Reflecting on the End

           Has the course draws to a close and I reflect on what I have learned so far,  this course has expound on the theories that I studied in my bachelors degree. The assignments were especially challenging for me because I am not in the classroom therefore the reference point was not there for me, I am not a teacher therefore participation in the discussions we difficult. However the knowledge gained will be very useful has an Instructional designer. In this paper I will elaborate on what I have learned and how I will be using this knowledge.

            The thing I found most surprising in my quest to learn about the theories is that there is a theory for everything. I found it fascinating that persons have done studies on things like motivation and anxiety; that anxiety has two components worry and emotionality (Ormrod, Schunk, & Gredler, 2009, pp.241-249). I was very fascinated by all the theories that we explored in this course.

            I also found the numerous learning styles we discussed fascinating. However my views on how I learn have not changed much since studying the different learning theories and styles. After studying the theories and styles they have solidified my thinking that I can learn in different ways, I have always thought I learned different tasks differently and sometimes I combine learning styles but my predominant style is visual.  After watching the videos entitled Learning Styles Don't Exist I am now of the opinion that these learning styles are more about my preferences and the ways I prefer to be instructed.

            According to Lim (2004) in the article Engaging Learners in Online Learning Environment “research studies have shown that learner engagement is paramount to learning success” (p. 16);  Lim states that “engagement here is defined as the mobilization of cognitive, affective and motivational strategies for interpretive transaction” (p. 16). Therefore as an instructional designer one as to take into consideration when designing the learning theory that the design should be based on, the different learning styles of learners, the educational technology that will be used and how one will build motivational activities into the course to keep the learner motivated especially in an online environment. Dr. Ormrod stated that it is important that instructional designers know the nature of learners in general but also the nature of specific learners and that different people approach learning in different ways. With that in mind I believe learning theories and styles will help instructional designers to understand how learners approach learning.

            In conclusion by completing this course and learning about the theories and styles of learning. I will take this away from the course “no two learner is the same and no one learning theory or learning style will cover all learners. Therefore as Dr. Ormrod stated it is important in any instructionally designed environment that you as the designer take these differences into consideration. With that in mind I will keep that in the fore front of my instructional design efforts.

Reference

"Learning Styles and Strategies" [Video podcast]. (2012, December 4). [Dr. Jeanne Ormrod]. Retrieved from Laureate Education, Inc.

Lim, C. P. (2004). Engaging learners in online learning environments. TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, 48(4), 16–23.

Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York: Pearson.

Fitting the Pieces Together

My views on how I learn have not changed much since studying the different learning theories and styles. What has happened is, studying the theories and styles have solidified my thinking that I can learn in different ways, I have always thought I learned different tasks differently and sometimes I combine learning styles.  After watching the videos entitled Learning Styles Don't Exist I am of the opinion that these learning styles are about our preferences and the ways we prefer to be instructed. 

After learning about the characteristics of adult learning I can fully identify with the five assumptions of the andragogy theory. The first assumption refers to adult learners’ independent self concept and ability to direct their own learning (Knowles, 1989 as cited in Cercone, 2008). When comparing my current learning with the past I realize that I am more self directed and goal oriented than before. The second assumption states that an adult accumulates a growing reservoir of experience, which is a rich resource for learning (Merriam & Caffarella, 1999 as cited in Cercone, 2008). The experience that I brought to this course makes the material a lot easier to grasp and understand. The third assumption states that the readiness of an adult to learn is closely related to the developmental task of his or her social role (Merriam & Caffarella, 1999 as cited in Cercone, 2008). The knowledge that I am gaining will help me with my current and future goals. The fourth assumption states that there is a change in time perspective as people mature, from future application of knowledge to immediacy of application (Merriam & Caffarella, 1999 as cited in Cercone, 2008). The knowledge that I have gained in this course can be put to immediate use in my current job (Merriam & Caffarella, 1999 as cited in Cercone, 2008).  The fifth assumption states that adults are motivated to learn by internal factors rather than external ones. My motivation for studying is to get my masters before my fiftieth birthday. The adult learning theory is the theory that best explains my personal learning preference.  

Technology plays a huge role in my every day learning. A day in my life with technology go something like this, I wake up to the alarm on my phone going off. It rings every thirty minutes until I leave the house. On my way to work from my phone I check my email which is sometimes filled with to dos for the day. I have been given the task of writing a proposal, I have never written a proposal before so I turn to Google to find out how to write a proposal and get some samples. While writing the proposal I need to get the meaning or spelling of a word it’s off to Google again this time finding a dictionary online. I check in to Walden’s classes to see what I have missed or to down load the readings for the week. I check the blogs and groups I am apart off to see what’s new with technology, elearning or instructional design.  We got a new video camera and I have to learn how to use it in order to do a training course for my colleagues in the office off to YouTube for a tutorial in using the new video camera. I use the internet a lot during my day because it’s the easiest way to access information that I need on the go. After doing my mind map I came to the realization that I have a vast learning network to rely on.

References

Cercone, K. (2008). Characteristics of adult learners with implications for online learning design. AACE Journal, 16(2), 137–159. Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Reader.ViewAbstract&paper_id=24286

Willingham, D. (2008) Learning Styles Don’t Exist. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv9rz2NTUk

Willingham, D. (2008) Learning Styles Don’t Exist. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKkHiAA3xu0&feature=watch_response

Connectivism

This my mind map

According to Siemens, “connectivism is driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering foundations. New information is continually being acquired and the ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. Also critical is the ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday” (Siemens, 2005, para. 24, as cited in Davis, Edmunds & Kelly-Bateman, 2008).

Information is all over you can’t get away from it, if you want to know anything the information is at your finger tips at the touch of a button and it is there.  One could say learning is easier now than in years gone by, but is it? My network provides me with a wealth of knowledge on the topics that are important to me, but sometimes I think it’s too much, too much information to go through. The information can become overwhelming sometimes, it is important to learn how to filter and manage the information you receive.  With that said how does my network change the way I learn? For the most part I have access to information 24hrs a day anywhere I am. Gone are the days when I needed to know something, which meant I had to get a book which means if I don’t have the book on the book shelf I would have to go to the library, not anymore, at the click of a button on my cell phone, my laptop or my tablet, there information at my finger tip. I am a visual learner and when I need to understand something that I read and I’m not quite getting it “youtube” and a video is there to make things much clearer. My colleagues and I were discussing the banking system in Jamaica and the fee structure of some of the banks and we had some questions that we needed to be answer, and my colleague said “let’s ask Google, Google knows everything”.

Has I mentioned before I am a visual learner, so the digital tools that best facilitates learning for me are the ones that has less reading and more videos. I use youtube a lot for tutorials. I gain new knowledge by doing research on the internet first and then I discuss my findings with my colleagues, they also give me some insight on the topic and they may be able to point me in a different direction if more information is needed. I also read blogs on the topic and read discussion boards if I have question I will post them to the discussion board.

Decision-making is itself 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 as cited in Davis, Edmunds & Kelly-Bateman, 2008). I agree with the above statement with all the information that is floating around in cyber space one as to make a decision on what one wants to learn and when. Information changes daily and what was current and correct today might just be out dated and incorrect tomorrow. I believe my personal network supports the principles of connectivism because on a daily basis I learn from a diverse set of persons all over the world through their blog and discussion board postings. Continuous learning means that I have to stay connected to all the learning sources that are in my network as was mentioned before information changes rapidly these days so one has to keep up to date and current. On a daily basis I don’t only learn from the persons I interact with but there are so many sources of learning, example youtube, websites, blogs etc. to name a few.

Has overwhelming has I find the information in my network sometimes,  it is good to have that network it makes research and learning a lot easier than days gone by.

Reference  

Davis, C., Edmunds, E., & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism