Module 1 Blog Post

What are your beliefs about how people learn best? What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?

I believe that people learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process. I believe that they take ownership of their learning and thus want to be successful. When a student takes control of their learning they are more apt to try new things. I believe that the more students are involved in discussion and learning the more they retain. Recently I have started using peer tutoring more than ever before with my students that haven’t mastered kindergarten skills. I have found that they are more willing to work in a small group with peers than with me. I have also learned that they pay more attention to their peers than to me. I guess they feel more comfortable with them because they don’t grade them. I am concerned because of new special education laws and systems told to keep their special education numbers low more students are falling through the cracks than ever before. Students learn in a variety of ways and the only way to ensure that every student’s in your class is learning is to teach in a variety of different ways, auditory, visual and kinestic. Through all my years in education and professional development we have been taught to teach by what research says using hands-on activities, small group discussions (centers), whole group, peer tutoring, simulations, charts, videos, podcasts, video casts, and illustrations among numerous other things to actively engage the learner regardless of their learning style. The purpose of learning theory in educational technology is to guide our instruction in the classroom. Learning theory in educational technology is a tool to aid the teachers in doing a better job at meeting the needs of their students. With changes in special education assessment and less and less students qualifying more than ever before teachers are being forced to look at new ways to reach the diverse students that they have in the classroom and using educational technology is the way to do it. We in the USA are behind in many areas of education and I believe it is because we teach only one way and our students learn a variety of different ways and in this technological driven world we are far behind because often we don’t utilize the technology that we have available to do a better job.

According to Driscoll(2005),we must plan instruction for two types of learning: the acquisition of knowledge and the experiences of learning by doing.

Accroding to Siemens(2008), The role of the ediucator and the process of instruction has changed due to pressure from educational stakeholders. Educators are seen as a "master artist observing the activities of students." Siemens(2008)states, A "network administrator assisting students in forming connections and creating their learning networks." Siemens(2008)states," a concierge directing learners to resources or learning opportunities that they may not be aware of." Siemens(2008)states, "a curator with expertise with advanced knowledge of a domain and guides and encourages learner ecploration."

How Students Learn Websites:

What We Know About How Students Learn http://www.columbia.edu/cu/tat/handout1.html

Innovative Learning
http://www.innovativelearning.com/teaching/teaching_methods.html

References:

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

Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf