Another week down and the learning continues. This past week we had an assignment to compare and contrast Behaviorism and Cognitivism, how the computer could be used with each theory, and specific learning situations where each theory could be used. When I started this assignment I I thought it would be pretty easy because I thought that I knew all about both of these theories from previous classes I have taken, however, once I started reading the course materials I realized how much I had forgotten about them. I found it best to list the characteristics of each theory by bullets because that is how I can remember things best (in lists). I found it a little difficult to put all of the information about these theories into words. I had a hard time getting my thoughts down on paper (or I guess I mean keyboard).

For the use of computers with each theory I spent a lot of time going through the websites provided on Blackboard (which was really fun). I enjoyed the Sesame Street games. I teach kindergarten in an inclusion classroom and I think several of the games on this site would be good to use at the beginning of the year. I also like the Monster website. I think it may be difficult to use with many of my non-reading kindergarten students, but I think it would be a great whole group activity to use to work on following directions and descriptive words. Most of the sites were pretty easy to categorize as Behaviorism or Cognitivism. There seemed to be a very defined line between the two theories when looking at the websites.

When I did the learning situations part of the assignment I tried to use examples of things that I use in my classroom on a regular basis. I was very excited to share the program minisebran and sebran with my peers and I hope that they will take advantage of this wonderful program.

After posting my contributions and then receiving our group draft of the assignment I was very pleased with Mindy's great work of combining all of our contributions into one document. I have not had the chance to be a group leader yet, but it seems like a lot of work, or at least that it requires a lot of extra work for the person which is the leader that week. I am thinking that maybe next assignment I will volunteer for my turn to lead my group.

After reading over the postings for all of the other groups I found a lot of good computer resources that I hope to try out in my own classroom. I think all the groups did a good job on their drafts. I enjoyed this assignment. I allowed me to learn more about something that I already thought I knew all about. I also gave me some new things to try in my class this year.