Reflection

A Reflection on Learning Theories and Instruction:

The Growth of a Student in Instructional Design

As a student who has recently begun the journey to a degree in Instructional Design, I realize that I must start with a mind that is open to new ideas and philosophies. I must seek to explore new knowledge and understand the practical applications of such if I am to be effective in my field. In my mind, the blank pages of subject matter are beginning to be replaced with knowledge of theories, philosophies, and approaches that I never knew existed. Let me share with you some of the things that I have learned thus far. 

The one aspect of learning that I found to be the most surprising is in reflection the one that should have been the most obvious; different people learn in different ways. There are numerous ways in which a person can learn and that same person may utilize more than one method of learning even within the same subject matter (Ertmer & Newby, 1993). Some of the different learning theories which were explored include: Behaviorist, Cognitive, Constructivist, Social Learning, Connectivism, and Adult Learning.  

     When conducting personal inward reflection, when learning new material I find that I often utilize multiple learning methods. Having passed middle-age, I find that the use of mnemonics helps me to remember names as well as itemized lists (Woolverton, Scogin, Shackelfor, Black, & Duke, 2001). I have come to realize that my learning methods most closely resemble those of connectivism because I link new information to previous knowledge and adult learning because I am self-disciplined and draw from my life experiences.

Throughout this course I have learned that while various learning theories and styles can be employed by the learner, each learner must find their own motivational factor.  Although it is sometimes difficult for today’s learner to stay motivated given the pressure of time constraints and family obligations, in today’s world of educational technology, mobile computing can make a difference. Through the use of handhelds and smartphones, it is now easier than ever to receive and complete assignments from almost anywhere (Johnson, Levine & Smith, 2009).  This ubiquitous computing can help serve as the motivation one needs to complete the education that was unattainable just a few short years ago.

The material that I have learned in this course has better prepared me to become a more proficient  instructional designer by helping me understand that I must strive to differentiate my methods of instruction and incorporate new technology that would serve to include those students that employ various learning styles (Kim, 2001). This will serve to lessen the technological divide and engage those learners on a level that they can comprehend.

This course has taught me not only various learning techniques and theories but a very important life lesson as well. I have been educated in the fact that learning is a lifelong journey and the knowledge that I have gained here will remain with me for a lifetime.

References

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.

Johnson, L., Levine, A., & Smith, R. (2009). The Horizon Report (2009 ed.). Austin, TX: The New Media Consortium. Retrieved from http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2009/

Kim, B. (2001). Social Constructivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/

Woolverton, M., Scogin, F., Shackelfor, J., Black, S., & Duke, L. (2001). Problem-targeted Memory Training for Older Adults. Aging, Neuropsychology & Cognition, 8(4), 241-255.

Fitting the Pieces Together

Fitting the Pieces Together

Now that my Walden class on Learning Theories and Instruction is coming to a close, I would like to reflect back to the beginning of this course and consider how my views on learning theories and styles have evolved.

As I am both fairly new to the online classroom and just in my third semester as an instructor, my experience concerning learning theories and learning styles is limited. At the start of this class, I seldom gave a thought as to how learning occurred or even the fact that there are several ways in which individuals can and do learn. Little did I know that there were six widely held theories that describe most types of learning. These theories are: Behaviorist, Cognitive, Constructivist, Social Learning, Connectivism, and Adult Learning.  

At the beginning of this class, I classified myself as being between a cognitive and constructivist learner because my memory plays a large part in the learning process yet I develop a deeper meaning through firsthand experience (Ertmer & Newby, 1993). Now that I have been exposed to different theories, I would have to say that I more closely relate to the connectivism and adult learning theories. Connectivism because I draw on prior knowledge to connect to and process new information (Davis, Edmunds & Kelly-Bateman, 2008), and the adult learning theory as I am an active participant in my own learning as well as being self-directed and self-disciplined. I also have life experience from which to draw knowledge from (Conlan, Grabowski, and Smith, 2003).       

With that being said, the most important lesson that I have learned thus far is that there are multiple ways that an individual can learn and that individuals often learn utilizing more than one method. It is important that I keep this in mind if I am to be an effective instructional designer. I must strengthen my repertoire of instructional techniques in order to help my students utilize various learning methods so that their learning potential is maximized.

Today’s learner is more apt to utilize technology than ever before. With mobile devices and handheld smartphones, the quantity of information available is limited only by one’s creative imagination. Information can be obtained, researched, drafted, and submitted all from the comfort of your favorite easy chair. The proliferation of on-line learning has increased exponentially over the last several years as has the quality of that education. Long gone are the correspondence courses that the distance learner of yesteryear was relegated to. Those have been replaced with professionally designed and supported online learning that is today’s standard (Foley, 2004).

In conclusion, I have learned that there is much more to learning and education than I would ever have imagined. There are many learning theories and technologies that a novice such as myself can spend many years attempting to master. Rather than becoming mired in technological ambivalence, it is important to remember that each learner will have their own learning style and that an effective instructional designer will find creative methods of instruction to maximize the learning potential of each student.

References:

Conlan, J., Grabowski, S., & Smith, K. (2003). Adult learning. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Adult_Learning

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?

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.

Foley, G. (Ed.). (2004). Dimensions of adult learning: Adult education and training in a global era. McGraw-Hill Education, 200. p 189.

Connectivism

  

This week’s blog is about connectivism. Connectivism as a theory was introduced on the premise that knowledge exists in the world rather than just in the mind of the individual. This theory is described as knowledge which exists within systems and is accessed through the process of the learner connecting specialized nodes (Davis, Edmunds, and Kelly-Bateman, 2008).

As you can see from the graphical representation of my networking mind map, the connections follow the basic tenets of connectivism in the fact that I have created a network connecting to other people and emerging technologies. As an adult learner, I am self-directed and self-motivated resulting in exceptional grades and nurturing and maintaining connections with my college professors (Davis, Edmunds, and Kelly-Bateman, 2008). Because of this connection my professors were instrumental in helping me secure employment.

In the world of emerging technology, changes take place daily. Therefore, it is imperative to stay abreast of the changes through continuing education. This education does not necessarily have to be formal training. It can come in the form of seeking information from online search engines or from peers. My age classifies me as a “digital immigrant” meaning that in addition to the regular course work that was required for my bachelor’s degree, I also had to learn new technology and how to adapt to it. I personally have Google saved to my favorites for quick reference and I am able to keep in touch with my friends through facebook. This also follows the connectivist theory described by Davis, Edmunds, and Kelly-Bateman that states that complex learning with a rapidly changing core is best learned the connectivist type learner.

So now that we’ve discussed connectivism, let me share with you how connectivism has affected me and my method of learning. As you look at the graphic, I would like to explain how the items in my networking mind map are connected. First, I completed my bachelor’s degree and met with my professors several times afterward to build rapport. I kept in touch with my classmates and friends through facebook and would research information through Google and look for jobs through various employer websites. Once I found a job I was interested in, I went back to my instructors for referrals. Not only did they recommend me, they offered me a position at the college as well. Going through the interview process, I learned more about what my prospective employer was looking for and was able to secure employment. I then contacted some classmates who were qualified candidates and alerted them to the fact that a local employer was hiring. After being hired, I have found that my colleagues are a wonderful source of information.

So as you can see, there was a very intricately weaved network constructed through which I was able to obtain knowledge and employment and it is through this same network that I continue to learn and keep the various nodes connected.

Interesting links to learning resources

Hello and welcome back.

As instructional designers, educators, and trainers it is it is imperative that we understand that not all brains think alike nor do they all learn in the same style or pace. In order to maximize the learning potential of those we seek to educate, we must learn to incorporate various learning methods in order to accommodate the many different learning styles.

While it may simplify our lives to teach only one method, and hope the majority “get it”, is this the type of service that we really want to give our clients? We owe it to those we serve to be the best educators we can be. Yes this means that we may have to do more research in order to reach those one or two students that struggle with concepts that we consider to be rudimentary, but aren’t they worth it?

I’m sure that most of us know someone (you, perhaps?) that has benefitted from that one teacher who took the extra time, went the extra mile in order to help us understand. Educators that go beyond and give a little more in order to teach how to learn new concepts or new methods of memorization open up new worlds for many that may have otherwise gone unexplored. Mr. Shipley was my seventh grade science teacher. He taught me one of the most important learning methods of my life and I still use it extensively to this day. I hope that I am able to return the favor many times. May God rest his soul.

This week I would like to share with you some informational resources dealing with the brain, how we learn and different factors that affect the way we learn. Take a moment to explore the links posted as I’m sure you will find something here that may be beneficial in the continuing quest for knowledge.

http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/cognition/infoproc.html

This website gives the reader an overview of the cognitive system as well as describes various models and theories of learning. I found it to be very informative as it details various models of learning. Explanatory diagrams are included.

For those of you who are classroom instructors, there is a table outlining nine different principles to use in the information processing approach and examples of each.

The home page alone contains loads of valuable information plus there are numerous links that will take you to more in-depth discussions on each subject.

http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/exercise.html

Wow, this site has the potential to become one of my favorite favorites! This site states that just like the body, the brain benefits from exercise.

Included in this site are tests and brain exercise topics. There are also brain training games that focus on memory, speed, focus, attention, spatial reasoning and problem solving.

Some of the topics include: Mental Exercise for a Better Brain, Physical Exercise for a Better Brain and one that I’m sure to read – Exercise for the Aging Brain Studies!

Every topic is broken down into subtopics for more detailed reading.

This site is not only educational, but fun as well.

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_91.htm

I consider this site to more of a self-help site, but one that may be beneficial in learning what type of decisions we make and why we make them.  After all, before we can understand others, we must first seek to understand ourselves. 

This site packs in a lot of information. Various models of decision making and understanding are explored and it is sure to contain something for everyone. In these days, everyone can benefit from learning how to manage stress, make decisions, and better manage their time. Other topics are also discussed.

There are many subjects here for your exploration. Keep in mind however that a subscription is required in order to read some of the full articles. 

http://content.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/pdf23_24/pdf/2009/GAQ/01Aug09/44665997.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=44665997&S=R&D=ehh&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHr7ESep7M4yNfsOLCmr0qep7ZSs664SrWWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGss0q1qK5IuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA

Last but certainly not least is this article I found I the Walden University database which details the learning process. The article is a collaborative work between three PhD research professors. While somewhat verbose (22 pages), the article is well written and easy to read.

The article explores theories of individual learning which are then broken down into four types of individual learning processes: adaptive, generative, transformative, and reflective. These processes are then diagramed in tables and figures in order to help facilitate the message being conveyed.

As previously stated, these sites are packed with information that I hope helps you understand the learning process and become the best educator you can be. As always, please feel free to leave your comments and/or suggestions.

Thanks, Keith.

Hello everyone!

Well, I just finished the initial design of my first blog site. How exciting! Later on, I will look back at this first attempt and understand just how amateurish it was. Well, ignorance is bliss, so I think it looks great for now!

While I have heard about blogs and blogging, I have never participated in them because my time is quite limited. I am thankful that I have had this opportunity to create a blog of my own. I look forward to sharing thought and ideas with you.   

Welcome to Keith Williams blog site.

This is my newly created blog site where you are encouraged to read posts and leave feedback as it pertains to the field of instructional design, education, and technology.

Below are a few of my current favorite blog sites that offer information and valuable insight that you may find helpful. I have briefly described each site and the content that you may find within. Take a look around and feel free to leave your comments and feedback.

                                               Experiencing E-Learning
http://christytucker.wordpress.com/2010/07/06/instructional-design-and-e-learning-blogs/

   This website was created by Christy Tucker who is actively engaged in the field of instructional design, public education and corporate training. Christy began as a teacher and has spent the last several years developing courses for K-12 teachers. Some of the articles that Christy writes about include instructional design, corporate E-learning, and technology. She also includes a topic called Weekly Bookmark Posts where she includes useful or interesting topics. 

   This website seems to be an appropriate learning tool for those in the instructional design or education field. It has garnered much positive feedback from those who have posted to this site. One of the things that attracted me to include this site on my own blog was the fact that there have been several past Walden students from the MS Instructional Design and Technology field that have utilized this site.

   This site appears to be user friendly in that there are many hyperlinks available that will link you to other sites to aid in the search for more information. This site also promises to keep your email address confidential to reduce the possibility of spam.  

  

                                               Let’s save the world from boring elearning!

        http://blog.cathy-moore.com/
  

   This blog was created by Cathy Moore who has more than 28 years’ experience in the field of performance improvement and instructional design. This site promises to help you develop action-packed learning materials for working adults. There is a lengthy list of clients who have utilized her advice and designs including the U.S. Army, Microsoft, Amway and many more household names. Cathy’s writing and design have won awards, and she has served as a judge for awards in instructional design. Through her blog, she shares ideas with about 8,000 international subscribers.  

   This site is packed with information and looks to be well laid out and user friendly. It contains lots of graphics and covers a wide variety of topics. There are 4 blogs and 6 topic headers on the home page with the availability to read more posts from each category.

                                              

                                               Rapid E-Learning 101 Blog
http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/rapid-e-learning-101/

   This blog is hosted by Tom Kuhlmann who has over 15 years in the training industry. This site is dedicated to disseminating the proper information to those seeking it in the quickest amount of time. The stated purpose of this site is so that those without specialized technical skills can get in touch with those who do in order to get their projects completed.

   There are many subjects from which to choose and there are also many rapid E-Learning 101 tips that will

help you rapidly learn the basics. There are listed posts that cover the essentials and within those posts are additional recommended materials to speed your learning. This site is simplistic, straightforward, and easy to navigate. Seems to be just what a beginner is looking for.