Reflection

Course Reflection:
This course has been challenging and informative. The material in this course has increased my knowledge of how people learn and the many theories that have been developed. There are two main points that stuck out more than the others. First, when it comes to learning and retrieval it is important to understand how the information was “learned” in order for it to be retrieved. As it stated in the book, “Learning Theories and Instruction” (2009), “Retrieval depends on the manner of encoding.” Part of this retrieval can involve emotions and this is important to the memory or retrieval process as well.
The second main or striking point that I found interesting was that we not only all learn differently, but we can learn differently depending on the task itself. We may have one learning style for one task but a totally different style for something else. As Karl Kapp suggests in his blog, “The issue many forget is that “learning” is not one thing… it is a multi-layered work that tends to get treated as if it were just one thing… and it’s not.”

Personal Learning Process:
My learning process is, as is in all people, a combination of all the learning theories and styles. As was stated in the video, “Connectivism,” “Education is complex.” However, I find myself drawn to Connectivism for my personal style. When I can connect the material to other topics or something else I have learned, it helps me to retain and eventually retrieve the new material. Whether it is a key word, an emotion, a personal experience or a previously learned fact, connecting new information to one of those is very important to my learning.

Connecting Learning, Technology and Motivation:
As technology is being created, so are the applications to learning being explored. Since people have different learning styles, not all technology will be for every person. The challenge is using the current and future technology to not only help people to learn but to motivate them as well. The youth of today and the coming generations are prone to using technology on many levels and will not only expect to use technology in their learning, but will require it to motivate them to learn in their own style, to keep their attention, provide relevance, instill confidence and ultimately bring satisfaction to their learning and goals. (Keller’s ARCS model)
Instructional Design:
This course has reintroduced to me the various learning theories and styles of people, which is important to know when designing instruction. As I begin to create materials for people on any academic level, I can use the theories to keep me focused on how someone can accept the material being presented, absorb it into their own memory and apply it to the current or future task. Through the use of technology, I will be able to help people to learn, be motivated and connected to the material and people involved with the entire course or task. The challenge is for me to have a personal connection with each of my students, whether in a classroom or with a distance learner, so that I can find which learning style is appropriate and then be an encourager to that person to keep them motivated and engaged in the entire learning process for their own personal success and mine.



References:
1. . Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York: Pearson.
2. Karl Kapp: http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational.html
3. Video Program: “Connectivism”
4. Keller, J. M. (1999). Using the ARCS motivational process in computer-based instruction and distance education. New Directions for Teaching and Learning (78).

More Stuff

The irony of week one’s discussion is that I stated that we all “know stuff.” Sometimes it is the right stuff and sometimes it is incomplete stuff and of course some of it is just plain wrong stuff. Now that we have had time to examine more material, I “know more stuff!”

In my first discussion, I explained that my learning styles reflect all three styles: Behaviorist, Cognitive and Constructivist. All three are evident in my life at different times and different circumstances. Now add in Social Learning, Connectivism and Adult Learning to the mix and the same can be said. My view on my personal learning experiences has been adjusted, but not really changed. I have been able to learn through all these styles. However, I do find myself leaning heavily on Connectivism. When I can connect the material to something else I seem to retain it better and longer. I find myself teaching this way by connecting the material to the students and their lives. Sometimes it is insignificant pop-culture things, but it is something the students can relate to and hopefully retain. Sometimes it is connected to a hand or body movement that helps the students have a kinesthetic application to the material. All in all, my learning style is ever adjusting and adapting. That in itself is what learning is all about.

Technology has always been a part of my life. My parents tell a story about me when I was around five years old and my parents owned one of the original “Pong” video games. They had it in a restaurant for awhile to make money and eventually brought it home when it stopped making money. I spent many hours on it learning how to master it. I got so good on it that my dad would challenge adults to play against me and I would very easily win every time. That is my first real connection and use of technology (other than television) and it never stopped. Today I own a laptop computer and have a second one for work. In addition to that, I also own a phone with internet access, a digital camera and several flash drives. My use of technology is mostly for finding information, storing that information and using technology to teach. When I am on my computer I am constantly looking online at information websites for up to date news and occasionally to find specific things like directions or even movie times. In my classroom I have something called an Activboard which is a huge whiteboard that can do anything a computer can do with a touch of a special pen. This is used to present material to my students in a new and engaging manner that is interactive. My students can also use it to show work or manipulate the material to learn or teach others as well. The use of technology in my life is daily and ever evolving.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to get back to learning more stuff. ;-)

Connectivism

On the game show, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”, I found it interesting that one of the rules of the game is that you are given a “life line” to call someone who could help you. I always wondered who I would call if put in that situation. Who is it that I can count on more times than not to have the answer to my questions? In life, we not only count on “who” but also “what” to help us learn and my mind map shows the many parts to my network that facilitate my learning.

My network has changed over the years and the way I learn. As we are growing up, I am sure many of us learn much of our knowledge from family and friends. Right or wrong, they had the biggest influence in my learning and in many ways, still do. The most significant change has been the internet. This connection includes news and entertainment sites, search engines, blogs and social network sites. This is a digital tool that has completely changed my learning since it is immediate and usually accurate. Before I had to look things up in a book or talk to multiple people before getting the information I was seeking, but with the internet, the learning time has been dramatically decreased. Another important learning network is “media.” This includes television, newspapers, magazines and the radio. The “other” network includes people I may randomly meet, people I may work with but not necessarily consider “friends”, teachers/instructors and other students like me.

One of the things I observed while making my mind map is that with some connections they can learn from me as well. “Family”, “Friends”, and “Others” are all connections where we learn from each other. This resonates with the Connectivism theory since it is not one sided, but interactive and mutually beneficial.

My learning networks support the central tenets of connectivism. My networks have an abundance of information and are rich with visualization tools. Each network supports my learning in this complex environment. They connect with me cognitively, socially, culturally and are system based environments.

Depending on what information I need determines which connection I go to in my network. My dad is good for political issues, my son knows about cars, the radio and television is where I turn to for news and general pop culture and of course I turn to my professor for academic concerns. If I could only use the internet as a “life line” on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” then maybe I would be ready to give that show a try! Who or what are your “life lines” for learning?