22, 2010

            The four Psychological Perspectives are: Behaviorist, Cognitivist, Constructivist and Social-Psychological Perspectives.

            Behaviorist Perspective are approaches which are different from most other perspectives. They view people as controlled by their environment and specifically that we are the result of what we have learned from our environment. B. F. Skinner, a psychologist at Harvard University, conducted scientific studies of observable behavior (Smaldino, Sharon, Lowther, Deborah L., Russell, James D., 2008). His interest was in voluntary behavior. This involved learning new skills rather than reflexive behavior.

            Cognitivist Perspective focuses on studying mental processes and on determining the role that mental processes play in affecting emotions and behavior (Garvey, 1999). Cognitive psychologist explore the mental processes individuals use in responding to their environment. Cognitive psychologists are interested in how a person understands, diagnoses, and solves a problem, concerning themselves with the mental processes that mediate between stimulus and response.

            Constructivist Perspective-The general principle of constructivism is that children create a coherent system of knowledge based on their interactions with the world (Constructivist Perspective, 2002). They structure this knowledge within a logico-mathematical framework that includes ideas about objects and their relations with one another. Constructivist believe that learning occurs when students are active in authentic tasks that relate to meaningful context.

            Social-Psychological Perspective is the study of instruction and learning. Focusing on the effects of the social organization of the classroom on learning is one aspect. When walking into a classroom, do you see any whole group or small group activities? Do we see students working independently? If so, how are these being effective. Robert Slavin (1990), developed a set of cooperative learning techniques that embodies the principles of small-group collaboration, learner controlled instruction, and rewards based on group achievement.

            In conclusion, there are different diverse learners when dealing with education. Each of the different types of perspectives have implications for instruction in general and for the use of technology.

References

Constructivist Perspective. (2002). Retrieved from http://www.circleofinclusion.org/english/approaches/kamii.html

Garvey, J. (1999). Perspectives: Cognitive. Retrieved from http://purgatory.net/merits/cognitive.htm

Smaldino, Sharon, Lowther, Deborah L., Russell, James D. (2008). Instructional Technology and Media for Learning. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education Ltd. .