When I first began to explore and learn about the different learning theories, I believed in the constructivist realm. To be honest, I still have a bit of confusion over the differences and similarities between learning theories and learning styles, but feel that I can make intelligent statements about either one. However, if anyone could care to divulge some information to assist my learning, that would be great :)
After delving more into learning theories, I feel that today's learners are more connectivist learners, or social learners. Everything nowadays revolves around technology, and technology is added more everyday into our educational curricula. The belief of my school district, and many researchers as of late, have agreed that we should be measuring how students learn. For example, as long as they know where to go to find the information, they do not necessarily have to have the information in their memory bank. With technology readily at our fingertips all day, everyday, we should be encouraging this type of learning, and addressing student strengths. Personally, I believe in the theory of connectivism and social learning, and think that this is true for my own learning.
As an educator, aspiring administrator, and aspiring Instructional Designer, technology plays a huge role in my teaching, and also my learning. In my classroom, I incorporate the use of a personal website, interactive tests/quizzes, webquests, and podcasts. Additionally, our district has made technology readily available to us, such as the use of SMARTBoards and other interactive games and teaching tools. I am constantly looking for more ways to use technology with the equipment I have, and would love to hear some ideas for how to do this.
As a learner, technology is at the forefront of my learning, just by the mere fact that I am taking online courses, and the sole method of communicating is computerized and social. I have become familiar with many technology tools over the last eight weeks, such as the use of blogs. Since then, my interest has been peaked, and I have looked into how to use podcasts, wikis, and how to further develop my own website. All in all, technology has been used to research, develop and create new ideas, and to record information.
April 23, 2011
April 3, 2011
Mind Map
The central focus of my Mind Map (located at the bottom of this webpage) was connectivism. From there, I came up with four main learning connections that I feel are important and beneficial to adult learners, and came up with three areas within these learning connections that I felt were essential.
1. Internet: Websites and web programs have been an integral part in much of the Instructional Design and Technology realm. Educational Blogs, my own personal IDT blog, and the general availability of information on the world-wide web have made it much easier for adult learners to obtain information. There are an abundance of educational blogs that offer information solely on the topic of IDT. I have developed my blog in a similar way to many other blogs I follow, and I am also able to communicate with those who follow my blog. Blogs are an excellent way to keep up on information.
2. Social Networks: PD 360 is a professional development social network that we use in my district, which promotes and exhibits IDT at its best. It has groups within the network, and allows educators to communicate and share ideas, while also offering professional development videos. LinkedIn is another social network, but it is more geared toward a networking of professionals. I use this as a tool to stay connected with other professionals. Lastly, the infamous Facebook, is another way to network and develop learning connections. Within Facebook, there are a number of groups that post and update information for all to see. I am a member of several professional groups, and I am
3. Professional: The professional learning connections I have are Walden classes, my own professional experiences, and seminars. The Walden classes I have taken thus far in the IDT program have already taught me so much there is to know about how to develop and use technology in the professional realm. I have been able to apply them, and even take them one step further in my work experience. Professional experiences add so much to the learning experience and the connectivism. Also, seminars and workshops are available for learning and implementing IDT.
4. Other technology: Podcasts, Webinars, Adobe Suite, and YouTube allow IDT professionals the opportunity to learn how to use, and where to implement certain tools. Podcasts and Webinars are an excellent way to gain knowledge of the different tools, while Adobe allows you the software to develop and implement technologies. YouTube is an extra tool that you can use to watch detailed screencasting instructional videos of how to use these programs.
These networks and learning connections have greatly contributed to my learning by giving me more avenues to obtain and share information. Of these digital tools, blogs and YouTube have been extremely helpful to me. The blogs have given me an abundance of information on IDT and how to use it, while YouTube has provided me with step by step instructions on how to use these tools. The screencasting videos that are provided are extremely beneficial to me. Any time that I have had questions, or was confused about something, I watched a YouTube video or read a blog for clarification. Also, the webinars that I have found have also provided good information. All of these contribute to the tenets of connectivism, which suggests that learning occurs across a network of connections (http://cck11.mooc.ca/week1.htm). In my opinion, learning has occurred across all the tenets of my learning connections, as each one of these tools has contributed to my learning in the field of IDT. Without these networks, I would not have been able to gain the valuable knowledge needed.
1. Internet: Websites and web programs have been an integral part in much of the Instructional Design and Technology realm. Educational Blogs, my own personal IDT blog, and the general availability of information on the world-wide web have made it much easier for adult learners to obtain information. There are an abundance of educational blogs that offer information solely on the topic of IDT. I have developed my blog in a similar way to many other blogs I follow, and I am also able to communicate with those who follow my blog. Blogs are an excellent way to keep up on information.
2. Social Networks: PD 360 is a professional development social network that we use in my district, which promotes and exhibits IDT at its best. It has groups within the network, and allows educators to communicate and share ideas, while also offering professional development videos. LinkedIn is another social network, but it is more geared toward a networking of professionals. I use this as a tool to stay connected with other professionals. Lastly, the infamous Facebook, is another way to network and develop learning connections. Within Facebook, there are a number of groups that post and update information for all to see. I am a member of several professional groups, and I am
3. Professional: The professional learning connections I have are Walden classes, my own professional experiences, and seminars. The Walden classes I have taken thus far in the IDT program have already taught me so much there is to know about how to develop and use technology in the professional realm. I have been able to apply them, and even take them one step further in my work experience. Professional experiences add so much to the learning experience and the connectivism. Also, seminars and workshops are available for learning and implementing IDT.
4. Other technology: Podcasts, Webinars, Adobe Suite, and YouTube allow IDT professionals the opportunity to learn how to use, and where to implement certain tools. Podcasts and Webinars are an excellent way to gain knowledge of the different tools, while Adobe allows you the software to develop and implement technologies. YouTube is an extra tool that you can use to watch detailed screencasting instructional videos of how to use these programs.
These networks and learning connections have greatly contributed to my learning by giving me more avenues to obtain and share information. Of these digital tools, blogs and YouTube have been extremely helpful to me. The blogs have given me an abundance of information on IDT and how to use it, while YouTube has provided me with step by step instructions on how to use these tools. The screencasting videos that are provided are extremely beneficial to me. Any time that I have had questions, or was confused about something, I watched a YouTube video or read a blog for clarification. Also, the webinars that I have found have also provided good information. All of these contribute to the tenets of connectivism, which suggests that learning occurs across a network of connections (http://cck11.mooc.ca/week1.htm). In my opinion, learning has occurred across all the tenets of my learning connections, as each one of these tools has contributed to my learning in the field of IDT. Without these networks, I would not have been able to gain the valuable knowledge needed.
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