Blog 2- tools - netiquette - "Teaching Understanding"

This week in EDUC 422, I read "Teaching Understanding" which was about using technology in a classroom to teach understanding. Also this week, I learned about netiquette and was taught by my professor many great tools for understanding the Internet.
In reading "Teaching Understanding", we are introduced to three findings introduced by psychologist John Bransford which support the belief that "learners construct their knowledge from their experiences, a perspective that generates many implications for how to teach students to understand." The three findings that are the basis for teaching and learning in this reading are 1: preconceptions influence all learning, 2: Understanding comes from knowing facts and principles, and, 3: Metacognition is essential for understanding. Through these three findings, we are introduced to the use of technology in support of these three notions.
In finding number one, the main challenge for a teacher is learning how to use these preconceptions as a foundation in expanding or modifying their understanding. So, the question here is how can technology be used as a tool in doing such, keeping in mind the main point in this situation, to correct the learner's incorrect assumptions. An important aspect considered in the reading that most teachers have a problem with is how to assess each student's misconceptions in order to correct these incorrect preconceptions. An example in the reading of doing so implemented the use of technology. The idea was to assess the students' understandings through discourse which technology then allows the teacher to provide instant responses and feedback and also adjust lessons accordingly.
Finding number two, "Understanding comes from knowing facts and principles", teaches how facts should be presented through interconnection of facts, concepts and pinciples and, developing framework in which students can organize such in their mind. Use of technology to support this way of teaching and understanding may be found through computer based programs. However it is vital that the teacher has a strong mastery of the material they are teaching as well as a strong understanding of how the students will typically learn that material.
In finding number three, meatacognition is addressed. "Metacognition describes the personal awareness of individuals to choose, monitor, and adjust the thinking strategies they use to learn and solve problems. " This line of thinking and learning helps the individual to control what and how they learn in order to be more aware and successful in their understanding process. An example of a technology tool that will aide in this finding is a online program called "Study Smart" which aims to teach these cognitive management skills.
In another reading based on netiquette, that we were to review for an introductory letter assignment, I learned the importance of expressing myself clearly through the computer text keeping in mind such aspects of tone and punctuation as to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings that may lead to argument, etc...
Reflecting upon this weeks class, I learned such helpful tools as internet language, advantages an disadvantages of the web, security and limitations of the web, what certain .abc means for example .org, .net, .gov... I also learned what "backflipping" is (bookmarking which allows one to include a description) and I also created a Yahoo.com account which gives me access to many useful tools for exploring the internet.