Profile Wiki Reflection

Profile Wiki Reflection



I found the Profile Wiki was a fantastic ICT tool to establish and discover every student’s perceptions on themselves and was proficient in the relating aspect amongst us, as students. It was also interesting to see the differences in student’s lives—and amazing how us, as future Learning Managers come from all different backgrounds and experiences!


Having experienced the Profile Wiki myself, and with other students, it promoted me to use the potential of this in my own classroom. I think it is a great learning tool to incorporate with the children, in getting to know one another, and understanding the diversity in which we all live. Students are able to connect with each other, in both similarities and family cultures and lifestyles. The students are then able to progress and learn further in digital technology and ICT tools, with the familiarisation with their peers and their learning styles and capabilities.


In regards to supporting student’s learning, I feel that the Profile Wiki is an exceptional pedagogy for aspects of eLearning, as children are able to discover each other and their similarities. This uses obvious social abilities to interact with students, as well as incorporating other important skills in other learning areas. I do feel though, that the Profile Wiki allowing anyone to edit information, could be a problem to the tool. Students may take advantage of this in the wrong way- relating to cyber bullying. Although, I think a stable monitoring system would be proficient to view student’s actions on the Profile Wiki, and hopefully be preventative.

Constructivism is a “philosophy of learning that reflects on our experiences in which we construct our understandings.” (i) I believe that the Profile Wiki has assisted us in constructing our varying views, as we are forming reciprocal relationships with each other. With this, we are constructing ideas and knowledge on each other’s persona, whilst being ‘actively involved in our own learning’ (ii)

I feel that the Profile Wiki has some aspects of cognitivism within its context. “Focusing on inner mental thinking-opening the ‘black box’ of the human mind, and transferring into retaining memory” (iii) The Profile Wiki did this for me, by using ICT to establish both my thinking and relative connections with other students.

Skinner (1950) states that “...Changes in behaviour is the response of the individual in result of events that occur in their environment..”(iv) As for the Profile Wiki, I believe that behaviourism isn’t very much a factor of learning. The Profile Wiki is a set description on one’s self—and you can’t always change your personality overnight, therefore, there are no evident ‘changes’ in behaviour. I feel that behaviourism would come more into fact if we, were adding regular information on our thoughts-- a lot more like a Blog Journal.

I found that connectivism had a very strong approach of learning in the Profile Wiki. After viewing the video clip Networked Student, I understood that connectivism is “A form of learning through social network with many diverse connections and ties.” (v) The Profile Wiki is definitely a fantastic form of connectivism, as us, as students are connecting with each other in understanding our diverse lives and personalities. We are then making connections with other students, which then further ‘strengthened’ our learning process. (v)

I feel that the Profile Wiki definitely provided a wide, diverse range of learning amongst us eLearning students, and would do so in any classroom. Having researched the four theories listed, constructivism and behaviourism appear to be the strongest learning tools in the Profile Wiki. We were constantly using a socially constructing way of learning in which was open ended and accepting of all thoughts and contributions of ideas. This makes us become ‘involved in learning.’ – “Tell me, I will forget. Show me, I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.” (vi)


References:

(i)  Funderstanding Database (2008). Learning Content Theories- Constructivism. Retrieved  March 11^th, 2011 from http://www.funderstanding.com/content/constructivism

(ii)  Caron Egle. (2004). A Practical Guide to Working with Children. Croyden, Vic: Tertiary Press, Australia.

(iii) Learning Theories Knowledgebase (2011, March). Cognitivism at Learning-Theories.com. Retrieved March 11th, 2011 from http://www.learning-theories.com/cognitivism.html

(iv)  Atherton J.S. (2011) Learning and Teaching; Behaviourism. Retrieved 11^th March, 2011 from http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/behaviour.htm

(v)  Wendy Drexler (2008, Nov) The Networked Student [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwM4ieFOotA

(vi)  Angelina Ambrosetti (2011). Topic 2 (week 2) PowerPoint [PowerPoint slides]. Slide 2 Quote- Native American Proverb. Retrieved from CQUniversity e-courses, EDED11353 Learning Management 1, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=17508