What are your beliefs about how people learn best? What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?
I have always thought that the way people learn best is by practicing. The more someone performs a specific skill the more likely they are to remember. Even though I do believe this works best for most concept based learning, it is not always true. Many times I can learn connecting new knowledge to past experience. This is why the study of history is so important.
The purpose of learning theory in educational technology is to understand how people learn through the use of technology. Every where I look I see people texting or using the internet. Twenty years ago, these people would have been the exception and not the the norm. How did these people learn to how to use this technology? How can people learn more using the technology? When I got my first computer, I played a variety of games. Then I learned how to chat and was amazed at how I could talk to other people that were so far away. Finally, I started doing research. I had the computer help make me successful in my face-to-face classrooms. All of these actions were a learning process. It is advantageous for producers of these products that I was using to make my learning process obtainable. They wanted me to use their product. Therefore, they needed a to determine how to help me learn the process.
For the past several weeks, I have been training to teach at two on-line Universities. There are many online Universities that are accredited institutions. Both of the institutions that I have trained at are concerned with the students' learning. Everyone of them used the discussion posts like we do at Walden University. A rich discussion blending knowledge from the text and other learners can be help a person grow in knowledge. Many times we, online, use our prior experience to help others grow and as a springboard to help us develop the knowledge we have.
I do agree that practicing is one of the best ways to learn but I always go back to the person who puts together a bookshelf. If student A uses directions and puts the book shelf together and does not have any parts left has he/she learned to put the bookshelf together? Student B puts the book shelf together without any directions and does not have any part left over; has he/she learned to put the book shelf together? Some might say he is following directions and one may say he is practicing until he gets it perfect. The person who always uses directions may do so because he has put together items without using directions and was successful. In this case he has learned from experience.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of learning theory in educational technology may be a different way to say” how can we communicate with students to get the maximum performance from them” The more I ponder about educational technology and learning theory the more my mind changes. The technology allows educators to put the educational theory into practice.
Sandra
I commented on Debbie's post
ReplyDeletehttp://moduleresponses.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-are-your-beliefs-about-how-people.html
And I commented on Kevin's post
http://kmsteele.blogspot.com/2011/06/7104-module-1-educator-as-master-artist.html#comments
My karate instructor always says practice is the key to talent and he is very right. I guess the importance for us as teachers is finding the balance between rote memory practice and the kind that enforces the reasons behind what they are learning.I feel that all learners need to practice whatever they are doing but we need to make sure that the kind of practice we do is meaningful.
ReplyDeleteDebbie Stripling