Fitting the Pieces Together February 22, 2010

Since the first week’s assignment (01/04/10 to 01/10/10), my views on how I learn have changed.  When a thought comes into my mind, I find myself trying to determine the stimulus for that memory.   Was it from a verbal cue, or a visual one?  What I have discovered through the course readings is that it is not that easy to label yourself or anyone using any one theory or learning style.  Of the three learning styles we read about (visual, auditory and tactile/kinesthetic), I identified auditory and visual learning as ways I acquire knowledge.  However, depending on when learning is occuring and what is being learned, my style could involve one or all three styles.

The learning theories we discussed included: Behavorism, Cognitive, Constructivist, Social Learning, Connectivism, Adult Learning and Multiple Intelligences.  At first, I thought my personal learning preferences leaned more toward “Behaviorism and Cognitivism.”  Now that I am more aware of the meaning or thoughts behind the different theories, I feel my preference has components of Cognitivism, Constructivist, Adult Learning and Multiple Intelligences.  Cognitivism makes the assumptions that: (1) a person’s memory system organizes information the brain has processed and (2) a person’s prior knowledge is important in current learning.  A person’s prior knowledge is also a concept in adult learning and constructivism.  I have used previous life and job experiences to solve problems or to construct/build new knowledge.   I am in agreement with the fact that there were other environmental factors that have either encouraged or hindered my intelligences’ development.  According to Armstrong, (2000) these factors includes: “1) Having access to resources or mentors.  2) Historical-Cultural Factors.  3) Geographic Factors  4) Familial Factors and 5) Situational Factors.  Gilbert, Juan & Swanier, Cheryl listed heredity, upbringing and current environmental demands (2008) as influences on learning styles. 

Technology has played a big role in my learning.  Prior to the internet, I used to spend many hours in a higher learning institution’s library doing research for papers.  Now research is done from the comfort of home.  On my job, cost effective, accessible ways for the governmental agency to reach the State Agency with updated information, specific regulatory information, manuals, clarifications, etc. includes but is not limited to: (1) telephone audioconferences, (2) Web-based resources and (3) Internet Videoconferencing.

References

Armstrong, T. (2000). MI and Personsl Development. In Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom (2nd ed ed.). Alesandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Gilbert, Juan & Swanier, Cheryl. (2008). Learning Styles: How do they fluctuate? Retrieved from Institute for Learning Styles Journal [vol.1]: http://www.auburn.edu/~witteje/ilsrj/Journal%20Volumes/Fall%202008%20Volume%201%20PDFs/Learning%20Styles%20How%20do%20They%20Fluctuate.pdf

Connectivism February 8, 2010

According to Marc Pensky, “individuals that were born prior to 1970/(1965) immigrated to technology as a means of survival… (they) were not raised with technology.”  That has become more apparent within the last couple of decades.  Individuals who grew up using a typewriter as a standard have now had to convert to using computers.  Along with the computer came the internet which has evolved from an initial source of information to a learning community. 

My initial introduction to the internet as a learning tool began in the 90’s in pursuit of a higher degree.  Instead of spending many hours in a library going through whatever resources were available, the internet made it easier and quicker to find multiple resources in the comfort of your home.  As the internet and its uses grew, more data resources were added and as a result, people became more connected.

In today’s environment where education has become complex and people have to re-learn how to learn, digital tools can facilitate learning.  Digital technologies I am familiar with that best help me learn includes social networking sites (Facebook or Twitter), Course CDs/DVD, Library-(eBooks, eJournals), Webinar, Podcasting and Media Streaming.  Educational software designed to interact with the learner such as tutorials or simulations are also useful tools.   

There is more information now than it has ever been.  Search engines such as google or bing are very helpful in narrowing your focus to the resources that will answer your questions on any given topic.  It helps you select what information from the vast quantity there is that you want to learn.  In other words, sift through all the data to identify the information that will be most useful to you.

Connectivism involves a system that states, “We must create networks which are connections between entities.  By using these networks-of people, of technology, of social structures, of systems of power grids, etc. – learning communities can share their ideas with others, thereby “cross-pollinating” the learning environment ([Siemens, 2005, para. 21] Davis, Edmund, & Bateman, 2008).  My personal learning networks in addition to the emails, friends have shared with me with links to sites on everything from health to music, videos, photos and blogs supports this concept.  We seek to learn from one another in the network by distributing to each other what we feel might be of interest.

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

Prensky, M. (n.d.). Timeline of the History of Learning.