Teaching for Understanding Comments and Tool Review

In general I think the article, “Teaching for Understanding” by Tom Sherman and Barbara Kurshan brings up some very good examples as to how technology is useful in helping students better understand the material. It brings up the fact the learning a lesson and understanding the lesson are two different things. Understanding is, “an extensive web of interrelated ideas, experiences, and beliefs that transforms information from simple, memorized facts into knowledge that can be the basis of action” (pg 7). Understanding is the goal for students and teachers should strive to find ways to help them attain this goal. This is where technology comes in. Technology provides all sorts of programs that can help students in fixing incorrect preconceptions, learning new facts and principles or helping in the process of metacognition.
After reading this extensive article, I came away thinking, “Gee that’s great…if they actually use the computer programs.” Personally, I have computer learning programs at home that I think are really useful and all, but the trouble is that I find myself not motivated to use them. If however, these programs are to be used in class or if they are required to be used for homework, then I think that they will be put to good use. Outside of that though, I wouldn’t count on it too much. There has to be motivation to get to the point of understanding, because it is far too easy to simply memorize facts for a test and then just forget them later.

On another note, this week in class the tool we focused on was doing advanced searches on the Internet using search engines, such as Google. Basically, it is important when constructing a search to keep the subject as narrowed down as possible. This way the more specific you are in what you enter the more likely you’ll be able to get exactly what it is you’re trying to find.