Session 3 Reflection (Sept24, 2010)

Today’s class mainly focus on meaningful learning, self directed and collaborative learning.

We might have different viewpoints on each term. Our perception may be different from others. I’ve gathered information from the internet, on the definition on each term,

Meaningful learning:

Learning from which students develop personal meaning. Learning from which students have understood the information they are learning rather than memorising it specifically for the purpose of passing assessment tests.
www.iml.uts.edu.au/assessment/glossary.html, retrieved on September 25th, 2010.

http://www.designingforlearning.info/services/writing/bits.htm on meaningful learning, retrieved on September 25th, 2010.

Self-directed learning:
A process in which students take the initiative to diagnose their learning needs, formulate learning goals, identify resources for learning, select and implement learning strategies, and evaluate learning outcomes.The role of the instructor shifts from being the 'sage on the stage' to the 'guide on the side' in a self-directed learning environment. http://www.netnet.org/students/student%20glossary.htm#S retrieved on September 25th, 2010.

Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning (CL) is a personal philosophy, not just a classroom technique. In all situations where people come together in groups, it suggests a way of dealing with people which respects and highlights individual group members' abilities and contributions. There is a sharing of authority and acceptance of responsibility among group members for the group’s actions. The underlying premise of collaborative learning is based upon consensus building through cooperation by group members, in contrast to competition in which individuals best other group members. CL practitioners apply this philosophy in the classroom, at committee meetings, with community groups, within their families and generally as a way of living with and dealing with other people. esb.ode.state.oh.us/Word/GLOSSARY%20FOR%20DRAFT%20STANDARDS_10_18_05_FINAL.doc retrieved on September 25th, 2010.

After reading each definition only then I understand what each term means. When Dr Tan’s discuss with us on how we can include self directed learning on our students, we realised that every action and every suggestion we mention is all teacher directed learning. It is in doubt, very difficult to establish a self directed learning on our students.

For collaborative learning, we watched a video of students raking charge to help their friends in an “Astronauts” environment. From this, we see that every group of students are assigned different task and work together with other groups to come out a plan to save their friends in trouble. Each student has their own task and collaborates with everyone to execute the plan. It is a very interesting idea on how the teachers try to incorporate collaborative learning as well as self directed learning on their students.

As a teacher, we need effort to make our learning a meaningful one so that students can grasp more and understand better the subject delivered.

There is 5 meaningful relevant learning that we can use to our students:

• · Real products : Incorporate a real and current issues that has impact on school and community today
• · Hand on : Students learn more by doing it rather than just listening to their teacher
• · Emotional: Teacher needs to capture student’s attention by virtue of ite realness, students will anticipate more if they know their teacher do care for them as well
• · Assessment of learning: teachers need to be productive in producing and planning the teaching and giving out instructions
• · Differentiated: Bearing in mind that each students are different in their own ways, teachers need to be more engaging and learn to know the students better

K: What I already KNOW?

I knew that with meaningful learning, we need to understand our students better and impact them so that learning can be meaningful to them.

W: What I WANT TO LEARN?

To find out how these 3 learning (self directed learning, collaborative learning and meaningful learning) actually taking place in real classroom environment.

To find out the differences between collaborative and cooperative learning, and to know them better.

L: What I LEARNED this week?

At first, I thought I know what self directed learning and collaborative learning but in fact, i thought wrong. From the lecture and reading more about these 2 terms, know I understand them better.

Q: What QUESTIONS I still have?

Nothing for this week J