This week our reading was about teachers using the constructivist approach to teaching mathematics. The articles states that teachers, even if they do not beleive in it, use the constructivist approach because it is what is the ‘right’ thing to do. The acticle uses mathematics to explain how students build up their knowledge actively, i.e. constructivly. It also states that children need guidance to achieve this accumulation of knowledge and that is the role of the teacher. I agree with this article as i believe that children need to learn and discover for themselves with the guidance of teachers. I feel that through the process of constructing knowledge children learn to use high order thinking and problem solving skills needed for later in life.

In week 2 we visited the Learning Federation Website and signed up to it. I found this site fantastic as it gives opportunity for teachers to show their students new games about topics they are learning about. The games are all part of constructivist learning as children must problem solve and use high order thinking to finish the game. The fact that is it a game makes it fun and exciting for the children and they hardly realise that they are actually learning. I found this mathematical game helping students develop knowledge about time. This would be for year 2. Here it is!

 Which learning styles does this ICT support?

This ICT supports the visual learner as well as students who are kinesthetic as it is colourful and hands on. It also supports learners who are able to listen to to instructions. These students are linguistic and are good with words.

How could this ICT be implemented as a good cognitive tool within the learning environment?

This ICT can be used as a cognitive tool as students are actively involved in problem solving to win the game. This can be done in groups or individually, either way, the game lets students use thier own minds to play the game and get the right answers. IT also helps as the game is interactive, colourful and engaging.

How is this ICT enabling the development of creativity?

This ICT enables creativity as students can play around with the order of events until they realise what the right order is. The game captures the students attention as it is colourful. Also, everything is spoken by a child’s voice and pictures/animations are depicting a child’s version of drawings.