Module 2 Blog Assignment

Module 2 Blog Assignment

After reading the blog entitled “_isms as a filter, not a blinker” I realized that what I was trying to articulate was true. No one theory can truly be used in isolation. One theory blends into another seamlessly at times. Stephen Downes was bold enough to say that behaviorism was “abandoned everywhere…” With that statement he suggests that behaviorism has no place in learning. As any educator of young students would know this couldn’t be farther from the truth. I think that sometimes theorists get so involved in their own projects and theories that they can not see the value of others’ work.

Education is not an inanimate object, but a living, breathing, evolving creature. It must change with the times that it is part of. My personal definition of education in its simplest form is teaching content and skills that are necessary for a successful life. Basic skills of the Industrial Age are still necessary but employers are looking for students who can do more that just read and write, that is presumed without stating. Today they are looking for employees that can think, plan, and solve problems that arise on a daily basis. It is necessary to instruct learners of basic procedures for solving problems but they must use their experiences, intuition, rational, and at times plain common sense to solve the most complex of problems. This is only compounded when they are required to collaborate with others to solve a common problem.

In conclusion, I tend to agree with Bill Kerr, “each _ism is offering something useful without any of them being complete or stand alone in their own right.”

http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html

http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational.html

Module 1 Blog Assignment

1.What are your beliefs about how people learn best?

I do not believe that all instructional strategies are created equal or will work for all learners. Also I do not believe that what works best for a learner in language will also work in math. Learning is an individual task and each students' needs needs to be taken into account when an instructor is working on plans. On the flip side of that I also believe that students should be challenged to work outside of their comfort zone, being taught in various ways so that they learn to adapt to different situations. I believe this because when students enter the work force their employer will not ask them how they want to do the job they will be told how to do it. If we do not give students the opportunity to learn-perform with the method that they are not the most comfortable with, they will not have the skills to be the best employee possible. I try to instruct with the end in mind. "How is this activity, strategy, technique going to prepare my students t be the best thy can be?"


What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?

I believe that the purpose of learning theory in educational technology is necessary to provide a foundation and framework to instruct within. This is especially necessary since educational technology is finally creeping into mainstream education. As with anything new in education there must the research and data to backup the effectiveness of a new way of doing things. Just because someone thinks it is a good idea does not mean that it is. Learning theory provides the research and data to support why a change is needed and the possible benefits making said changes.

Below are a few sites that are great reads for trying to undestand what a learning theory is and why we need them.

http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-learn.htm

http://www.professorlindakennedy.com/PowerPoint%20Presentations/Learningtheory.ppt