Chapter 6 Learning Log

What? This chapter was about Cognitive Psychology. We talked about learning, memory and how it is stored. We talked about different ways to teach so that many different learning types could be addressed. We talked about how all information goes in through the brain stem and filtered in the RAT and then is sent to different parts of the brain depending on what type of information it is. It was really interesting to learn about how it all works. We learned that it is stored in different parts of the brain depending on the type of information it is. It is not stored in some big storage house of the brain. Learning and retaining information is such a delicate thing. If it is not done in the correct manner it will be of no use to you because you will not be able to find it.

So What? I think everything we talk about in this class will help us be better teachers. If we can understand this week (combined with many other things) and think of ways to address different learning types, we will be able to reach more students. We need to keep in mind how our brain works and how it files knowledge away to understand how to teach better.

Now What? Now I need to come up with ideas to help each of the students learn. I need to also think of ideas to help me teach in a way that the students will be able to remember and retrieve the information they are taught.

Chapter 3 Learning Log

What? Chapter 3 was all about development. It talked about Eriksons developmental stages which I really like. I think it is pretty close with the ages. Of course some people get to one stage faster and another stage slower. I thought they do a pretty good job of showing what people go through. Everyone has or will have felt all the different stages in their lives. The chapter also talked about Kohlbergs stages, which I also thought were pretty good. I liked how it was more different ways of thinking and living instead of stages of life. Gilligan came in and said that Kolberg was off a bit by just testing boys.
So What? I think this is really good for teachers. We will be able to know what is going on with our students. Instead of just thinking they are acting up just because we will have an understanding of what they are going through.
Now What? Now it is time to put it into action and use this to understand our students better.

Brain Learning Log

What? This was a very interesting week in the classroom. I learned a lot about the brain and how it works. I also learned about what happens when certain parts of the brain get damaged. It was very interesting to realize how everything works and how different parts of the brain are for different things. It is so cool how all of the different parts work together to make us work and think properly. If one little thing goes wrong or gets hit or bumped in the wrong way things won’t work the way it is supposed to.
In the chapter it talked more about the brain and how it works. It then went into how people learn and talk through tasks. It also talked about Piaget’s and Vygotsjy’s theories of cognitive development.

So What? I think this topic is very important. We learned all about the brain and how it works. It talked about how people learn which will help us know how to teach. I think it is important to know the different stages of learning so we will know what we are dealing with. Sometimes we will have students that are more or less advanced than the “norm”. It will be important for us to know how they learn as well so we are able to help all students.

Now What? I will use this to help me write my lesson plans to help the students learn the best way they can. If something in my teaching isn’t working I will need to adapt it for them not adapt them for my teaching. It is my job to help them learn and this knowledge about learning and the brain will help me teach them. I think it would be beneficial for me to try to create lesson plans that would help the students to learn the best. Then have someone look at them with me and show me what things could be changed to make my teaching styles better.