Learning Theories and Instruction – Reflection

People take in information and process it in different ways, ways that are meaningful to them personally.  So, understanding the different theories, strategies and styles of learning is an important part of an instructional designer’s role so they can design effectively.    As part of this program we were introduced to the following concepts and theories: Neuroscience and Information Processing, Cognitivism, Behaviorism, Constructivism, Social Learning, Adult Learners, Connectivism, Learning Styles and Learning Strategies.   But, just knowing the different theories is not enough, it also has to be understood that no one theory fits a learner, so the learner and the learning environment has to be considered along with the subject that is being taught, so any one learner could use multiple theories depending on the situation.  Before taking this program I never knew there was so much information to consider when designing a curriculum.

Personally, the material presented as part of this program has helped me understand my own learning needs.  As an adult learner I have chosen to pursue further education, to grow as an individual and to satisfy the requirements of becoming an instructional designer.  The goals and long term plans that I have set for myself, keep me motivated.  Motivation is another important aspect of learning, “To learn effectively, you not only have to have the cognitive processes that enable you to learn effectively and to remember it effectively; you also have to want to learn it.  And that’s where motivation comes into the picture” (Dr.Ormrod, 2009).  Dr. Ormrod goes on to mention four psychological needs that have implications on motivation that instructional designer’s should understand; cognitive stimulation, self-determination, competence and relatedness.   

This course has provided me with the tools necessary to begin to understand how to meet the learners’ needs, to know when to incorporate the different theories and styles, and how to keep learners motivated through various techniques including the use of emerging trends in technology.

Dr.Ormrod, J. (2009). Motivation in Learning. Laureate Education, Inc.

Fitting the Pieces Together

The Learning Theories and Instruction course at Walden University has introduced me to the many different ways people learn.   With each new theory presented I felt sure that particular one was my style, but I felt that way with more than one theory.   Reading through the material presented I realize that I am not alone, and it really depends on the subject being taught and the students.   We were introduced to the various styles and strategies too, so much information to take into consideration when trying to educate and design curriculum's.   

The instructor made a comment “I’m not sure we should "endeavor to engage as many of the various learning styles and multiple intelligences as possible." Instead, there are many theorists who would argue that good learning environments have less to do with attempting to accommodate various "learning styles" and more to do with using methods and activities that are appropriate to the content being taught. So, if I'm teaching students about weights and measures, it might make good sense to have a hands-on lab where students work with different weights and measures. However, if I'm teaching about history, maybe it makes more sense to show a historical film. So, again, it's not about trying to accommodate each student's "intelligence" or “style” but instead it’s about matching the learning activity to the learning content/domain” (Artino, 2011).   This statement assured me about my own learning; it really does depend on what is being taught, and why more than one learning theory may apply.  Now, it makes more sense on why at times I need to relate to the material and understand concepts, and other times I just need to  memorize information, I did not realize they were different learning theories, now I know. 

As an instructional designer you do need to be aware of the different theories, styles and strategies, and find the relevance for the curriculum and audience you are designing for.   Going through this class has definitely made me aware of that fact, these past few weeks have been very enlightening and have motivated me to learn even more about the many ways people learn.  Also, I think we have to remember to monitor progress, and remain flexible enough to adapt when necessary.

Like most people these days, I frequently surf the Internet and browse the sites I am familiar with, or search using engines such as Google or Yahoo.  I cannot stress enough how my Internet time has changed.  The valuable resources and links I have got through this class have introduced me to much more efficient ways of getting information.   Through the feeds and blogs and the new ways of having your interests searched and presented to you rather than you searching and sifting through pages of results.   All of this information has saved me time on research, time that can be spent actually reading and learning.  The ways of storing information online so it can be accessed easily from any PC or location is another example of how I now use technology to aid in my learning.

Artino, A. (2011, June 10). Learning Theories and Instruction Discussion Posting. Walden University

My connections and learning

We learn or experience something new every day.  Family, friends or colleagues share their experiences or information they have come across during casual conversation, adding to our knowledge base.  Even those you do not know, but happen to cross your path may open your eyes to something new.

Like many people the internet is probably where I spend most of my time learning these days.  Before I entered my current degree program I spent some time online, surfing the usual websites reading the news of interest and my email.  But since participating in this program my online reach has expanded to sites I would normally not come across.    Assignments due for the degree have opened my eyes to more efficient ways of doing things, and consequently my awareness of the resources that are available online has grown.  One example is creating a mind map, this exercise makes you think about who, where and how you learn, and there are a number of resources available online to help you realize exactly that and draw it out for you, pretty amazing.

So, besides finding out about yourself and how you learn, the internet for me has become a critical component in conducting research.  The RSS feeds really do simplify access and put information that you need at your fingertips.  The topics of interest are added to your page for reading at your convenience without any action on your part, making the whole process of researching information you need more efficient.   Then there are the search engines to help identify and conduct more research, along with the many links from the university’s library.   

The internet, media, schools, friends and family are all part of a network contributing to our experiences, personal and professional growth.  According to George Siemens these components define the connectivism learning theory “So much of our work is distributed.   Our knowledge literally is distributed across other networks of human beings, technological devices, and other ends.  That’s where connectivism starts to come into play.  So that’s the application of the technology to aid and to extend that dimension as well” (Siemens, 2009).  That theory fits my style and needs for learning, socially and technically, with all the tools available today we are always connected to information and each other, continuously evolving and learning.

Siemens, G. (2009). Connectivism.

Connectivism

An insight into learning resources I utilize