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