Fitting the Pieces Together

Week 7- Application


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 Fitting the Pieces Together

One size does not fit all-That’s been my reoccurring theme throughout this course.  As I look back on my response to week one, I realize just how little I knew about the different learning theories and strategies associated with each.  I guess you could say that’s why I’m taking this course, to learn.  My view on the way I learn is still somewhat the same though based on what I’ve learned over the past few weeks I’m able to identify other types of learning theories I closely align with and that truly, my learning style does not fit all of my learning situations. I learned from Gilbert and Swanier that “learning styles actually fluctuate within subject or lesson.”  When objectives change, my learning style can also change.

Though all of the learning theories have their place in our environment, I’ve found that the theories I aligned closely with 10-15 years ago are not the theories I align with today. If this question was posed to me back then I would have probably said something along the lines of behaviorism or cognitivism (recalling stored information). Though not using those terms. Most of my learning took place in a classroom environment, based on the definition of behaviorism as I know it today seem to have been the standard back then of how learning was facilitated. In the Behaviorism learning theory learning is observable and measurable based on results from a stimuli-response (Standridge, M. 2001). Though my learning back then not totally focused on behaviorism, there were certainly elements of cognitivism embedded in the learning. My metacognitive skills and self-regulation were used to process new information with the prior knowledge. These were all new strategies to me. At times I felt a little overwhelmed with all the learning the theories and strategies and understand how to apply them in design. It wasn't until I would read some of my classmates discussions that I realized many of the strategies outlined in the learning theories I do in-fact employ in the majority of my design work.

As I progressed each week in the course and learned knowledge increased about each of the learning theories. I began to connect my current learning style with theories such as connectivism and adult learning theory. Specifically, connectivism because decisions are made based on rapidly altering foundations (Davis, Edmunds, Bateman, 2008).  Technology advancements are so rapid in my current environment connectivism emphasizes the use of technology and networks to learn. I instantly knew that this theory closely aligned with how I learn today. Starting with networks which can be seen here on my blog in my my mindmap image posted July 25^th. Most of my learning occurs within my established networks of my workplace, my professional associations and the Internet, specifically my online courses here at Walden University.  I’m able to share my ideas with classmates, have discussions about difficult topics to gain clarity.  Most of all my classmates in my professor share links to additional resources that promote me to think even more about the topic, how to apply and even enhance my design work. This year I began using my own blog to share my thoughts and subscribe to other blogs to also gather information and post comments. I found the post on Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5-Wk2cwb68 with the interview of George Siemens that talks about the course he facilitated with Steve Downes really summarizes how connectivism applies to how I learn today.

Just by utilizing the network here at Walden I’ve learned to use my Google reader to sort the blogs that  I subscribe so they are easily accessible. I joined specific online networks that interest me and in most cases applicable to the work and research for my course work at Walden.

References

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

Gregaloha, (2009). George Siemens- Univeristy of manitoba.  Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5-Wk2cwb68

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

Standridge, M. (2001). Behaviorism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism