Reflections on Our Instructional Design and Technology Course

EDUC-6115-1 Learning Theories and Instruction



Knowing why it is important to learn about Learning Theories was as striking as knowing what they are (I am answering questions one and three in these paragraphs). I took my credential classes many years ago when Behaviorism and Cognitivism, as learning theories, were presented along with “Bloom’s Taxonomy” and “Maslow’s Hierarchy- of -Needs”, as essential elements of classroom management.
What grabbed my attention was understanding the correlation between classroom management and motivating adults to learn in an on-line environment, everything about what we’ve done this semester made sense. Whether or not people are intrinsic learners (where they motivate themselves to learn) or extrinsic learners (where people need be motivated by outside forces – from positive feedback to the promise of an extra recess), a well-designed class should stimulate all to want to learn, regardless of the motivation.

Knowing that people learn by rote memory and repetition, for some things, is necessary for some material (Behaviorism). However, knowing that it is actually easier for people to learn if it is related to something they already know is important and then actually providing the “pre-teaching the background knowledge,” where none existed, is most relevant to me, in my current teaching environment (Cognitivism)! In the future, for adults, and older children, “unpacking” the possibilities existing in technology, community, and the web will be invaluable.

We’re learning to design material that needs to be interesting and accessible, no matter what the topic. We need to take into account how technology and the internet can facilitate the learning process, the fact that students learn from each other (networking), and the fact that adult-learners need to see that their class or course is relevant to them, and design for these facts as well. This is why I was interested in the Connective and Constructive learning theories.

I feel more confident using technology to extract material from myriad of sources and present it in a myriad of graphic ways (mind-mapping). The biggest change I underwent, however, was seeing that young people regularly transcend barriers of geography and culture and create new communities. If I am satisfied with anything, and hopeful for my future as a designer, it’s with the fact that it will be recriprocal – as I understand more about my I will expand my world view, as well.

In the middle of the semester we were asked to evaluate ourselves as learners and I applied certain theories to my learning style. Now, I would like to add that I am a Connectivist learner, in that I am using the web and technology, such as PowerPoint and Mind- Mapping and am a Constructivist, because I have participated in blogs, discussions, and have been active in my own learning, using media.

As an Instructional Designer I will use what I’ve learned in this course to immediately build into my courses strategies to help students learn, and then review and/or relearn, if necessary, in ways that accommodate their learning styles. I will utilize current and future technology and the students’ own learning communities, a well more arcane methodology.