This week we learned more about Open Source Software. I had actually never heard about Open Source until this class so I was a little bit confused at first when trying to understand exactly what it was. Open source software is free and easily available online. Source Forge is one of the Open Software websites. With this website you can search different types of software and download it for free!! The only downside is that if there is a problem with the software, there is no manufacturer to guarantee that the problem gets fixed. There are usually forums though, in which you can write your complaints and suggestions to the software editor.
With software programs being so expensive, Open source software programs can be extremely beneficial to teachers. Teachers already have a limited budget, and minimal pay. The access to free software opens many opportunities for teachers to use these programs.
Click here to view a short video I found on Youtube that helps explain what Open Source Software is. In the video, it shows that for almost any expensive software, there is a free online version. I didn't even realize that Firefox was one an open source software, and I already use it.
Showing posts with label Open Source. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Open Source. Show all posts
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Week 10 Tech Tools for Critical Thinking
This week we learned and read about Open Source and Learning Theories. With open source, someone receives software for free with a specific software code. With this they are able to modify it, and make copies, either for money or for free. Learning Theories were created to better understand how humans and animals learn and respond to their learning environment. The three philosophical frameworks of learning theory are Behaviorism, Information Processing, and Constructivism.
Learning and understanding all of the components of the learning theories is very important to those in the field of education. With better understanding of each theory, a teacher can better teach their students and help their students retain information. As was seen from the presentation, each student will have their own learning style and it is a teachers job to help identify these styles and incorporate them into their lesson plans.
Below is a video I found on YouTube which talks about the Cognitive Load on students. In this brief video, the lecturer describes how it can be hard to retain information and understand it when there are all new concepts to be learned. To learn these new concepts, you must relate already known information to the teaching of the new information.
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Learning and understanding all of the components of the learning theories is very important to those in the field of education. With better understanding of each theory, a teacher can better teach their students and help their students retain information. As was seen from the presentation, each student will have their own learning style and it is a teachers job to help identify these styles and incorporate them into their lesson plans.
Below is a video I found on YouTube which talks about the Cognitive Load on students. In this brief video, the lecturer describes how it can be hard to retain information and understand it when there are all new concepts to be learned. To learn these new concepts, you must relate already known information to the teaching of the new information.
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