Technology AND Instruction

So, I'm into Week 7 of my course, "Learning Theories and Instruction". It has been an eye-opener of a course and I have learned a lot about learning theories and the impact on Instructional Design.


Now that I have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, my view on how I learn has not changed. I still belive that I am an independent learner. Online learning has truly helped my ability to learn effectively and retain the most information possible. However, now I'm able to define the learning theory that most defines my type of learning -- cognitive theory. I have a tendency to focus on my previous experiences and learnings to determien how to proceed in any given case. This has definitely been the one major learning achievement from this course.


For this course, I had to prepare a Learning Theory Matrix. This assignment allowed me to analyze the learning theories that exist and has provided a greater understanding of how my own personal learning skills were developed.  With the Learning Theory Matrix, I learned about six different learning theories -- behaviorist, cognitive, constructivist, social learning, connectivist, and adult learning theory.  Learning about these specific theories has helped me to understand a little bit more about my own learning abilities.  One of the things that I learned is that people can relate to more than just one selective learning theory.  For instance, I tend to lean more towards the cognitive, behaviorist, and adult learning theories.  In the cognitive theory, learners tend to be problem solvers and use a lot of reasoning skills.  In the behaviorist theory, learners tend to focus on learning through the use of positive or negative reinforcement, thereby allowing me to understand what I'm learning through learned behavior and repeated experiences.  With the adult learning theory, learners tend to learn through real-life experiences.  I guess this is one of the reasons that students pursuing masters degree are those who have had some work experience related or unrelated to the particular field that they are pursuing.  Although I already understood the way in which I learn, I do believe that analyzing the learning theories and learning styles has revealed to me that I didn't know about before. Sometimes, you tend to only focus on your own world and don't realize what other people do or, in this case, learn. 

Technology plays a great role in my learning, through my undergraduate and now my graduate program.  Technology allows me the ability to perform research online, pursue my undergraduate and graduate degree from the comfort of my home, and even to prepare written assignments, presentations, and diagrams for online courses.