What did you find surprising or striking as you furthered your knowledge about how people learn?
For the most part, I can say that I always find it striking how different people within the same environment can address the same material, but process it in different ways. The difference in opinions over the usefulness of a particular learning style or perspective, over another, within certain learning environments proposed another striking dynamic for me as I furthered my knowledge about how people learn. It seems to me that each _ism is offering something useful without any of them being complete or stand alone in their own right (Kerr, 2007). Yet, using this class as an example, it consisted of people with a variety of learning styles who were able to grasp the instructional material for this class, the same class that was constructed from multiple theories for a well-rounded and effective learning environment.
How has this course deepened your understanding of our personal learning process?
Humans are completely interconnected with the systems in which they act (Foley, 2004). This course challenged me to pay closer attention to everything around me, from the minute to the more intricate, most utilized individuals and technologies that make up my personal learning network. Learning processes are not limited to human individuals and communities, although human beings do function as whole systems that learn, adapt, organize and transform themselves as distinct entities (Foley, 2004). There were things and ideas I considered, that I had never taken into account before. This course has also shown me how important it can be to instructional design, that you understand your own learning process in order to understand the audience you are creating instruction for. Lastly, the realization that there are other learning strategies that would fit my learning process was a discovery for my future learning experiences. When one understands his or her learning styles, he or she can make appropriate modifications to increase academic achievement (Gilbert and Swanier, 2008).
What have you learned regarding the connection between learning theories, learning styles, educational technology, and motivation?
Learning theories, learning styles, educational technology, and motivations are all very critical pieces to effective instructional design for present day and future learners. The learning theory is indispensable to the curriculum reform effort (Kerr, 2007). Learning theories are a foundation for understanding and developing learning styles. Learning styles affect the way students acquire and process information (Gilbert and Swanier, 2008). Educational technology can be incorporated into any learning environment to support any learner’s information processing. It can be extremely useful if effectively implemented. Motivation is the key piece to bringing all of the fore mentioned together for a successful learning experience. To learn effectively, you not only have to have the cognitive processes that enable you to learn effectively; you also have to want to learn it. And that is where motivation comes into the picture (Ormrod, video text).
How will your learning in this course help you as you further your career in the field of instructional design?
Learning Theories and Instruction has definitely become an important catalyst for my increasing interest in understanding learning processes, learning theories, and educational technology. This course laid a very stable foundation for me as I continue with furthering my career in the field of instructional design. It has exposed me to learning dynamics and resources that I had yet to become aware of, and connected me to other future instructional designers.
As we approached each week’s discussions and learning resources, I was challenged, but at the same time, I was motivated to expand my cognitive processes regarding how I would apply what was being presented via the course. In addition, I was also able to dispel some lines of thought, from previous trainings and learning experiences that were incorrect. Lastly, this course will be a resource for further study, to support or challenge the information I will approach as I further my career in instructional design.
Resources:
Ormrod, Jeanne. Video Program: “Motivation in Learning”
Gilbert, J., & Swanier, C. (2008). Learning styles: How do they fluctuate? Institute for Learning Styles Journal [Vol. l]. Retrieved from http://www.auburn.edu/~witteje/ilsrj/Journal%20Volumes/Fall%202008%20Volume%201%20PDFs/Learning%20Styles%20How%20do%20They%20Fluctuate.pdf
Foley, G. (Ed.). (2004). Dimensions of adult learning: Adult education and training in a global era. McGraw-Hill Education.
Bill Kerr: http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Fitting the Pieces Together
Here is my retake of revisiting of my first approach at analyzing my own learning style/preferences
Now that you have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, how has your view on how you learn changed?
As I have studied the various learning theories in depth, I have discovered that my views on learning styles have broadened to the potential that each theory creates for “the” learner that is best suited to that particular learning perspective. I am now able to justify why one learning perspective should or should not be implemented in certain learning environments. In addition, my views on effective instructional design have broaden to the necessary incorporation of some form of technology to support the learner’s information processing.
What have you learned about the various learning theories and learning styles over the past weeks that can further explain your own personal learning preferences?
My preference of learning theory, at this point, may be personalized to how I learn. Piaget’s Cognitive Development theory sets a foundation for how I learn, especially with its focus on a learner’s repeated interaction and experimentation, to promote more logical ways of thinking (Ormrod class text). Now, as an adult learning, adjusting to the technology advancements of today’s society, the incorporation of technology to my new learning environments, Constructivism and Connectivism provide additional support and exploration of social connections and broadening of my personal learning environment by adding additional layers to how I am able to learn and master new information.
What role does technology play in your learning (i.e., as a way to search for information, to record information, to create, etc.)?
Today, technology plays an important role in my learning process. As an adult learner, my pursuit of a graduate degree through Walden University is encompassed by the use of technology to master the information presented. My personal learning environment, as mentioned and described in previous posts, includes multiple social networks, online learning and educational resources, and additional network connections that are available through technology. It is unimaginable, with today’s society, that technology would not be used or incorporated in my learning process.
Now that you have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, how has your view on how you learn changed?
As I have studied the various learning theories in depth, I have discovered that my views on learning styles have broadened to the potential that each theory creates for “the” learner that is best suited to that particular learning perspective. I am now able to justify why one learning perspective should or should not be implemented in certain learning environments. In addition, my views on effective instructional design have broaden to the necessary incorporation of some form of technology to support the learner’s information processing.
What have you learned about the various learning theories and learning styles over the past weeks that can further explain your own personal learning preferences?
My preference of learning theory, at this point, may be personalized to how I learn. Piaget’s Cognitive Development theory sets a foundation for how I learn, especially with its focus on a learner’s repeated interaction and experimentation, to promote more logical ways of thinking (Ormrod class text). Now, as an adult learning, adjusting to the technology advancements of today’s society, the incorporation of technology to my new learning environments, Constructivism and Connectivism provide additional support and exploration of social connections and broadening of my personal learning environment by adding additional layers to how I am able to learn and master new information.
What role does technology play in your learning (i.e., as a way to search for information, to record information, to create, etc.)?
Today, technology plays an important role in my learning process. As an adult learner, my pursuit of a graduate degree through Walden University is encompassed by the use of technology to master the information presented. My personal learning environment, as mentioned and described in previous posts, includes multiple social networks, online learning and educational resources, and additional network connections that are available through technology. It is unimaginable, with today’s society, that technology would not be used or incorporated in my learning process.
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