Engage in continual learning to deepen content and pedagogical knowledge in technology integration and current and emerging technologies necessary to effectively implement the Standards. (ISTE 2011)
In exploring effective learning for computer science students, I came upon four interrelated attributes that are needed to enable effective learning (Bransford et. al., 2000):
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- Learner centered
- Knowledge centered
- Assessment centered
- Community centered
These four attributes have greatly influenced how I manage and introduce new technology into my computer science lesson plans. A great example of this is my global collaborative project in which I made changes to my C# programming course. I researched a better way to give students a hands-on, knowledge-rich learning experience that required interaction with a community. I narrowed my search down to two technologies – Tech.io and SoloLearn. Both tools provide an experience that cover the four attributes listed above. I ended up picking the SoloLearn tool as it did a better job on the assessment centered attribute than Tech.io – awarding students certificates on completion of the lesson.
I continue to use SoloLearn and other tools that support the four attributes listed above. It may not be a common notion of computer science students, but community often plays an important role in the future success of a computer science student. This community can take many forms. It is sometimes the peer programmers on another programming project. It can be developers from another company that provide a supporting technology. It can be the open-source community of developers that answer questions about how to program certain algorithms or solutions. Or, it can simply be the other class members that make up a student’s group project, all of which push students to become knowledge constructors.
References
- Bransford, J., Brown, A., Cocking, R. (2000) How people learn: brain, mind, experience and school. The National Academics of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Retrieved on 11/2/2019 from https://www.nap.edu/read/9853/chapter/3#23
- International Society for Technology in Education. (ISTE; 2011). Standards for Coaches. https://id.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-C_PDF.pdf.
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