EDUC 422 Blog #4

The article that we read this week was interesting because to me technology was used throughout the entire learning process. It was first used in order to collect data during the field trip which allowed for the data to be more precise and organized as compared to recording data by hand. Then it was interesting to read after the data was collected that technology was used in order to stimulate greater growth within the subject and how it is related to the data. Through what the article called "Casual Mapping" the students were to first develop possible hypothesises as to why the data turned out the way it did. To do this they used both the learned classroom knowledge along with the process of casual mapping for better organization. Casual mapping reminded me of the program that we were introduced to in class this week called "Inspiration." After reading about a similar learning method and having the opportunity to try it out first hand I really believe that this program is ideal for the classroom. It gives the students an opportunity to be creative (even when it comes to boring science data), but also allows for them to be able to go back and change their mistakes as many times as they would like. As a student I would have enjoyed this program in the classroom, especially being a visual learner. Therefore I would most likely even benefit if I used the mapping today in college in order to organize and brainstorm thoughts for a research paper for an example. It would be much more efficient than wasting all those sheets of paper!