Have you thought about how you learn or how your memory works concerning
learning? After completing six weeks of study for a school, I can effectively
identify a couple of learning theories that apply to me.
1. Constructivist theory, developed by Jerome Bruner, based on the idea
that “learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon existing knowledge”,
that it is “an active process” (Cooper, 2009) . Combination
of the learner and the environment factors influence constructivism “as it is
the specific interaction between” them that “creates knowledge” and that
creates “cognitive tools which reflect the wisdom of the culture” they are used
in (Ertmer & Newby, 1993) .
I recognize my intuitiveness to learn to use new things—how to use a
computer program or complete discussion posting for class—research to backup
your thoughts, and relate to fellow students. The Intelligence training and job
duties I performed caused me to think critically, to think outside the box.
I look at previous experiences (whether others or mine) to help
understand and integrate into my own life.
2. Social Learning Theory, developed by Bandura, “explains human behavior
in terms of continuous reciprocal interaction between cognitive, behavioral,
and environmental influences”. Individuals will most likely “adopt a model
behavior if it results in outcomes they value” or is similar to the observer,
and has respected status and behavior has practical value (Culatta, 2012) .
I enjoy, and maybe too much, Facebook and various blogs. Lots can be
learned from others, and the important thing is to select the best individuals
to follow. As I worked through learning theories, I identified various blogs or
websites to return to, here is just a few that you might recognize.
Instructional Design www.instructionaldesign.org
Instructional Design & Development http://www.iddblog.org/
Big Dog & Little Dog’s Performance Juxtaposition http://nwlink.com/~donclark/
Big Dog, Little Dog Blog http://bdld.blogspot.com/
Now that I recognize what works best for me, I see why I work best in the
Online-learning environment. Online brought me flexibility with structure, self-motivated,
able to function in the online campus, and willing to share experiences with
others. In the online campus, technology plays a major role, and my
adaptability to the technology makes it much easier to stay positive and
motivated. Using the available research tools provided by the school, ASTD,
International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI.org) and Google.com, to
name a few, provide the windows to facilitate my learning.
Final Note: We need
to look have how we learn instead of just getting the right grade.
Alex Rister’s blog “Super Teachers: Education is the East vs. West
highlighted something that hit home to me...“we value the “A” on the test.
It doesn’t matter if the student has actually learned. We measure
success in the 4.0. We don’t value the process of learning, which is, of
course, struggling and working and re-working until you get it right” (Rister, 2012) .
*********
References:
Cooper, S.
(2009). Jerome Bruner: Constructivism & discovery learning.
Retrieved December 15, 2012, from Life Cirles--Inc, Theories of learning in
educational psychology:
http://www.lifecircles-inc.com/Learningtheories/constructivism/bruner.html
Culatta, R. (2012).
Social Learning Theory (A. Bandura). Retrieved December 07, 2012, from
Instructional Design:
www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/social-learning.html
Ertmer, P. A.,
& Newby, T. J. (1993). Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism: Comparing
critical features from an Instructional Design perspective. Performance
Improvement Quarterly , 6 (4), 50-72.
Rister, A.
(2012, 12 08). Creating Communication. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from
Superteachers: Education in the east vs. west:
http://alexrister1.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/superteachers-education-in-the-east-vs-west/
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