Cognition, Culture, and LearningPresentation

By April Daniels-Schluns

IntroductionFour topics of choice:•Student culture•Language, sense-making, and literacy•Technology•Social change

Explanation of Topics•Culture – plays a major role in how and what students learn•Language, sense-making, and literacy – closely relates to information taught in English Language Arts classrooms•Technology – currently promotes engagement in learning•Social Change – positive impact on surrounding environment

Educational ContextHopes in choosing these topics:•Enhance learning of students•Further aid design of instructional activities•Make learning meaningful•Enhance teaching abilities

Student CultureTwo aspects that need to be taken into consideration when constructing a learning environment:

•Student culture is an important aspect in relation to education•Students are defined by who they are and how they learn

Student Culture ContinuedPopular Culture –

•Allows for flexibility of other means of literacy growth through the use of any media

•Has become a way that students can develop their reading skills without necessarily opening a physical book

Student Culture Continued

Popular Culture Continued

Students have flexibility in gaining material through electronics such as:•Reading devices•Computers•Online messages•Music•Television•Advertisements

Student Culture ContinuedCultural Differences –

•Each culture has a variation in the language

•It is important that students be able to foster cultural differences in their studies so that they are better equipped to avoid misunderstandings as well as to overcome any obstacles created due to cultural differences (Wang, 2011, pp.229-230)

•Trust is another important aspect of cultural differences

•There must also be a connection between a teacher and his/her students from different cultural backgrounds

TechnologyTechnological Advancements

Social media sites that can be used as communication centers for reaching out to other students to gain further insight into understanding learning objectives may include:

•Facebook•MySpace•Twitter

Students have a better chance of learning when they are able to read and write utilizing many different methods (Selfe & Selfe, 2008, p.84).

Language, Sense-Making, and Literacy

Literacy

•There needs to be a connection between a teacher’s lesson plan and a student’s prior knowledge (Lawrence, Rabinowitz, & Perna, 2009, p.61).•One of the best ways in which to ensure student learning is through the observation and examination of literacy comprehension between students as well as their level of participation (Santori, 2011, p.206).•One method in which to promote motivation and engagement is to add Young Adult (YA) books to the curriculum list.

Social Change•Technology allows for a connection between young people, whether they are near or far from each other.•Blogging has been used as a way to engage young students outside their comfort zones and with other communities (Haste, 2009, p.26).•One of the best places in starting the social change process is by gaining a liberal arts education (Early, 2009, p.55).

Evaluation of Relationships•Student culture is what makes a student who they are and it includes how they are going to learn throughout their educational careers.•Technology is constantly changing and the schools need to find a way in which to accommodate their students’ learning using the tools available.•Literature, sense-making, and literacy are all connected because what a student reads and how they comprehend what they have read will have a great impact on how they will continue to develop in their literacy skills.•Social change is how teachers and their students have, or plan to make, a contribution to the environment around them.

Impact on Teaching and Learning

Student Culture

•Teachers must know what makes their students tick when creating learning activities, in order to create effective active learning experiences for them.

•Student culture is also important to learning because the way students learn is partly dependent on student’s background.

Impact on Teaching and Learning Continued

Technology

Technology has an impact on teaching through:

•The level of knowledge that an educator must possess in order to be able to monitor the proper usage of the tool.•Educators have some understanding of what students are capable of doing while using the technological tools before allowing independent usage.

Learning is affected because:•Students are able to communicate half-way across the world with other students, on any given subject matter•Students have immediate access to information.

Impact on Teaching and Learning Continued

Literature, Sense-Making, and Literacy

•Has an impact on teaching because it encompasses many different aspects of the ELA classroom.

•In relation to learning, literature, sense-making, and literacy have an impact because of the ability of students to gain deeper understanding through the use of technology.

Impact on Teaching and Learning Continued

Social Change

•Social change has an impact on teaching because of the continual changes within the educational field.

•Changes have begun to take effect that involves the individual learning of students.

ConclusionAcademic Achievement

•It is very important to develop a trusting, caring, and long-lasting relationship between students and teachers, if learning is to take place.

•No matter the process, both teaching and learning can take place when blending student culture, technology, language, sense-making, and literacy.

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