Learning Theories and Instruction – Reflection Paper

            As I reflect upon my eight weeks of learning in course EDUC-6115-2, Learning Theories and Instruction, I must say that I have learned a lot.  I was provided with lots of useful and informative resources to help me participate in discussion boards, blogs, and application assignments.  I will use the knowledge I have gained in my future endeavors and hopefully make my students and myself a better person and instructor.

What did you find surprising or striking as you furthered your knowledge about how people learn?  I found that through the readings and discussion boards, that everyone is different.  Everyone comes from somewhere else and they have different values, views, teaching styles / techniques.  In Stephen Lieb’s PRINCIPLES OF ADULT LEARNING, he writes, “Andragogy is the art and science of helping adults learn.  Malcolm Knowles is the father of andragogy as he proposed five factors involved in adult learning.

The five assumptions underlying andragogy describe the adult learner as someone who:

• Has an independent self-concept and who can direct his or her own learning
• Has accumulated a reservoir of life experiences that is a rich resource for learning
• Has learning needs closely related to changing social roles
• Is problem-centered and interested in immediate application of knowledge
• Is motivated to learn by internal rather than external factors (Merriam, 2001, p.5) ” (Lieb 1991)

 I feel this whole writing describes how adults should learn.  Adults are not children anymore & should not have to have their hand held & told what to do step by step.

How has this course deepened your understanding of your personal learning process?  This course has deepened my understanding of my personal learning process through all the articles, webcasts and discussion boards.  Dr. Toni Bellon and Dr. Richard Oates both from North Georgia College & State University state in their article Best Practices in Cyberspace: Motivating the Online Learner, “Keller (1991) delineated the motivational elements of instruction as encompassing four necessary components: engaging and maintaining student interests, relating course content to student interests, enhancing student confidence in understanding course content, and satisfying students’ inquisitiveness related to information thus encouraging students’ active involvement in learning.  It states in our text book, “when they are in a good mood in an instructional setting, they are more likely to cognitively engage with new material and work hard to make sense of it.”  (Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M., 2009, p.246)   Dr. Jeanne Ormrod states in her Motivation and Learning Transcript, “To learn effectively, you not only have to have the cognitive processes that enable you to learn effectively and to remember it effectively; you also have to want to learn it. But there are ways to evoke interest.  For example, presenting something that's different, that's not what you would expect.”   (Laureate Education, Inc. Producer 2009)

           What have you learned regarding the connection between learning theories, learning styles, educational technology, and motivation?  I learned that each learning theory, learning style, educational technology and motivation are all unique in their own way.  All have their pros and cons.  Every person is unique and will learn in their own way.  There are not two students that are alike and learn the same.

How will your learning in this course help you as you further your career in the field of instructional design?  What I have learned in this course to help me further my career will hopefully last the rest of my lifetime.  I am not currently teaching, only subbing in my local school district.  There are a vast number of schools that have closed and many teachers were let go.  I would really like to either have my own classroom one day where I can utilize my knowledge and help the students learn and enjoy learning.  I would also like to work in a university or school administrative office.  I feel that my knowledge would benefit greatly in those facilities.  I have a vast knowledge in the computer technology field and this course just enhanced it.

My conclusion in my course reflection is that I have learned a great deal through the provided resources, discussion boards and applications.  My fellow cyber-classmates were very knowledgeable and provided very interesting feedback.  I can say that the adult learners I have interacted with during these past eight weeks have made me a better person.

References

PRINCIPLES OF ADULT LEARNING By Stephen Lieb, Senior Technical Writer and Planner, Arizona Department of Health Services and part-time Instructor, South Mountain  Community College, from VISION, Fall 1991, http://balsontheweb.wikispaces.com/Adult+Learning

Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning Theories and Instruction (pp. 241–2 62)  (Laureate Education, Inc. Custom Edition). New York: Pearson.

 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer).  (2009).  Motivation and Learning. [Transcript].