Reflection

Week 8:  Reflection

The last eight weeks a lot of useful information has been covered.  Have I mastered every theory, no, but I at least gained an understanding of where to start my search.  This class has reminded me of the semester I decided it was a good idea to teach Surgical Anatomy and Physiology I & II in sixteen weeks. Knowing what I have learned would have allowed me to design a much smoother process.  Learning is a never ending process that is constantly evolving.  We started this journey seeing how the brain ticks and worked through the differences and similarities of theories.  Even after holding a piece of a person’s brain in my gloved hand this was far more amazing.

What I found striking was there are more than three different learning styles.  As researched in the Learning Theory Matrix, I gained understanding of the following theories; Behaviorist, Constructivist, Adult Learning, Social Learning, Cognitive, and Connectivism (Ormond).  Lesson plans of adults would be written differently than that of children because of the way they process information.   Adults learn better when information is based off of their previous experiences.  Knowing how theories work and how to implement them into a curriculum is important for an instructional designer.  I have been told I would have to set my online class in the exact format at a face to face class.  Because the classes require differences in the way students are motivated this would not be effective in my current professional.

Over the past five years I have relied heavily on social constructivism.  “The social constructivism view the classroom as a community whose task is to develop knowledge”(Ormond 19).  I thought I know the type of learner I was but have learned differently over the last few weeks.  I came into this program thinking I was a kinesthetic learner.  I have always excelled in hands on but had to put more effort during the didactic portions of class.  I have relied on my memory a lot because my current profession relies on repetition of movements.  Now that I have been introduced to other learning styles I am now able to introduces new methods during lectures to engage students.  When I moved back to Louisiana six years ago I found myself in a predicament where I had to engage into social constructivism.  I was a single parent that needed to finish my degree but did not have time to go to a face to face class and work.  The dilemma with this process was finding motivators to complete the course.  The initial extrinsic motivator was getting my degree but because that was so far off I had to find intrinsic and other extrinsic motivators.

I think it is important as an instructional designer to be familiar with all learning styles, theories, and strategies.  This will allow students the greatest chance of success in a class with the least amount of effort being put forward by the instructor.  It should not be like pulling teeth in the dark to get students to learn information.  A properly designed session allows the student to learn and have fun doing it.  You want the process to come easily so the students stay motivated to finish the task.

I have learned how adults and children learn and process information.  I have also learned that not one learning theory applies to all people or one person could fall into several different theories.  I am waiting for the next three weeks to pass to see if I can properly implement some of the strategies in to my lesson plan.  I do plan on using more social learning activities.  I will be assigning one student per session to be the designated note taker.  This student will then post the notes in the discussion board, and the rest of the class will build the discussion based on this person interpretation of my lecture.  It will be a recap of the lesson without taking a lot of classroom time for the process.  We will also slightly discuss it before the next lecture. 

Felicia

Ormond, J. (2009).  Learning Theories and Instruction. (Laureate custom edition) New York: Pearson.

Brain and Learning Blogging WK2

Blogs on the Brain & Learning Week 2

The brain reminds me of the wheel.  When the wheel was first invented it was rarely used, or not used to the fullest potential.  With new technology being presented and studies being processed we have moved really fast a quick rate.  Twenty years ago technology was still in its infancy stage and now it has evolved.  This growth has allowed changes in medicine and education. 

On the Edutopia.com page there were several blogs related to the brain and learning.  “The teacher suggest that, instead of just reading the textbook the night before the test the student will spend time brainstorming strategies for more effective test preparation”(Wilson).  Simply reading the presented material may not help everyone retain information.  This will most likely help students with photographic memories, but you may have two of thirty in your class.  Students may need to be presented with other steps to obtain their learning goal.  Physically I cannot walk to California, but if I have a strategy I can complete the task in sections.  It is not about the ability but using metacognition to improve strategic steps.

The second article presented strategies for strengthening the brain’s executive functions.  “Students should be taught to develop their executive functions as a path to self-directed learning and self-determined living” (Wilson). Executive functions are the awareness of directive capacities of the mind.  Instructors are like a drum major.  They lead the band onto the field and everyone follows the rhythm and beat.  The drum major leads the band to become aware of who they are, direct them to carry out movements, set goals to remember formations and songs, and help them to maintain an image that is appealing to themselves and the crowd.

Blogs on Brain-Based Learning. (n.d.) Edutopia.  Retrieved August 20, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/inspiring-progess-toward-learning-goals-donna-wilson-marcus-conyers

Blogs on Brain-Based Learning. (n.d.) Edutopia.  Retrieved August 20, 2015, from

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/strategies-strengthening-brains-executive-functions-donna-wilson-marcus-conyers

#fittingitalltogether

Week 7:  #FITTINGTHEPIECESTOGETHER

A month ago my views on learning styles did not have all the ingredients to make a cake.  I viewed myself as a kinesthetic learner.  I was not aware of isms, self-directed learning, the difference in learning theories and learning strategies, motivation and affect, reflective teaching, and the list continues from this point.  Honestly, the last seven weeks has been hectic with a lot of information to retain.  I was to the point I thought I had the Kelly Bundy affect. (For every knew fact learn I lost and old one. What’s my name?)

Now that you have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, how has your view on how you learn changed?

My views on how I learn is not the same as it was in week one.  I learned I am not just a kinesthetic learner and I fall into several categories. "Like with the rationalist of Plato's time, the mind is believed to be the source of all meaning, yet like empiricist, individual, direct experiences with the environment are considered critical”.  Because I have moved around a lot and experienced different cultures I think my learning process has changed over the years. Having availability to discussion boards have also helped to mold my growth.  Each week I gain to opinion of ten or more individuals.  This has given me knowledge of social learning.  I have also implemented this process in my class and students have taken to the process.  Most of the ones that are shy and do not like to talk in front of the class are really upfront in their post.

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?

I have found that you cannot teach or learn in one learning theory.   Trying to group individuals in their perspective theory would limit their ability to learn.  It would be like the movie divergent.  Once you pick a theory you are stuck there or be sent to exile.  Without knowing it most people are using strategies from several learning theories. 

What role does technology play in your learning (i.e., as a way to search for information, to record information, to create, etc.)?

Technology has played a major role in the way I learn.  If it was not for advancements in technology I would have not finished my Bachelors online or attempting to complete my IDT degree.  The blog was not a problem to set up but the RSS feeder gave me the blues.  I tried to problem solve on my own because my children will not always be available to help and it helped me remember because I learned what not to do.  I also like the advancements that have been made in the special education levels in my area.  When my ten year old first started school her assistive talking device had 16 possible words she could use.  Over the last few years she has begun to talk but the devices and apps available can speak an entire sentence.   

Felicia

Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T. J. (1993). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 6(4), 50-71.

Blog Stalking

 

The www.learninggeneralist.com blog would be useful to an instructional designer. The blog listed additional resources that would be helpful to a rookie or seasoned designer.  The information listed on this post is helpful because it had e-manuals, webinars, communication, and presenting techniques. 

I found that www.blog.cathy-moore.com blog was useful for adult learners.  Cathy Moore presented the blog in more of a self-directed learning module.  The webinars and virtual training had activities that could be interesting for the adult learner and would allow them to reach their goals.  Another bonus to this site was she gave hints on how to facilitate the learning modules.  This blog tries to make training fun for adults and give useful and helpful tips on what works. She has facilitated these modules and was able to give feedback on what is effective and what is not.  She has been able to design e-learning so the student is getting a maximized experience.

https://bozarthzone.blogspot.com was one of the most useful blogs that I found.  Jane Bozarthzone listed several upcoming events that would be useful to the profession.  Some of the blogs that were listed did not have resourceful information or was not updated.  This blog was the complete opposite.  One of the post on her blog was about unlearning previous methods of processing information.  One of the analogies used was when you first learned to drive and switch from an automatic to a standard and then back to an automatic.  From my own personal experience I remember driving with both feet and slamming on the break with my left foot as if it was a clutch.  I look forward to following this blog and staying up on what is going on in the design community.

These three blogs proved to be the most useful at this point in my career.  A wide variety of information was provided on the sites.  Having access to what is working in the design community and being able to collaborate with other designers is a wonderful thing.  Keeping up with slide show presentations, webinars, and e-learning techniques will greatly expand my knowledge.

 

Bozarth, J. (n.d.). Bozarthzone. Retrieved July 17, 2015, from http://bozarthzone.blogspot.com/

 

Moghe, Sumeet.  The Learning Generalist.  Retrieved July 17, 2015, from http://www.learninggeneralist.com/

 

Moore, C. (n.d.). Cathy Moore. Retrieved July 17, 2015, from http://blog.cathy-moore.com/

Reflection

The examples given on my mind map represent avenues currently available for me to learn.  In the previous class I was exposed to blogging but once the class ended, I failed to pursue that resource again.  I have learned that following the blogs give unlimited access to tons of useful information.  This allows me to gather information from individuals all of the world.  The way we do things in Southern Louisiana will be very different from techniques used in England.   After several attempts at setting up the RSS Feeder, I was allowed one central location for updates on my group’s blogs.  I was speaking with a coworker the other day about how cool it was to have this resource available.  I could not think of the technical term so I just called it Feedbook for the time being.   

Connectivism is the learning theory that has become the platform for the digital age.  “The launch of Sputnik sparked massively funded curriculum reform in the United States” (13).  Since the 1950’s and with every generation the way curriculums are designed are consistently changing.  Self-directed learning allows adults to facilitate their own learning plan.  If adults have control of how they intake the information they may be able to get a deeper understanding of the presented material.  Also most adults have children and were not given a handbook on how to raise a child.  For majority of the world this has worked in their favor. 

My children and work experience has helped me on my journeys to be coming an instructional designer.  Learning was fairly easy for my older two children.  My oldest daughter can read or hear something and remember it until the end of time.  My ten year old has developmental delays and learning has been a struggle.  She was nonverbal until she was almost seven years old but her input was “okay”.  We had to think of different ways to get answers from her so she could communicate without using and talk assistant device.  Teaching at the Community College has allowed me to see how the millennial’s approach education.  Malcom Knowles developed a theory of Andragogy.  “It is the art and science of helping adults learn” (1).  These students were allowed to guide their curriculums which motivated them to pay attentions and complete task.

 

Conlan, J.,  Grabowski, S., & Smith K.. (2003).  Adult Learning. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology.  Retrieved July 27, 2015, from http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/

 

Ormrod, J. (n.d.). Overview. In Learning Theories and Instruction (5th ed., p. 13). New York: Pearson.

#Connectivism