How Students Learn

As a student, I learned best the old fashioned way, when the teacher instructed us on the new information rather than teaching ourselves or having technology teach us.  I was always a visual learner.  The material that I was learning had to be drawn out in front of me on the board and explained to me step by step in order for me to understand the concepts.  I also learned by using flashcards, vocabulary was easy for me to memorize if I studied using flash cards.  I have come to learn that your brain retains information better when you write out information rather than type it.  Using your small motor skills sends signals to the brain allowing it to retain it better than if you type the information you are trying to study.  As a teacher, I would teach my students the same way that I was taught.  I think hand written assignments and learning is the best way to learn and the most effective.  Technology can be so useful and such a great resource, but I will only use it as a temporary or back up plan, it won't be how my students would be learning every day.  I think it is great to give students good feedback but when rewards are given out a lot for them doing good work, it then becomes expected.  Rewards are most effective when they are occasional and sporadic.  I do believe that rewards motivate students to do better and work harder but I do not believe they are effective for an every day occurrence.