Fitting the Pieces Together...

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.