Learning Theory and Me....

Well we have come through an enormous amount of information and theories and even though we touched on all of them I feel we have barely scratched the surface.

I can see that my job as an Instructional Designer is going to be challenging. The methods and styles and outcomes will have to change as required by the expected learning. There is truly no cookie cutter stamp to pump out a great eLearning course or any other course for that matter.

The value of the Learning Theory Matrix will be one of those tools that I will have printed and hanging in on the cubicle wall behind my computer. It will serve as a good reminder of all the learning considerations I should be examining each time I am asked to create and design a course.  The decisions to be made as to the learning theory that I should apply will be just as important as the actual design and implementation.

I am leaning towards “Connectivism” as my preferred theory as it encompasses so much and empowers the student in a positive way but again I will have think impartially when I am designing.

I truly am inspired at what I have to look forward to and what shoes I have to fill to be a good designer.

Pam :-)

Reflection...

Connectivism... A Reflection

My network changed years ago when I first went back to school and got my undergrad degree. Of course I am only talking about eight years ago. I always took a course of one form or another like creative writing or basket weaving, but I had not taken a stab a really challenging myself. I returned to school in 2002 after a 20 plus year absence. What a way to make a girl sit up and take notice of what she doesn't know! I was introduced to online databases and journals and ebooks through the online library. I learned how to do legitimate searching through the internet and not quote from “wikipedia”.

Now the problem is that I cannot stop. I graduated in 2008 with a Commerce Degree with dual majors in Computer Information Systems and Management and a certificate in Human Resource Management.

I have been lucky to apply my degree to my income job and now I am looking for additional tasks in my job that I can do. I am a Delivery Consultant ( Instructor) at a global company. I am looking to add creatively with design too.

I know that something either my kids, my house , my dog or some other catalyst for distraction in studying always happens. This year it is now a impending divorce.

Best digital tools for me is the online library, and email. The Q and A section of this course is not bad either. I had an extensive technical background prior to my returning to school ( I was a Network Administrator. My role was to service servers, printers, email systems etc. I got tired of a 24/7 environment.) I have had extensive experience problem solving hence my ease at locating information. When I teach in a classroom I use multimedia projectors and do extensive live demonstrations. I like learning through Live meeting too. It is a digital tool which we use like a multimedia projector only it is internet delivery not classroom dependant.

How I gain new knowledge is peer discussion and hunting down someone I know has already doing the job and asking them for an opinion. Then I make my own connections.

I like visualization. I use it extensively and I draw learning connections by applying visualization to a problem and reverse engineer it to the level that I need. I know it is probably a weird way of approach things but it works. I consider all of my learning now to support the central tenets of connectivism. I look at things in bits and how it relates interconnected.

Pam :-)

Connectivism