Connectivism

Our assignment this week is to create a mind map. A mind map is a graphical way to represent ideas and concepts. It is a visual thinking tool that helps structuring information, helping you to better analyze, comprehend, synthesize, recall and generate new ideas (http://litemind.com/what-is-mind-mapping/). Here's my mind map!

Week 2 Assignment

In class this week, our topics were:

•     Learning and the Brain
•       Cognitive Information Processing Theory

What I learned from this week's readings is that each person learns differently. It is important for instructional designers to have this understanding because the success of each learner depends on how information is presented to them. Some may prefer visual images while some may prefer audio instruction. The success of each learner depends on how well they retain the information and be able to recall it when needed.

There are two online articles I thought were interesting and will help understand the brain and how information is processed.

• Research in Brain Function and Learning: The importance of matching instruction to a child's maturity level http://www.apa.org/education/k12/brain-function.aspx
• Have you ever compared your child's level of maturity or knowledge to other kids his or her age?
• Did you ever ask yourself: Is there something wrong with my child because his or her learning is delayed?
•  If you asked yourself these questions, then this article is very informative and will help you make sense of your child's maturity level. This article explains the different stages of development in a child. Not only does it describe and illustrate the development process of the brain, but it also explains where learning occurs in each child when they are at certain ages. It also talks about how learning is affected by prematurity, childhood illnesses, or family disruption caused by death or divorce.
• As an instructional designer, this article also provides recommendation on what TO DO and NOT TO DO when teaching or giving instruction to each age group or circumstance.
• Memory and Learning http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/articles/memory.php
• This article mentions a story about a child who used to love school until her grades started declining. When she takes a test, she cannot remember what she studied the night before. No matter how hard she studies for her tests, she still does poorly on her exams.
• But what is interesting with this child, according to this article, is that she remembers every tiny detail that happened when she was still very young. She was the family's storyteller because she remembers what happened during family vacations and events.
• This article explains what memory is and how memories are processed in our brain. Information comes to us through our five senses; seeing, hearing, feeling, doing and smelling. What we do with this information defines if it is kept in our short-term memory and maybe long-term memory, or completely lost and not retained.
• As instructional designers, it is important to understand this concept because we want to learn how to engage our students in learning and help them remember and apply what they learned.

References:

Semrud-Clikeman, M. (ND). Research in Brain Function and Learning: The importance of matching instruction to a child's maturity level. Retrieved from  http://www.apa.org/education/k12/brain-function.aspx. November 9, 2012.

Thorne, G. (ND). Memory and Learning. Retrieved from http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/articles/memory.php. November 10, 2012 

Week 1 Assignment

     As I venture into the blogging world, I did not realize how uneducated I am with this technology. I am still learning and I can say that I am starting to feel a little less intimidated by this. One of the things I had to do this week in class is to find blog sites or resource sites that I think would be helpful for me as an instructional designer. I visited many websites (no kidding!) and it was overwhelming. So I took a step-back and thought, what is it exactly that I am looking for in a blog site? I think I narrowed it down to the following:

·         A blog site that can provide tips and ideas to become an effective teacher and instructional designer.

·     A blog site that will keep me updated on cool tools, new technology and maybe give me some guidance on how to use it for my courses.

·         A blog site that is focused on professional growth.

With these 3 things in mind, the first blog site I found interesting was Cathy Moore's blog (http://blog.cathy-moore.com). As I read her blogs, she focuses on adult learning in a fun way. Her writings are organized and conveyed in a manner where it is understandable and easy to follow. I found her blogs very useful especially because I do not have any training as a teacher. My training has always been in the laboratory to perform tests and as an instructor in the Medical Technology Program, my expertise is in my clinical experience. Using Cathy's blogs will guide me in my instructional methods, design and style so that I can communicate the information to my students. In her blog: "Scenarios, What are they good for" (http://blog.cathy-moore.com/2012/05/scenarios-what-are-they-good-for/), Cathy Moore provided examples on different answer feedbacks in a traditional multiple-choice question. In another blog post: "How to create a memorable mini-scenario (http://blog.cathy-moore.com/2011/10/how-to-create-a-memorable-mini-scenario/), Cathy Moore again provided excellent information on how to engage the students and learn the concept.

The second blog site that I think would be very useful is the Rapid E-learning blog (http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning). To become an effective instructional designer, one must know the different tools and technologies that are available to be utilized in your own classroom. Technology is rapidly growing and I have to keep up with it and for me to do so, I need to know what's new. This website is very informational and provides helpful insights and detailed instruction, especially with PowerPoint presentations. I did not know that I can be very creative with PowerPoint presentations!

The third website that I found very informative is Faculty Focus (http://www.facultyfocus.com/). Sometimes with our schedule, we, as instructors, often find professional development, at the bottom of our list. If we have time to go to seminars, conferences, workshops, then we are lucky enough to get the information we need to increase our knowledge and to be in the loop with what's going on and what other educators are facing. This is the answer to that "lack of time" issue. This website is full of articles focused on professional development.