Learning Theory and Educational Technology - EDUC 8845

                                                                 Module 2 - Blog 2                                                                  Cognitivism as a Learning Theory

People say that behind every successful man, there is a woman. In a similar way, behind every big change in education, there is a theory that will support it. This is where learning theory comes and it’s full of _isms (Kerr, 2007).  

As educators, we have to decide what is best for our students. Therefore, we should ask ourselves the following questions. These questions will help us serve our students better.

Do we really need learning theory? Can our educational system survive without learning theory? Do we really need behaviourism, constructivisim, cognitivism, and connectivism?

Bill Kerr tried to answer the same questions on the discussion called _ism as filter, not blinker. Kerr (2007) stated that “Because how else could we have a big change without a theory to justify it and help us think about it” (para 2)? In addition, Kerr saw that the use of the learning theory was essential to the curriculum reorganization effort. Moreover, Kerr disagreed with Stephen Downes’ rejection of behaviourism. Downes stated on his blog as cited in Kerr (2007), “this is more than 30 years after the theory was abandoned everywhere else” (para 4). Kerr expressed his opinion by saying that calling “theory was abandoned everywhere else” was a false statement.  Karr explained that the reason this was a false statement was because human could not be replaced by a machine. 

Learning Theory allows us to dream and hope of a better future in education. It allows us to hope for a better future for our students.

In a similar way, Karl Kapp talked about learning theory by giving us some great ideas on his blog. Karl created a summary on the discussion called Out and About: Discussion on Educational Schools of Thought. In his discussion, Karl Kapp expressed his opinion about learning and theories. According to Kapp (2007), “Learning is not one thing…it is a multi-layered word that tends to get treated as if were just one thing…and it’s not" (para 6). Because learning has different levels, we cannot use one theory at the time. We should use every theory that is available to us. At the same time, we should use the right theory on a learning level to enable our students to learn. This is what Karl Kapp explained on his blog.

In conclusion, I like the idea of using blogs to talk about technology and education in general. It looks that I am talking to myself in a mirror. In fact, I am not by myself but the two members of my group will join me to express their opinions on my block. I have to do the same thing when I go to their blogs. As an educator, I see that our educational system needs to be improved. This cannot be accomplished without the use of learning theory in education. Therefore, I agree with what Bill Kerr and Karl Kapp expressed about learning theories on their blogs.

Reference

Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: discussion on educational schools of thought [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://karlkapp.com/out-and-about-discussion-on- educational/

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

Learning Theory and Educational Technology - EDUC 8845

Module 1 - Blog 1

What are your beliefs about how people learn best?

There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning (Krishnamurti, n.d.).

According to Driscoll (2005), “Learning is a lifelong activity and it is a complex affair” (p. 2). There are different ways that a person can learn. Leaning objectives can be accomplished by experience, effort, knowledge and skills.

Learning has always been for me a tough opponent to conquer since I was in elementary school. I always had to spend enough time and effort to read and understand the homework that was assigned to me in most of my classes in secondary school. According to Driscoll (2005), “Learning sometimes requires great effort and sometimes proceeds with relative case” (p. 2). In my opinion, learning depends on the subject a person has to study. For example, if the student likes the subject he studies, it is easier for the student to relate to the class and understand the material he/she has to study.

In addition, learning is not easy for some of my students in the courses where I teach at college. On the other hand, I realize that some of my students who spend enough time and effort in my classes can achieve learning objectives. These are students always come to class and do their homework. Moreover, those students spend time in the learning center where I go to tutor and they ask for help. Also, these students spend time in the library to search for more information about the homework and assignments they have to do for their classes with the help of the librarian.

Knowledge is the ability to continue learning and storing information in a way that supports future learning with more ease of effort. The more we practice the more we build up our skills. A female athlete who participates in the Olympic Games tries to work very hard around the hour to master her skills. The athlete is already determined that she has the skills that will allow her to clime all the way to the top of her profession. This athlete believes in herself that she has the ability to get the gold metal. Driscoll (2005) states that learning incorporates a number of aptitudes, from knowledge of simple facts to great skill in complex and difficult processes.

  

A student can learn from natural moments, mistakes and successes. All of these components add to the experience a student obtain form his/her surrounding environment. For instance, a student has difficulties in solving problems such as addition of fraction. The student always makes mistakes in solving problems that involve addition of fractions. Finally, the student can learn from his/her mistakes by studying over and over again every mistake the student makes. Learning occurs intentionally in formal instructional settings and incidentally through experience (Driscoll, 2005, p. 2).

Technology can help students achieve learning objectives. The internet has caused a power shift in classrooms, as learners now have greater access information, experts, and peer learners (Siemens, 2008, p. 19). Students can learn by being self-confidence and self-initiated. Students gained learning objectives by using a computer with the internet that was placed by their teacher in a wall facing ghetto (Mitra, as cited in Siemens, 2008).  In addition, Darken and Sibert as cited in Siemens (2008) examined how participants in large virtual worlds orient themselves in their environments in order to accomplish certain tasks or arrive at certain locations (p. 13). Therefore, Darken and Sibert proved with their examination that learning objectives can be done without direct guidance.

Finally, I have been studying for my doctoral degree in education with specialization in technology at Walden University since the summer of 2012. I believe that learning will be part of me for the rest of my life. Since the beginning of my doctoral studies, I have realized that no matter how much material I study, there will always be more material to study and expand my knowledge.   

What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?

Driscoll (2005) informs us that “A theory about learning is a set of laws or principles about learning” (p. 2). An educator must know the laws or principles of learning in order to apply them in his/her instruction and enable students to learn. These laws or principles of learning represent the foundation of education. The stronger the foundation is the better the instruction will be for the students to learn. Understanding any theory is not an easy task. It requires a clear idea of what the theory is trying to explain. If the laws or principles of learning do not exist, there is nothing to support the system of education. Every person learns in a special way.  Learning theory is part of the process that allows educators to work towards the discovery of different avenues that will allow them to understand better how students learn. As a result, the whole process will create a learning environment that is equipment towards students’ needs. Learning theories are applicable to the classroom by addressing different features of classroom learning.

Reference

Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

Gates, B. (2010, May). Bill Gates: How to make digital classrooms work. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx4CrDsr_p8

Krishnamurti, J. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jiddukrish395484.html

LearningDctr (2010, June). Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism & Learning and Instructional Theory. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YOqgXjynd0

Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators

          

           and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from

          
           http://itforum.coe.uga.edu/Paper105/Siemens.pdf