While this course is coming to a close, I have an account to give about my achievements. Looking back from the 1st week to this 8th week, I can positively state that I am not the same person as I was at the beginning of the course but a different person in my way of thinking, learning, and the use of technology, as well as how others learn.
As I furthered my knowledge about how people learn, I found many things surprising. Prior to taking this course, I had only a general understanding of the different theories and multiple intelligences. Although learning theories have specific definitions, yet they all attempt to make meaning of the world, what happens in the world in terms of human experience; thus how humans learn and how the environment in which they live and materials around them contribute to their learning. What astonishes me in the constructivist’s theory, which I did not know prior to taking this course is that people use their mind differently trying to construct a meaning of the world. This theory in terms makes room for divergent opinions, multiple view points, as we all see the world through different spectacle and also makes room for dialogue. Further, I found connectivist way of learning striking because previously I did not know that there were numerous ways that learners connect in terms of learning until we did the connectivism mind map. It gives me an eye opening of the effect technology has had on how we live, how we communicate, and how we learn through connecting with others globally.
This course deepened my understanding of my personal learning process in various ways. One of the ways was integrating the different learning theorists’ views in order to come out with my own understanding of how I best learn. I also realized that there are many technological tools that are effective for my learning. I can confidently state that all the learning theories play important role in the way I learn.
What I have learned regarding the connection between learning theories, learning styles, educational technology, and motivation is unbelievable. I understand that all of the above are interwoven. They are connected with one another in one way or the other such that one cannot function effectively without integrating with others. I understand that learning theories are important for thinking about and making big changes in teaching and learning curriculum. As one is knowledgeable of the learning theories and the learning styles, they are able to provide the right educational tools that motivate learners and improve their learning. I believe one of the above cannot be adequate without the others.
My learning in this course will help me further my career in the field as instructional designer through creating explicit and effective instruction that best meet the learners’ needs as well as motivate them to learn. This will be possible because I will combine my understanding of the learning theories with the learning styles, in addition to the abundance of the technological tools available to create a current learning environment that motivates and encourages learning. Finally, due to globalization in every organization, I will keep in my mind that “one size does not fit all” anymore.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Fitting the Pieces Together
Learning Change: My learning has changed in so many ways after getting deeper understanding of the learning theories and the learning styles. In my first week’s discussion, I stated that I was a jack-of-all-trade referring to the learning theories since I juggle between behaviorist, cognitivist, and constructivist theories. Even though I still stick to these three theories, yet there has been addition to them. After the past weeks, I realized my deeper understanding of all the learning theories. I can confidently state that all the learning theories play important role in the way I learn. My reasons are as follows: I learn through observation that is a link to the behaviorist theory; some of my learning is based on my thought process, which is supported by cognitivist theory; and since I also learn by constructing my own understanding, I realized I am a constructivist learner too; my learning through culture and environment has made me a social learner as well; learning through networking is one of the best way I learn now, so who am I? A connectivist learner; and finally I am an adult learner as I use my knowledge and past experiences to learn new information. As a result, I am a mirror reflection in all the six learning theories that we duel on in this course.
Personal Learning Preference: What I learned in the past weeks about the various learning styles that can further explain my own personal learning preferences is that no individual has a single learning style but multiple intelligences. Additionally, the different learning styles reflected the learners’ academic strengths, weaknesses, skills, and interests. Therefore, understanding these learning styles is a significant way in designing an equilibrium instruction that is effective for all learners. The learning style theory has given me a whole new way of looking at my life through examining the potentials that I left behind due to lack of this knowledge. I view it as a great opportunity for me to develop through my future courses, hobby, and other self-develop programs. The six learning theories that we explored in the past weeks are behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, connectivism, social, and adult learning. I clearly understand that each theory affects the way I learn. However, I have seen myself further in social, cognitive, and constructivist theory than the others. In addition, adult learning is the normal way of my learning preference. Finally, there is one thing that is at stake; “one size does not fit all”.
Technology: I am always interested and open to know more about technology; therefore, it plays an inspiring and motivating role in my learning even though it can be overwhelming sometimes. Technology serves as a research tool that enables me to explore scholarly articles of various topics, e-books, multimedia presentations, curriculum resources, and vast materials for school work as well as personal information. Further, I use technology to teach my students in the classroom and I hope to use it exclusively in the future for teaching, learning, communicating, and for extending education beyond the traditional classroom setting, thus teaching students globally. Another role that technology plays in my learning is that it helps me to record information that is handy for retrieval. Also, technology has made it capable for me to create a blog and I am looking forward to creating my personal webpage too. Finally, without technology I cannot be at home with my family, working and earning income, and at the same time working towards my masters degree-online.
Personal Learning Preference: What I learned in the past weeks about the various learning styles that can further explain my own personal learning preferences is that no individual has a single learning style but multiple intelligences. Additionally, the different learning styles reflected the learners’ academic strengths, weaknesses, skills, and interests. Therefore, understanding these learning styles is a significant way in designing an equilibrium instruction that is effective for all learners. The learning style theory has given me a whole new way of looking at my life through examining the potentials that I left behind due to lack of this knowledge. I view it as a great opportunity for me to develop through my future courses, hobby, and other self-develop programs. The six learning theories that we explored in the past weeks are behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, connectivism, social, and adult learning. I clearly understand that each theory affects the way I learn. However, I have seen myself further in social, cognitive, and constructivist theory than the others. In addition, adult learning is the normal way of my learning preference. Finally, there is one thing that is at stake; “one size does not fit all”.
Technology: I am always interested and open to know more about technology; therefore, it plays an inspiring and motivating role in my learning even though it can be overwhelming sometimes. Technology serves as a research tool that enables me to explore scholarly articles of various topics, e-books, multimedia presentations, curriculum resources, and vast materials for school work as well as personal information. Further, I use technology to teach my students in the classroom and I hope to use it exclusively in the future for teaching, learning, communicating, and for extending education beyond the traditional classroom setting, thus teaching students globally. Another role that technology plays in my learning is that it helps me to record information that is handy for retrieval. Also, technology has made it capable for me to create a blog and I am looking forward to creating my personal webpage too. Finally, without technology I cannot be at home with my family, working and earning income, and at the same time working towards my masters degree-online.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Reflection on Learning Connections
How my network changed the way I learn: This is a rich social network with multiple avenues that are professionally and scholarly geared towards the needs on my studies. The network borders me with information in a variety of forms and specific features of information design to affect how I build my exploitable knowledge from the information I stumble upon. In addition, my network provides me with content-related procedures and learning-related strategies that are step-by-step and makes the learning easier. Many programs in my network use interactive prompts entrenched directly into the learning resources. They supply tools for communicating knowledge beyond written or spoken language, such as web-based multimedia, multimedia presentations, or gestural expressions, for example those that coerce interactions in gaming systems.
The digital tools that best facilitate my learning: Digital learning tools help integrate a variety of media for learning and education. Some of these include photos, text, diagrams, video, animations, graphics, and more. Presentation tools such as PowerPoint, inspiration, webspiration, and so forth are other additional digital tools that make my learning achievable. Interactive tools as well facilitate my learning through knowledge connections. They include interactive concept maps, data displays, and timelines that provide visual connections between existing knowledge and innovative ideas. They facilitate the way I access and share information, resources, and educational materials with other learners without restriction. These tools encourage and support the community of learners to explore and develop deeper understanding of new ideas, share resources, work together beyond the walls of a school or home. In addition, learners gain access to a much wider pool of expertise, guidance, and support (Ito, 2009)
How I gain new knowledge through questions: The imperative way that I gain knowledge is when a guided learner-generated question is being asked. An example is the discussion questions that we respond to every week. This strategy helps me to gain new knowledge when I elaboration on the new material and use the opportunity to read the diverse discussions of my colleagues. When everyone reveals his/her thought regarding the topic of the week it helps to broaden my understanding of the material. In addition, questioning facilitates learning by prompting students in generating specific challenging questions pertaining to the material to be discussed, and those questions in turn elicited relevant explanations. This strategy also helps learners to think critically about the material in question before giving their insights.
The ways that my PLN support or refute the central tenet of connectivism:
To begin with even though the constructivism states that learning and knowledge rest in diversity of opinion, yet my PLN has refute its idea in the sense that learning and diversity do not mainly rest in variety and opinion. The advancement of technology has changed the ways and pace that learning and knowledge is being acquire globally. Taking for instance, researching on a global financial market ten years ago will take years to be accomplished, but today this information can be acquire by millions of people globally in a twinkle of an eye through the power of technology.
My PLN supports this connectivism tenet, which states that learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources. When we learn we use different resources to research and discover new and scholarly information that help us to become more knowledge and experience. We discover these learning through social networks, virtual networks, blogs, etc. Prior knowledge and personal experiences facilitate the learning process.
My PLN supports the connectivism tenet, which states that learning may reside in non-human appliances. When we talk about non-human appliances, we mean that learning does not occur in man-made appliances but rather from other individuals, nature, environment, prior knowledge and experiences.
My PLN supports and at the same time refute the connectivism tenet, which states that capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known. What is already known about a particular scenario could be better than what could be currently known which might not be relevant to the existing topic. However, it is also crucial to have the capability in knowing more than you already know especially in this technology era, tech gigs are researching day and night to be abreast with time.
My PLN supports the connectivism tenet, which states that nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning. The reason is that, as learners develop more ideas and keep up with their networks, they are able to obtain current ideas and knowledge that facilitates constant learning. Example the best way for a farmer to have a good productivity is to take care of the crops and find better ways to maintain the soil fertility.
My PLN supports the connectivism tenet, which states that ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill. In order for me to be successful using my leaning networks I must be ready to keep up with my connections. This tenet is fundamental to triumphant use of my PLN because connection is the cornerstone of this principle. I do not think any learner will be able to gain more be knowledgeable and experiences alone because we are in a diverse world, so as we connect we are able to collaborate, share, socialize, and synthesize our information.
My PLN supports the connectivism tenet, which states that currency is the intent of all connectivist learning activities. As the author states, “Decision-making itself is a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision” (Siemens, 2005, para. 24).
The digital tools that best facilitate my learning: Digital learning tools help integrate a variety of media for learning and education. Some of these include photos, text, diagrams, video, animations, graphics, and more. Presentation tools such as PowerPoint, inspiration, webspiration, and so forth are other additional digital tools that make my learning achievable. Interactive tools as well facilitate my learning through knowledge connections. They include interactive concept maps, data displays, and timelines that provide visual connections between existing knowledge and innovative ideas. They facilitate the way I access and share information, resources, and educational materials with other learners without restriction. These tools encourage and support the community of learners to explore and develop deeper understanding of new ideas, share resources, work together beyond the walls of a school or home. In addition, learners gain access to a much wider pool of expertise, guidance, and support (Ito, 2009)
How I gain new knowledge through questions: The imperative way that I gain knowledge is when a guided learner-generated question is being asked. An example is the discussion questions that we respond to every week. This strategy helps me to gain new knowledge when I elaboration on the new material and use the opportunity to read the diverse discussions of my colleagues. When everyone reveals his/her thought regarding the topic of the week it helps to broaden my understanding of the material. In addition, questioning facilitates learning by prompting students in generating specific challenging questions pertaining to the material to be discussed, and those questions in turn elicited relevant explanations. This strategy also helps learners to think critically about the material in question before giving their insights.
The ways that my PLN support or refute the central tenet of connectivism:
To begin with even though the constructivism states that learning and knowledge rest in diversity of opinion, yet my PLN has refute its idea in the sense that learning and diversity do not mainly rest in variety and opinion. The advancement of technology has changed the ways and pace that learning and knowledge is being acquire globally. Taking for instance, researching on a global financial market ten years ago will take years to be accomplished, but today this information can be acquire by millions of people globally in a twinkle of an eye through the power of technology.
My PLN supports this connectivism tenet, which states that learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources. When we learn we use different resources to research and discover new and scholarly information that help us to become more knowledge and experience. We discover these learning through social networks, virtual networks, blogs, etc. Prior knowledge and personal experiences facilitate the learning process.
My PLN supports the connectivism tenet, which states that learning may reside in non-human appliances. When we talk about non-human appliances, we mean that learning does not occur in man-made appliances but rather from other individuals, nature, environment, prior knowledge and experiences.
My PLN supports and at the same time refute the connectivism tenet, which states that capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known. What is already known about a particular scenario could be better than what could be currently known which might not be relevant to the existing topic. However, it is also crucial to have the capability in knowing more than you already know especially in this technology era, tech gigs are researching day and night to be abreast with time.
My PLN supports the connectivism tenet, which states that nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning. The reason is that, as learners develop more ideas and keep up with their networks, they are able to obtain current ideas and knowledge that facilitates constant learning. Example the best way for a farmer to have a good productivity is to take care of the crops and find better ways to maintain the soil fertility.
My PLN supports the connectivism tenet, which states that ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill. In order for me to be successful using my leaning networks I must be ready to keep up with my connections. This tenet is fundamental to triumphant use of my PLN because connection is the cornerstone of this principle. I do not think any learner will be able to gain more be knowledgeable and experiences alone because we are in a diverse world, so as we connect we are able to collaborate, share, socialize, and synthesize our information.
My PLN supports the connectivism tenet, which states that currency is the intent of all connectivist learning activities. As the author states, “Decision-making itself is a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision” (Siemens, 2005, para. 24).
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Problem Solving & Information Processing Theory
Problem Solving Methods during Learning : This is an article from ERIC’s clearinghouse about Elementary and Early Childhood Education written by Britz Joan. She emphasizes how problem solving should be looked at as a foundation of a young child’s learning. In her explanation about how children learn through problem solving, she made mention of children’s social relations and play methods using manipulative as some of the ways they interact with others.
In addition, Joan talks about the teachers’ role in the problem solving by modeling the intended method for students to emulate. She states that the teachers’ role is in two folds: 1. To value the problem and be prepared to trust the students; 2. Be able to establish and maintain classroom environment that encourages the problem solving. She made an interesting point that “the teacher must be willing to be a learner too, by being curious, observing, listening, and questioning.” As a result, the teacher shares and models the qualities that are valued and promoted by the problem-solving process.
Furthermore, this article is rich with extra information such as some ways to plan for problem solving; what to do as a teacher in providing time, space, and materials necessary for in-depth learning; the four steps that make up the problem solving model; and last but not the least, some examples of choosing good problems.
Information Processing Theory: The author of my second article about information process theory is called George Miller. He presented two theoretical suggestions that are generally important to the information theory’s framework and cognitive psychology. The first suggestion he discusses is “chunking” and the capacity of the working memory. According to Miller, a chunk is refers to as digits, words, chess positions, and or people’s faces. Also he presented the idea that a short-term memory could only hold 5-9 chunks of information at a time.
The second concept that Miller discusses was that the information process uses computer as a replica for human learning. Similar to the computer, the human mind receives information; performs operations on the information received in order to change its form and content; and finally stores and locates the information so as to generate response to it. In other words, the above process is referred to as encoding, retaining, and retrieving information. During the process of encoding, humans are able to transform information from one format into another. Through retaining, the information is kept in the short/long-term memory for later use. Finally, during the retrieving process, one is able bring back what has been stored in the past.
In addition, Joan talks about the teachers’ role in the problem solving by modeling the intended method for students to emulate. She states that the teachers’ role is in two folds: 1. To value the problem and be prepared to trust the students; 2. Be able to establish and maintain classroom environment that encourages the problem solving. She made an interesting point that “the teacher must be willing to be a learner too, by being curious, observing, listening, and questioning.” As a result, the teacher shares and models the qualities that are valued and promoted by the problem-solving process.
Furthermore, this article is rich with extra information such as some ways to plan for problem solving; what to do as a teacher in providing time, space, and materials necessary for in-depth learning; the four steps that make up the problem solving model; and last but not the least, some examples of choosing good problems.
Information Processing Theory: The author of my second article about information process theory is called George Miller. He presented two theoretical suggestions that are generally important to the information theory’s framework and cognitive psychology. The first suggestion he discusses is “chunking” and the capacity of the working memory. According to Miller, a chunk is refers to as digits, words, chess positions, and or people’s faces. Also he presented the idea that a short-term memory could only hold 5-9 chunks of information at a time.
The second concept that Miller discusses was that the information process uses computer as a replica for human learning. Similar to the computer, the human mind receives information; performs operations on the information received in order to change its form and content; and finally stores and locates the information so as to generate response to it. In other words, the above process is referred to as encoding, retaining, and retrieving information. During the process of encoding, humans are able to transform information from one format into another. Through retaining, the information is kept in the short/long-term memory for later use. Finally, during the retrieving process, one is able bring back what has been stored in the past.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Food for Thought
My quest and passion for creativity has moved me to the direction of instructional design and technology. While hunting for interesting and concise blog to read for comprehension in order to produce a descent assignment, I stumbled upon quite a few fascinating ones that are just right for my expedition. In fact, I came to love the learning design theories principles by Mike Taylor, as it relates to this course. The science center blog was another favorites of mine since creating a science center is one of my agendas for the next school year. Finally, my dilemma of either finding a job in private or public school for next school year has made a step forward after reading my third blog, grass is greener. I hope you enjoy and learn something out of these three interesting blogs.
The first blog: Learning Design Principles by Mike Tailor takes you to the world of multimedia presentation on learning design principles. It clearly and vividly discusses eight learning principles with neat explanatory visuals. These learning design principles comprise with split attention principles - don’t split elements in space or time; the modality principle - narration plus picture, text plus pictures, and text; cognitive load principle - 2-4 elements of new information; redundancy principle - no repeats; coherence principle - no extras does not add to instructional goal; signaling principle - cues directs learners attention; segment principles - chunk into learner-paced segments; and pre-training principles - give learners main concepts first. In addition, you will also have access to Mike's e-portfolio, which is one of our major components in this course. This is a hands-on mind-on presentation that you will not want to miss. Love it!
Learning Design Principles
The second blog: Elementary Science Center Blog by Mrs. Mikegel is a neat science center ideas that elementary teachers together with parents would love to have access to. It consists of various elementary science topics from the beginning to the end of the school year. Some of these topics include the 5 senses, Living and Nonliving, Life Cycle, Rocks and Minerals, Day and Night, etc. It is organized for struggle-free browsing. In addition, you will find teaching tools, lesson & planning, curriculum, professional readings, and others. In my opinion, why reinvent the wheel while it is already invented for your easy access? Teachers and parents, please take advantage of this site and utilize it for the benefit of your students/children for the advancement of our communities, country, and globally as well.
Science Centers
The third blog: The Grass is Greener by an unknown teacher in DC, is his/her view about pros and cons in public and private schools. Personally, I leaned to this blog because I am in the same predicament presently. In my mind I feel trapped between looking for a job in private schools or stay and look around the public schools. As we all know, different people have different view of public and private school systems. Considering this post, I think I have found a piece of a puzzle to one of my personal questions. According to this post, the grass is greener under the feet of teachers in private schools because he/she feels there is freedom in private schools than it is in public schools. His/her description of public schools " a beast of decentralized system". Wow!
DC Teach
The first blog: Learning Design Principles by Mike Tailor takes you to the world of multimedia presentation on learning design principles. It clearly and vividly discusses eight learning principles with neat explanatory visuals. These learning design principles comprise with split attention principles - don’t split elements in space or time; the modality principle - narration plus picture, text plus pictures, and text; cognitive load principle - 2-4 elements of new information; redundancy principle - no repeats; coherence principle - no extras does not add to instructional goal; signaling principle - cues directs learners attention; segment principles - chunk into learner-paced segments; and pre-training principles - give learners main concepts first. In addition, you will also have access to Mike's e-portfolio, which is one of our major components in this course. This is a hands-on mind-on presentation that you will not want to miss. Love it!
Learning Design Principles
The second blog: Elementary Science Center Blog by Mrs. Mikegel is a neat science center ideas that elementary teachers together with parents would love to have access to. It consists of various elementary science topics from the beginning to the end of the school year. Some of these topics include the 5 senses, Living and Nonliving, Life Cycle, Rocks and Minerals, Day and Night, etc. It is organized for struggle-free browsing. In addition, you will find teaching tools, lesson & planning, curriculum, professional readings, and others. In my opinion, why reinvent the wheel while it is already invented for your easy access? Teachers and parents, please take advantage of this site and utilize it for the benefit of your students/children for the advancement of our communities, country, and globally as well.
Science Centers
The third blog: The Grass is Greener by an unknown teacher in DC, is his/her view about pros and cons in public and private schools. Personally, I leaned to this blog because I am in the same predicament presently. In my mind I feel trapped between looking for a job in private schools or stay and look around the public schools. As we all know, different people have different view of public and private school systems. Considering this post, I think I have found a piece of a puzzle to one of my personal questions. According to this post, the grass is greener under the feet of teachers in private schools because he/she feels there is freedom in private schools than it is in public schools. His/her description of public schools " a beast of decentralized system". Wow!
DC Teach
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