Week3 Response

What are the main points the author makes about the myth behind “no significance difference.”

The main points the author were trying to clarify is that depends on what perspective people have on learning- is it mere an outcome or a growing process in which people explore and seek out answers for questions surrounding us through variety of learning activities so as to come up with the solutions?- they justify the significance of technology differently. For the most part of consensus on the notion of “no significance difference”, they view learning as a static status in which learning is as simply as a passive process of accumulation. Moreover, they try to blame on technology for not being able to provide fundamental changes in learning outcomes while them reluctant to change the old pedagogy. In short, if people tend to overlook what learning is and the process it involved, the assertion of “no significance difference” made by technology is thus unjustifiable.

What is meaningful learning from your perspective? Give some examples and non-examples from your overarching statement.

To me, meaningful learning is process learner are engaged in, in which they are actively looking for answer to explain our surroundings through variety of learning activities such as conducting experiments, collecting date, reading, negotiating with peers and teachers, and argument. For example, if a person tries to learn how to swim, he/she has to go to the pool to learn the movements- from the basic such as how to paddle, how to hold breath, and how to position his/her hands to the more advanced ones such as how to change breath in interval, how to function his/her hands simultaneously in order to proceed without sinking, and how to enhance the speed by making their each movements more efficient- Eventually he/she will acquire the ability of swim with repetitive practice as well as reflection on his/her movements. On the other hand, if a person read as much books of teaching how to swim yet has never gone to the pool to apply his/her knowledge. It should not be called as meaningful learning.

How do you see the role of technology in your view of meaningful learning?

With the ability of overcoming the limit of physical conditions such as time and space, technology provides us many platforms and opportunities with which students choose the one that serves their interests of learning best- communication purpose, analyzing date, simulation, visual/audio scaffolds to facilitate cognitive process, presentation, information sharing, and so forth. Furthermore, the unceasingly evolving technology changes our perspective of our world and motivates us to explore more as-of-yet unknown questions. In short, teachers should believe in the power of technology and what significant role it is playing in meaningful learning as it grants us access to abundant resources and the possibilities beyond our imagination.