REFLECTION

I have learnt cognitive information processing theory before starting this course but not in so deep. In this course I learnt about the two store model (Dual coding model). This model incorporates the idea of stages of processing. It is furthered my knowledge about how people learn.

Another interesting point is applying behaviorist principles to classroom management. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) also known as behavior modification, behavior therapy. ABA is based on the assumption that serious problem behaviors are the result of pass and present response. It involves the application of a variety of behaviorist concepts (reinforcement, shaping, cueing, extinction, punishment ect.) to create an environment more conducive to productive behaviors.

There is another interesting part. It is Keller’s ARCS (Attention, Relevance, confidence and Satisfaction) model to motivate online learners. Furthermore, I gained the knowledge of how adult people are learning, how their learning occur. Much of adult learning occurs in a corporate environment involving a variety of training process.




I am an adult learner. As an adult learner, I must understand about the andragogy. Andragogy describe the adult learner as someone who;
• Has an independent self concept and who can direct his/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.

Malcolm Knowles used these principles to propose a program for the design, implementation and evaluation of adult learning. After understanding of those principles I reflect about my own learning process. Actually, it is very closer to those principles.

Not only that I have learnt in this course four learning theories related to adult learning. They are Action Learning, Experiential Learning, Self Directed Learning and Project Based Learning. I understood what are the advantages and disadvantages of each theory and according to those pros and cons I can use most effective learning theory relevant to the situation.

In addition to that the connectivism theory improved my personal learning process. Siemens, (2005) stated that what we consider to be right today may tomorrow be considered wrong. So then the connectivism is the leading learning theory of the time. According to that now I have many learning networks than I had before. It is also deepened my personal learning process.



All learning theories describe about how to create an effective learning environment in the classroom. It may be face to face, distance or online. Learning theories explain how does learning occur? What factors influence learning? how does transfer occur? Ect. Those are closely related with the learning styles. An instructional designer with a good understanding of learning theories and learning styles can be able to use technology effectively to create effective and efficient instructions.

Moreover, specially, in the online learning environment technology can be used to motivate the learners. In a face to face classroom environment instructor have lot of advantages in terms of how they can motivate students. Getting them physically involved in hands on activities may get them engaged with the lesson, and the face to face contacts, the smiles, the body language; all these kinds of things can be used to motivate students. But in an online learning environment we must use so many strategies to motivate our online learners. Technology can be effectively used for that. Therefore I believe Technology can do more significant role for each of the four elements of the Keller’s ARCS model to motivate learners successfully.




I am an instructional designer for face to face classroom teachers but not in online classes or distance learning environment. However during the last six, seven weeks I was learning various learning theories, various learning styles of learners and how can we motivate them and what kind of technology we can use in the field of instructional design. I believe that my knowledge of those areas will help me to develop my career.

Always I consider about the learners motivation but I have never given a special attention on the learning styles of the learner. Actually my learning of this course increases my knowledge of individual learning styles and I believe I could be able to design instructions by giving more attention for learners learning styles in future.

Furthermore, I think the knowledge about Keller’s ARCS model to motivate learners is also help me to plan/create effective instructions. In that model it explains what kind of strategies must be used to get the learners active participation from beginning to end of the learning process.

Learning Preferences

Reading the materials supplied from this course enhanced and renewed my knowledge about learning theories and instructional design. I have learnt all theses learning theories when I was following my post graduate diploma in education and master of education degrees, but not in so deeply. I must say I have never done a comparison so descriptively like this week learning theory matrix using all these learning theories. At the beginning of this course in the first week I did not have a clear view of learning theories, learning styles and how to use technology to enhance in designing instructions. After reading online materials, listening to audios and searching so many websites I gained lots of information in week by week gradually.

Learning theories influences and encourages the instructional design. Provides a comparative summary of learning theories about we have learnt last six weeks, generalizations can be made about both the differences and the similarities in what the learning theories say about acquiring knowledge and changing feelings, attitudes, and behavior. With regard to some of the differences among the theories, each theory has its own assumptions, vocabulary, and way of conceptualizing the learning process. The theories differ in their emphasis on the relative influence of external or internal factors in learning, the view of the learner as more passive or active, the task of the educator, the explanation of motivation, and the way in which the transfer of learning is accomplished. (Margaret M. Braungart Richard G. Braungart)

Actually now 99% of my learning happens with using technology as an online learner. In addition to that with using technology I can handle my classroom in better way than before because I believe I can reach each and every student in the classroom with various learning styles. By using technology I believe I can gain benefits such as easy to learn abstract concepts, can gain joyful learning ect..

HOW MY CONNECTIONS FACILITATE LEARNING

Actually, I have learnt in a face to face classroom situation throughout my lifetime before joining the Walden University. I used only internet as a technological tool to browse websites which are helpful me to find out new knowledge in the world.When I was learning at school and universities I used to participate for lectures and wrote down notes. But now, after joining the online course conducted by the Walden University I connect with variety of networks that I have never used before. I think in this 21st century, the technology rich society, we must think about how do we learn.


When I am going to rank my best facilitate digital tools the list is started from Internet and as a search engine Google. In this information era information is the main factor. So, I think Google is enriched with more than 8 billions of URLs and represents the most comprehensive collection of the most useful web pages on the Internet. Secondly I would like to list out Walden University library and its variety of facilities.


Every learner must gain new knowledge within few seconds. When I need to find out something new I usually use google search. If I do not know the way how to solve a particular problem, I must plug or connect with that information resource. To do this I must know where the new knowledge is available. It is the need of future world.

According to Siemens, connectivism is presented as a learning theory that integrates technology, social networks and information. All of my network connections based on some kind of technology is related with the principles of connectivism.

Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism are the three broad learning theories most often utilized in the creation of instructional environments. These theories, developed in a time when learning was not impacted through technology. Over the last twenty years, technology has reorganized how we live, how we communicate, and how we learn. Connectivism provides insight into learning skills and tasks needed for learners to flourish in a digital era. http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm


References:
http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism
http://www.connectivism.ca/

Connectivism

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/instructional-design/
Above site is important and will be useful in future. Responders from different fields can be seen such as adult learning, staff training ect.. so that we can gain more knowledge specially how to apply instructional design in e-learning. I think this resource is more useful while we will learn more about instructional design in near future.

As a instructional designer most of the time we apply conventional methods for teacher training programs. After referring this kind of sites I wish I will be able to improve my designing of instructions using technology to make them more effective.


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

After referring this site my knowledge on learning theories is updated. Although I have studied about Behaviorism, Cognitive , Humanistic and Social and Situational learning theories for my post graduate diploma in education, this resource strengthen and reinforce my knowledge. It is a good foundation for me to stat this course. It also widens my knowledge because the article describes learning theories in detailed. There is a good comparison between those learning theories. It is very useful when applying to our learning process.

At the end of the article so many resources are provided. These resources will be helpful in future.



http://ideas.blogs.com/

This is an important blog specially about the application of instructional design. Designing effective learning objects was subjected to discuss and provides important information specially how theories of learning influence the design of learning object. There are more various explanations posted to this blog. For example, benefits of learning online, planning and management of e-learning , instructional technology application etc.
I think learning object should be determined before designing the instructions for a particular lesson. Therefore these facts is very useful when we apply our knowledge into practice.

After referring resources including above resource sites and blogs, we are now able to explore our knowledge and forward our ideas. Also we can improve our blog according to the blog we referred and can be effectively use for interaction with them.

Pathmini.Perera

I entered the certificate caurse of instructional Design and technology.