What is learning? According to our textbook, Learning is a multifaceted process that individuals typically take for granted until they experience difficulty with a complete task (Ormrod, Schunk, & Gredler, 2009). In my opinion, learning occurs when new information, fact or knowledge is introduced. During the first week in my online Education class, Learning Theories and Instruction, our instructor asked us if we ever thought about how we learn and which learning theory best describes our learning. My response was that I did not really think much about my learning theory before. I knew that there were methods I had to use in order for me to understand a subject matter better. For example:
- I talk out loud when I need to memorize something.
- I sometimes create my own quiz so I can test my knowledge and my memory.
- I also create bullet points to highlight important information and related topics.
- I like to visualize and organize things so I can process and retain the information I just learned.
Of the learning theories we read and talked about so far that week, I had said that cognitive theories seemed to best describe how I learn. Cognitive theories focus on the conceptualization of student's learning processes and address the issues of how information is received, organized, stored and retrieved by the mind (Ertmer & Newby, 1993). I know that I've learned the subject when I am able to use this knowledge to solve a problem or apply it.
Looking back on my response, I would say that my view has changed the way I learn. I cannot say that I am strictly a cognitivist learner. I don't think that an individual only learns one way. Depending on the learning task at hand, the learning theory that applies to that individual may change. One of the functions of learning theory is that it should serve as a working explanation of events (Ormrod, et al, 2009). I now see learning as "stages" that each person will utilize or go through as we learn and discover new things. For example, pre-schoolers are taught a whole new subject or behavior that has never been introduced before, thus, a Behaviorist approach will apply to their learning. High school or college students will probably be a Cognitivist or a Constructivist, depending on their experiences or lack thereof. As an adult, I would have to be a Connectivist in order to "grow" professionally and adopt to the changing environment. Learning experience is continuous and the only way I can keep up is through my social networks, webinars, attending conferences, reading research articles and journal articles and through my peers. These learning environments are now accessible because of the continuous advancement of Mobile technologies. For many users, broadband mobile devices like the iPhone have already begun to assume many tasks that were once the exclusive province of portable computers (http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/CSD5612.pdf). This is what Connectivism is all about and in my stage of learning, Connectivist learning theory currently applies. What is your learning theory?
References:
Ertmer, P.A., & Newby, T.J. (1993). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 6(4), 50-71. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu October 29, 2012.
Johnson, L., Levine, A., & Smith, R. (2009). The Horizon Report (2009 ed). Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/CSD5612.pdf December 11, 2012
Ormrod, E., Schunk D.H., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning Theories and Instruction (Laureate Custom Ed). New York:Pearson
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