Fitting the Pieces Together

Now that you have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, how has your view on how you learn changed?

Because I have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, my view has changed drastically.  In the beginning I identified myself as a conventional learner because of my past limited educational experience of learning in the classroom that allowed direct peer/instructor interaction, visual learning that helped me learn, understand and retain information.  Now my view has changed to being an unconventional learning i.e. online instruction.  My recent experience as a first timer to online instruction since becoming a graduate student at Walden University has challenged me to become more of an independent learner, encourage peer/instructor collaboration and communication, improve my self-confidence, ability to learn and adapt to this online educational environment.  My written communication skills have improved, time management and organizational skills has become essential in my daily activities to be successful.  I am still a visual learner but have learned about more resources, tools and the vast technology information that is available to me.

What have you learned about the various learning theories and learning styles over the past weeks that can further explain your own personal learning preferences?

In the beginning of this course, I thought my learning preference was more aligned with the learning theory of Robert Gagne.  Robert Gagne is considered to be the leading researcher and contributor to the systematic approach to instructional design and training. Gagne known as a behaviorist, and his focus was on the outcomes or behaviors that result from training. Gagne’s theory is very simple process to follow that can allow learners to actually understand and retain the information which will get great outcomes for the learner. His “Events of Instruction,” a nine step process gain attention, inform learner of objectives, stimulate recall of prior learning, present stimulus material, provide learner guidance, elicit performance, provide feedback, assess performance and enhance retention and transfer related to the learning process Gagne, 1977.

Now my learning preference has also included Vygotsky’s "zone of proximal development" (Vygotsky 1978). According to the From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, the zone of proximal development often abbreviated ZPD, is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help. It is a concept developed by Soviet psychologist and social constructivist Lev Vygotsky (1896 – 1934). Vygotsky among other educational professionals believes the role of education to be to provide children with experiences which are in their ZPD, thereby encouraging and advancing their individual learning Berk and Winsler (1995).   

The ZPD approach encourages independent learning through problem-solving with/without supervision. This causes me to read, research and learn more about things and allow me to form my own opinion, solution whether in agreement or not with the author.  I have learned through developing more self-confidence to take risks to learn the truth.

What role does technology play in your learning? (i.e., as a way to search for information, to record information, to create, etc.)?

Technology is critical in my learning because I need the variety of resources such as academic, multimedia, interactive and blogs to assist with my instructional designing efforts.

References

·         Gagn’e, R. M. (1977). The conditions of learning (3rd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston

·         Description above from the Wikipedia article ZPD, licensed under CC-BY-SA,

Berk, L & Winsler, A. (1995). "Vygotsky: His life and works" and "Vygotsky's approach to development". In Scaffolding children's learning: Vygotsky and early childhood learning. Natl. Assoc for Educ. Of Young Children. p. 24