Thursday, March 29, 2012

Johnson Module 2 Blog



There is so much discussion of learning theories that as an educator and a student, I get confused when I am asked to choose one over another.  Reading Bill Kerr’s blog (http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html) leads me to conclude I am not the only one who has confusion -ism.  For example, Kerr posed the question How else could we have a big change without a theory to justify it and help us think about it?”  He posits that different learning theories (i.e. –isms) might just be necessary to facilitate meaningful instruction by saying “I’m not entirely sure but I am more inclined to think that we need big change. That might mean the -isms are necessary. You might develop a new unit of work under the influence of constructionism, for instance. The learning theory is indispensable to the curriculum reform effort.

I would agree that learning theories do serve to explain how students learn, as well as how instructors teach, and how to most effectively do both.  However, rather than choosing one theory over the other I am more included to agree with Karl Kapp who said in his blog (http://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/) “We need to take pieces from each school of thought and apply it effectively because… Cognitivism doesn’t explain 100% how humans process information and neither does Constructivism or Behaviorism. What we need to is take the best from each philosophy and use it wisely to create solid educational experiences for our learners.”  Some may conclude I have chosen the easy way out by saying I see pieces of each learning theory in myself as instructor and student, as well as in my students, but it is far from an easy conclusion to draw.  The challenge for me as an instructor is to develop instruction that has components that correlate to its counterpart in learning theory.  That is not easy to do, and remains a challenge for me to identify what theory and what component of my instruction and my students’ learning complement each other.



4 comments:

  1. I agree that integrating various learning theories in lesson can be a difficult task though I think that anytime we have a successful class experience, we are likely to have applied multiple theories without realizing it.

    As you reflect on your previously taught lessons, which of them to you feel were particularly successful? Can you attach any of the learning theories that we have discussed to various components in that lesson?

    Which of your previous lessons used mostly one of the learning theories? Which learning theory was used and how? Do you think this lesson could be improved with the incorporation of some strategies framed in another learning theory?

    Thanks so much for the insights!

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  2. Hello Johnson,

    I agree with you. Here is another way to look at blending learning theories.
    I think it is best to have a solid foundation in one theory and use the others
    to enhance the way you use your theory. Behaviorism is my foundation and cognitivism provides me with another way to enhance the way I use behaviorism.

    I practice Filipino martial arts (FMA), but enjoy Japanese martial arts (JMA) like Aikido. I find that FMA help me to make the JMA style practical. I can make the same comparison between learning theories, after all, it all pertains to learning.

    http://edtechlearningtheory8845-2.blogspot.com/
    David

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  3. Hi Anetha,
    I agree that some times just doing seems easier than doing with a “design check list”. Later, when we use the check list, we realize how many different things we have integrated in our lesson. Last Tuesday (03/27/2012) I have attended a work shop titled “working to work” abbreviated as WOW. We were discussing several design qualities that should be incorporated in the lesson. I shared one of my concept review strategies that I use in my Environmental Science (High School) class. The workshop used that example to see how many design qualities are present in that strategy. To my astonishment, there were several design qualities already present in that review. In the same way, if you just analyze one of your lessons carefully, you will see how many learning theories you have already incorporated in your lesson. In nut shell, if we are getting the required out put, i.e. student success, we have done our job successfully no matter what theory worked the best.

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  4. Anetha,

    It is important that we take the best from each philosophy and use it wisely to create a solid educational experience for our students.

    There is a plethora of learning theories available. Educators do not have to choose just one. They can take bits and pieces from several learning theories. Effective teaching requires that one take the best of what learning theories have to offer and apply the concepts within the classroom. Educators must choose which theories of learning are best for understanding how their students learn. One size does not fit all student learners.

    Pam Loder

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