How do the authors Jonassen, Peck and Wilson define mind tools? What are their advantages? CHALLENGE: Read each other's response and start a dialogue amongst yourselves related to this topic. Start practicing interacting with one another online.

-- Anonymous, October 29, 2000

Answers

The authors Jonassen, Peck and Wilson define mind tool as a computers ,with congitive learning tools. Also it is an intellectual tookbox that students us to engage them in critical thinking about what they are studying. Therefore mind tools repsent a class of intellectual tools that students may use to help make sense of the world and reason about it. Including the computer is able to store more information then the human mind. Also learners are enable to represent and express what they know.

-- Anonymous, October 29, 2000

Mind tools, is a tool of mindful thinking. The authors feel that "mindtools are cognitive reflection and amplification tools that help learners construct their own realities by designing their own knowledge bases"(153). The advantagrs are that it allows you to engage yourself and student with critical thinking. All the uses are very helpful and quite managable.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2000

VIORICA CHELSEA VOCATIONAL H. S. MR. K. MATH TEACHER 10TH GRADE MATH LESSON AT 10:05AM

The next three observation visits of my fieldwork experience were again at Mr. K Bs math lessons in the same room where there are no computers available for the students. I observed other three math lessons on the last three weeks, when I try to notice how the student-teacher relations are gradually developed on time, because now eight weeks of school passed already. They know each other better now, because the teacher made clear to them his expectations. I can say that all the students are very comfortable now with the daily routine, that helps them to be organized on their class work and maintains them on track very efficient without wasting time. Now the teacherBs lessons are concentrated on preparing the students for the middle term examination. To suit all his studentsB different learning styles he reviews the needed prior learning material making them to understand by stimulating their reasoning skills. The class is motivated on this effort because all the students want to pass the exam. The teacher continuously remind to the students about his after class available time for tutoring math when also the volunteer peer students are there. The students are familiar with their teacherBs grading system because Mr. K. explains it to them so they can evaluate their own work. Constantly Mr. K. encourages his studentsB efforts and appreciates their progress. I still participate at these lessons helping students to do the work individually when they ask for help, or I work with a group when they have difficulties to understand the problem or to find the solution. I check their work and I point to them when it is incorrect helping them to fix the mistake. I noticed, that the students now are used to my presence at their math lessons and are more confident when ask for assistance. Next I noticed that the studentsB math performances are improved when compared with their level about seven weeks ago at the beginning of this math class. I am still disappointed when I can see students often using calculators for basic math operations as addition of simple numbers or multiplication table. I think that this matter is very important. I suggest that the use of some computerBs software specialized works in this case will help very much to eliminate such individual lack of basic prior knowledge in a shorter time.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

I agree with you maggie. Mindtools is a toolbox that students can use to foster critical thinking to help them solve problems and use during studing. Mindtools do help the studenets to sepertate their ideas and make sense out of the world around them, it also hlps them to understand and give postivie feedback on a given topic.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

The authors Jonassen, Peck and Wilson describe "mindtools" as cognitive learning tools,especially in the case of computer applications that have been developed or adapted to facilitate critial thinking and higher-order learning skills. "Mindtools" represent and individualize what a person knows. For example, students, as learners, become designers, analyzing, accessing, interpreting and organizing their own knowledge presenting it to others. Computer experience for students should be consistent with the ways computers are currently used in the adult world outside of school. Students could do research projects on databases, use videodisc encyclopedias and incorporate spreadsheet applications in their assignments. Microworlds, another "Mindtool" are small but complete parts of real environments that encourage discovery through exploration. By working in these environments, students construct knowledge as they explore and experiment. For example, TinkerTools, a series of microworlds that incorporate simulations and game-like features,allows students as young as 11 or 12 to explore the world of Newtonian physics. When used as Mindtools, technologies, computers and students become partners in the learning environment.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Mindtools are defined as cognitive learning tools. There are many advantages to using mindtools. They allow the learner to use their own knowledge to learn more. They also allow the learner to construct his/her own learning. Mindtools also force a learner to use critical thinking skills. Students have to evaluate and analyze information as well as connect previous knowledge and learning. Students have to learn to use these mindtools in a collaborative relationship. The technology does what it is good at, and the student does the same. I believe that mindtools are very effective in fostering learning. They allow students to construct their own knowledge and to develop the skills that they already have.

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2000

In their book Jonassen, Peck and Wilson discuss and define the Bmind toolsB as Bcognitive reflection and amplification tools that help learners construct their own realities by designing their own knowledge basesB. In short, the Bmind toolsB of each individual person, help him relate and make sense of his individual representation of the world, as the student also does when learning new life experiences. Also, it helps us to reason and use logic, engaging the mind in critical thinking. The Bmind toolsB B advantages are that can process simultaneous information obtained in different ways as seeing, hearing, or feelings. Next I agree with ClarissaBs opinion about the other advantages that lead the learner to construct his own knowledge.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2000

The authors define mindtools as tools to enable leareners to represent and wxpress what tehy know. As a goal these tools facilitate crtiical thinking and higher-order learning. These goals are acheived by using computer applications. Another important aspect of mindtools is to avoid the traditional approch of computers doing the teaching. Teachers are better teachers than computers, but computers can be a helpful tool in teh process. It is important for student and technolgy to work toghether to maximize the potential for learning.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2000

I agree with Clarissa and Kathleen about the use of mindtools in the classroom. Computers are just a tool that can be used to help the student with the vast majority of information that is available to him. Computers have no knowledge of their own, for they are programmed by the computers with that knowledge. Computers in the classroom are helpful for they help the teacher with the learning process in a way. The teacher can assign a project to a group of students and the students then use the computer to obtain the information thus freeing the teacher from that somewhat tedious task and enables the students to build confidence among themselves that they have accomplished something.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2000

Mindtools should be used as facilitators of learning. The computer is a form of a mindtool. Educators were so anxious to have computers in the classroom because it was understood that this technology would increase student's learning capabilities. Educators felt computers alone would make the difference, instead of looking at the computer as a mindtool designed to assist the student to achieve critical thinking skills, organizational skills,or research skills. Traeditional learning focuses on memorization, not mental thought process. The computers biggest asset is the capability to store tons of info much more than the human brain, which makes it a mindtool. So allow the computer to do that part,then the student can use their mind to make sense of the info and learn to apply and organize that knowledge to real life situations, which is the job of the educator to assist in preparing students for the real world.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2000

I agree with my classmates when it comes to mindtools. The advantages of mindtools is that it helps the students to develop critical thinking (problem and solution) and what happens in between finding problems and solutions. It also gives the students a chance to feel good about what they have accomplish.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000