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Module 2 Cognitivism as a Learning Theory
After reading the blog “_isms as filters, not blinkers” by Bill Kerr, it bought to my attention how important learning theories are to education. Learning theories are important because they try to in determine how people learn. Education is important because it has a great effect on people mind as well as their physical ability. In other words it is a process in which society transits skills, values and knowledge to each other that goes on from generation to generation. Getting an education is important because it can prepare people for the work place, provide them with skills to communicate effectively, and provide them with skills to carry out their day to day duties and responsibilities.
Theories are ways of directing us in the direction of finding solutions to problems. The three main theories of learning fall under cognitivism, behaviorism, and constructivism, with a fourth theory added being connectivism. Bill Kerr states on his blog that “learning theories are full of _isms and that each _ism offers something useful without being complete or standing alone (Bill Kerr, 2007).” Karl Kapp states that “if we work simply on stimulus-response, then we are working only on programmable behavior (Karl Kapp, 2007).” Learning theories are ways to understand how the brain processes information whether it is retrieving, transferring, organizing or remembering prior knowledge and adding or learning new knowledge which are a vital part of educating people.
Kerr, B. (2007, January 1). _isms as filter, not blinker [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html
Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/
Module 1
Learning Theories
What are your beliefs about how people learn best? What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?
I feel that learning is the ability to acquire new skills and information by the brain “processing a certain stimuli, making sense of the stimuli and then making a connection with the stimuli (Linda-Darling Hammond, Kim Austin, Suzanne Orcutt, & Jim Rosso, 2001). First, it is important to establish that all people can learn but they do not learn alike. People learn differently which means they learn according to their learning style. The learning styles are “visual, auditory, kinesthetic (Natasha Bantwal, 2010).” Visual learners tend to learn by “seeing print, images and pictures, charts and diagrams, books or the blackboard (Natasha Bantwal, 2010).” Auditory learners tend to learn by “listening and hearing the teacher’s voice such reading out loud, class discussion, recorded content and solving problems by talking (Natasha Bantwal, 2010).” Kinesthetic learners tend to learn by “touching objects such as working in lab (Natasha Bantwal, 2010).”
Learning theories are important in educational technology because it provides different instructional strategies and tools for learners. Learning theories provide for the instructor ways to address the different types of learning styles of the learners.
References:
Bantwal, N. (2010). Different learning styles. Dazzle.com. Retrieved from
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/different-learning-styles.html
Hammond, L., Austin, K., Orcutt, S. & Rosso, J. (2001). How people learn:introduction to learning theories. Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/class/ed269/hplintrochapter.pdf
4 comments:
Marion,
As you explained in your post, students have different learning styles. Teachers must use different teaching techniques and strategies to address the needs of the students.
Sonja Pugh
Hello Marion,
I do agree that all people can learn but the varying degree to which they can assimilate and discern information makes teaching the most challenging and rewarding. Do you think that a student's aptitude should be studied when determining what learning theories work best for an individual? I recently took my daughter to analyze her innate aptitudes. I found it interesting as a teacher and a mom, how these aptitudes heavily influence our success or frustrations in learning. What do you think?
Hello Marion,
As I was reading your post, I was thinking about Howard Garnder's theories on multiple intelligences. I was just reading a book about unmotivated learners (the title and author are escaping me right now--I picked it up in the bookstore the other night). The author suggested, with research supports, that unmotivated students are highly visual-spatial learners that do not get the opportunity to display their learning in their strongest sense of intelligence. Traditional schools are build for the verbal-linguistic learners whom read and interpret well when working alone without teacher intervention. They also can infer meaning when taking tests. I started thinking about that for my curriculum next year and how I might infuse some of this information into my curriculum.
How do you see the role of the instructor as it relates to Siemens roles?
Thanks,
Kevin
Hi Marion,
I agree with you that education is important, and it is a means of acquiring life skills. The advent of learning theories has simplified the learning processes, which is dependent on environmental factors. The …isms tend toward how best to achieve our learning goals depending on access to qualitative education.
Regards
Aderonke
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