Summary of presentation on 09/20 about learning theories

Summaries what you have learnt about learning theories (and how they influence our perceptions of learning technologies):

Learning theories help us understand the process of learning. Behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism are selected in the below discussion.  We will discuss how the three main perspectives in learning theories help us in learning, especially learning technologies.

Behavorism :

Learning through  conditioning interaction with environment. The learning process involves stimuli, response, feedback and reinforcement.  There are some criticisms argue that there are some other factors, such as mind, are involved in determining the response. In this discussion, we assume that stimuli is not determined by inner mind processing.

Learning new technologies (especially IT) is not easy for someone who gets no knowledge about that.  To help the learner to turn the response from resistance to acceptance, we may apply the behaviorism.  The learner can use the basic (or easy) part of technology first (stimuli).  The successful experience (happy response) and the feedback (successful result) reinforce the learner.  Learner will begin to accept the technologies and try to learn them with interest.

Cognitivism

      Learning under this theory involves inner mechanism of human thought and processing of knowing. Manipulation of our minds is in form of rules, algorithms and patterns. Learning skills can help us to learn better. Practicing can help us to remember the rules of technologies.  There are some computer assisted teaching courses, computer-based training, integrated learning systems (which gets direct instruction, drill-and practice) to help us to know the technologies.  The computer-based training enables the learner to learn according to his progress.  Besides, multimedia may help the learner to learn faster.

Constructivism.

It emphasize interactive learning.  Active assimilation and accommodation are required for learners.  Learners can learn new technologies by collaboration, self-directed exploration and discovery.  They then construct information by thinking and interpreting experience. 

In conclusion, behavorism helps new learners to adjust to the new technologies environment, cognitivism helps learners to get the knowledge of technologies.  Constructivism helps learners to construct their own knowledge and explore more about technologies.  Each learning theory complements the other and integrates into a good learning model.

The benefits of using technology in teaching and learning:

l   Enhance teaching and learning ( e.g. Using multimedia in teaching and learning enhances learning and teaching)

l   Effective and efficiency in learning and teaching (learn better, easier to get more information)

l   Extend the mind( learn more and get more information)

l   Fit Individual requirement and progress

l   Provide Intellectual learning partners in learning

l   Interactive in learning and teaching

l   Provide more support ( e.g. internet searching )

Challenges:

l   Resource:

Human skills and resistance

l   Cost

Hardware and software

The potential of learning technologies to change the way we teach and the way we learn

There are a lot of benefits gained in using technologies in teaching and learning.

In the past, we just apply the learning theories in teaching and learning.  With new technologies, we may consider using technologies to assist us in teaching and learning:

1.      Find which way of learning ( from learning theories) is suitable to your case

2.      Review which technology/technologies can enhance the teaching/learning

3.      Seek help or advice for the technologies

4.      Use the technology selected and integrates it in the teaching material or gets the suitable tools to assist us in learning.

Randomhku 

Re-purposing Web 2.0 application

VoiceThread

A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that enables us to create a slideshow of images or video and you and others can comment on each
photo by text, audio or video. It can be embed into any webpage.

Allow interactive group discussions to any website.
Each group can place presentation on blog and feedback, critique can be collected
It is a tool that can be used for reflection and to join classes together on a topic.

We can use it for creating a discussion forum.  We can also re-purpose it as a tutorial class for some students who are weak in learning.  We can circle the keypoints on the notes put on screen so that student can focus on those main points.

Review of Activity - Perspective

I choose Perspective to be my discussion example.

The initial impression is " A simple webpage" but it really discusses a very famous and important topic to designers or artists.

From this webpage, you just need to browse 2 pages and answer a worksheet.

I think the author/ teacher prepared this web-learning tool with domain knowledge and knows the way students will think.

It is a Constructivism learning model with the help of Cognitive tool to help student use their mind to process the domain knowledge required to know what is Perspective.

When I firstly look up the page, it will find a little bit difficult to answer the worksheet. However, when you following the instruction and read through the "learning-objective" Shockwave flash, you will learn what is Perspective, Vanishing point, Horizon line, One, Two and Three point Perspective. By applying these knowledge to the worksheet, you will need to think, judge and categorize images into one of the perspective. It is what the purpose of this page: through self-exploration and discovery.

So that the Shockwave Flash is the Cognitive tool that provide a theory and explanation of what they need to learn. Secondly, knowledge transferred. and students remember the rules. From the exercise worksheet, they use assimilation and accommodation of their knowledge to answer instantly. When they finished the exercise and through discussing with peers, they got the knowledge.

Finally, I think this page is suggestible and will simulate students to learn and explore more on Perspective.

To improve learning with and through technology, I suggest it is not only included the worksheet. Students should search through web to provide more examples on what they learnt. And, depends on which level of school of students, teacher may provide web link, the application on each type of perspectives or even videos. It will simulate students think more on this topic and raise up their interest on this field.

Example of Learning with Technology with Constructivist Models

I take Typhoon as the example in my discussion of the e-learning activity. The learning objectives of the e-learning website are very clear that students learn about typhoon, including, its formation, hazards and how to combat the hazards. The activity is presented in the Active Lessons way.

Active Lessons are engaging, technology-based, student-centered learning activities designed by teachers.( Churchill, 2005) Its idea is to empower teachers to easily create technology-based activities that draw upon variety of existing and new digital resources from Internet, repositories of learning objects and other sources, and require students to use technology and create artifacts demonstrating their understanding. (Churchill, 2005)

The e-learning website provides students with an authentic scenario for learning. Students are required to imagine that they write a disaster management plan for the Philippines government. A variety of resources are provided, such as pictures and URLs. Working templates are also provided to scaffold students’ approach to think and finish the tasks.

I think that it is an example of learning with technology with constructivist models. In this case, technology is acted as a tool in learning activities. The students are required to enquiry and solve problems (tasks). The construction of knowledge involves personal discoveries.

My Comments

‘Typhoon’ provides a clear and sufficient guideline for students to finish the learning activities. I think it is also a good example for teachers how to use technology in their teaching as it involves some basic computer skills (simple homepage, Microsoft Word) that most teachers can handle. No complex computer skills, such as flash and programming involved.

elearning - CCNA

Cisco provided a complete set of learning material on networking such lecture notes in Powerpoint format, similation video, chapter quiz, similation software "packet Tracer".

These materials are self-contain and easy to follow. The company make good use of multimedia element and the self-pace learning mode is ideal for students who is busy at work. The chapter quiz help student to assess the level of understanding towards each topic. The similation video shows how the network operate which make the content much easier to understand.

With the similation software, the cost of purchasing hardware is dramatically decreased. Because no physical hardware is required. The software similate the network environment. Students can configure or perform various different operation on the similated network.

Learning Activity – Learning Theories

Learning Activity – Learning Theories

I am going to discuss the webquest "Learning theories" .
"Learning Theories" is a computer-based tutorial. It uses webquest to enable learners to learn different learning theories. It requires learners to write a proposal to implement the theories in their school, to discuss how learning theories impact thinking, learning and evaluation.

Below is my sharing about how this example related to learning theories:

It applies COGNITIVISM.
reasons:
Learners need to think, transfer the webquest knowledge to their own knowledge through cognitive strategies. Learners need to remember the theories before they do the proposal.

It applies CONSTRUCTIVISM.
Reason:
Learning is an active process that involves learners’ own discoveries through searching information in the internet (web links are provided in webquest). Learners then build their own knowledge and opinions; construct new opinions by collaborating with team members to work out the proposal.


It is a Technology Instructivist Models:
reason:
It is a Computer-based tutorial which obeys Gange’s 9-events of Instruction
- gaining learners’ attention
- informing learners about the objectives,( in introduction, facilitator’s guide etc)
- stimulating learners recall of prior learning( while doing proposal)
- presenting the content
- providing learning guidance(providing the guidelines and resource in ‘Task’ )
- helping learners to elicit performance (practice through making proposal)
- providing feedback
- assessing performance
- enhancing retention and transfer to the job by applying the theories in making the proposal.

It is also a Learning with Technology Constructivist Model.
reason:
It uses Webquest technology as a tool in the learning activity. Learners need to construct the ideas of learning theories by searching the web links provided by webquest. They learn to select appropriate information and form their opinions using their own judgment.
.
It is a cognitive tool.
reason:
It is a computer-based tool that enhances learners’ thinking. It helps learners to organize the inforamtion learnt and present it with their understanding. Learners need to discuss how learning theories impact thinking, learning and evaluation.

Referring to learning activity. It uses psychological tool. The computer-based webquest is the soft artifact. The proposal is the cognitive artifact. The process of learning the theories and writing the proposal is the activity.

Comment about the learning activity
It is fine enough for a learner to learn about the learning theories through searching information from the websites provided in the activity. The structure of the tutorial is simple,clear and easy to follow.

FMY