Reflection

There are various facts which were striking and surprising me when I was learning this course, especially in the area of cognitive information processing, constructivism, connectivism and adult learning. I had a basic knowledge of each of the theories but a lot of new information was added to my previous knowledge. Let me explain briefly the most striking and surprising areas.
Considering the Levels-of-processing model, that is a view that the level of processing conceptualizes memory according to the type rather than location of processing that information reviews (Ormrod, 2009). Although there is a similarity in processing in a Dual code system model and the levels-of-processing model , there are differences for example, the levels–of –processing model does not make a sequential assumption. These have different views that explain how the type of processing affects the memory. Not only this, but even my knowledge on cognitive learning further improved by Attention Theories. Attention is a prerequisite of individual’s learning and it helps to understand people’s learning processes. Principles of organizing information and influences on encoding, further improved my knowledge on how the information was subjected to process during learning. Storage process also is an interesting part, with which I was not much familiar. Conditional knowledge with declarative and procedural knowledge provides me an idea about how knowledge processing occurs during learning in different situations. For example, the procedural knowledge processing takes place during learning tasks such as summarizing information, skimming a passage and solving a mathematics problem etc. Memory retrieval is another area of cognitive processing where I have not gained sufficient knowledge earlier. I didn’t have a clear notion of the variables that influence on metacognition and now I can identify how metacognition varies among individuals. Problem solving was a very important and interesting area. I can understand how different students/learners learn by different problem solving strategies. My knowledge on the perspective of constructivism widened with the understanding that concepts such as ZPD and Scaffolding. Three types of perspectives (Exogenous, Endogenous and Dialectical) help me to identify different types of knowledge construction in learners. Although I have become already aware of learner-centered education, the APA learner-centered principle sharpened my knowledge. Connectivism is actually a new perspective to us and when I develop a by connecting different sources of information and using different technology. As an adult I am very much attracted towards adult learning theories and I was able to understand possible different learning methods which stimulated me for further learning. I became familiarized with ARCS model and learned how a learner could be motivated.

When I was studying the learning theories, it made me think about my learning process. With the knowledge of information encoding and retrieval and factors that influence on them I was able to understand how I am used to remember the things and memorize. How to store declarative knowledge (facts, beliefs, opinions, generalizations, theories, hypotheses, world events etc) and procedural knowledge (solve mathematical problems, summarize information, perform laboratory techniques etc.). Knowledge on connectivism drives me to access different sources of information and use effective technology to strengthen my network of learning. I identify my intelligence and I understand my learning preferences and with this understanding I can improve my learning. For example, when the learning content is difficult and heavy, I can select a way or tools appropriate to my learning style. I can improve my learning by changing ineffective habits of learning into effective learning style. The self-regulation of my learning can be motivated with the knowledge gained by ARCS model. Different types of adult learning theories provided me with ideas of further studies.

Learning theory is a discipline of psychology that attempts to explain how an organism learns. The theory of learning styles states that people have different approaches to learning and studying. (Gilbert J.E). This emphasizes the fact that individuals perceive and process information in very different ways.

Many learning theories focus on learning styles, most of which are personality driven, sensory-dominant or experientially oriented (Loewn .S). Motivation is an internal state that arouses us to action, pushes us in particular direction and keeps us engaged in certain activities. Even if we are capable of learning something, motivation determines whether and to what extent we learn it, especially if the behaviors and cognitive processes necessary for learning are voluntary and under control. Once we have learned how to do something, motivation is in large part responsible for whether we continue to do it. Motivation influences behavior, cognition and learning. Research shows that motivational processes are key elements in self-regulation (Cognitive information processing model of self-regulation) (Ormrod, 2009). Identifying learning styles and adapting lessons can motivate students to succeed. Technology can be used as a media to deliver learning according to learning theories and learning styles. It makes learning more effective and attractive. Technology can motivate the learner.

These theories provide us some consistent ways of looking at classroom practice. Being a curriculum developer and teacher trainer in the school system, this knowledge provides me some guidance in making decisions about curriculum and teaching strategies. Knowing that events in the classrooms are influenced by many different variables and no single theory explains how they will all come together under different circumstances I prefer some blended learning environments. I will be able to design model activities for classroom teaching–learning process, which should be included in teacher’s instruction manual. I can guide the teacher to consider the various sources of knowledge and theory that exist, take into account the very specific classroom situation and students they face, and determine when and how theory should be put in to practice. Also I will be able to provide some insights to help a teacher determine what could be going on with students and how the teacher might plan the next lesson. In that way, my talents in curriculum development will also improve and I would train teachers, designing effective instructions for them as well. Technology can be integrated to instructions. For example ‘Edutopia’ a wonderful educational web site which stimulated me to familiarize with various software and simulations and it motivated me to prepare such interactive materials for students. Truly speaking, according to my past experiences, we have not so far developed curriculum or trained teachers focusing or taking into consideration of these theories. Therefore this knowledge is so much valuable for me for future developments.

The change in my view

Instructional Design Course I am following offered me a great opportunity to explore my knowledge on learning theories especially during past few weeks. After gaining deep knowledge now I feel I should review my perspective of learning with furbishing up my previous view.

The social constructivism emphasizes the social environment as a facilitator of development and learning and it influences cognition through its tools (Ormrod.E et al). I mentioned that when I studied for my M.Sc there was a behaviorists approach sometimes. I observed behaviors in community to learn the area of community nutrition. However now I understand that was the social constructivism rather that behaviorism. Earlier I had a view that the constructivism is only a process that self-construction of knowledge, but it is not only that, constructivism vary from students thinking self to socially mediated construction those match reality. In my learning Cognition has influenced by cultural tools such as food patterns, research data and anthropometric data of individuals. Scaffolding was experienced when we learned anthropometric measurements, initially our instructor was behind us to guide to get correct measurements. Later we did ourselves with minimum involvement of instructor. Earlier I just had a basic knowledge on cognitive learning and information processing. I had a view that there was a cognitive approach during primary and secondary education. After studying cognitive learning process few weeks ago , I came to know about conditional knowledge (when and why to employ declarative and procedural knowledge) , so now I can recognize and best explained information retrieval according to these facts. I mentioned that I prefer and I can remember well if a concept or fact is in a procedural arrangement. I mentioned the self-directedness of my learning and metacognition I used during my tertiary education. That view is supported and furthur shapened after I explored my knowledge with connectivism and Adult learning theory.



Personal learning preferences

According to Felder et all I identified myself as an abstract perceiver and reflective processor rather than concrete perceiver and active processor. According to the index of the learning style now I can identify my learning styles. I am a sequential learner rather than global learner specially during my tertiary education, I prefer to have information presented linearly and in an orderly manner. They put together the details in order to understand the big picture emerges. In the past, I was really a verbal learner because in school system learning process was not student-centered and teaching was transformative. It was actually not a preference but became a habit because the visual materials were hardly available. But during university education I became more visual and sequential learner. If the information was presented in diagrams, sketches, flow charts then I was able to understand quickly. I was used to make notes, group information according to concepts and then create visual links with arrows. Visual learning style is best suitable for some areas of my learning and I will be able to improve my learning in future as well. If I can develop my skills in this area then I can significantly reduce time spend for learning and absorbing information when the things are confused and difficult. I can have opportunities to learn through audio-visual presentations (such as CD-ROM and Webcasts.). However now I think If I can learn using other styles whenever suitable I will be amazed at how much more I catch and how much easier it is to assimilate information and make sense of what is going on. If we stick on to one or two learning styles we limit our ability to take in new information and make sense of it quickly, accurately, and effectively. Therefore learning preferences should be changed according to the objectives and content. e.g. Although I am a sequential learner rather than a global learner I should not stick on to this style always, and I should understand why I am doing something and how it is connected to the overall purpose or objective and should know how my actions are going to help in the long run. I should practice to see the big picture as well.


The role of technology play in my learning

When I need to search information I use search engine ‘Google’ . It can be done using my PC and also I use my mobile when traveling and when I am away from home. I record information in my USB pen drive and also in CDs and for storage of documents I use Google as well.

Reflection

During my school education my network consisted of school teachers, tutors, peers and parents. Then after my school education the learning network consisted of university lecturers, professionals, library resources and outside the university there was a network containing relevant organizations and professionals, media and web resources. Social groups in my learning network also changed my way of learning. For example, my B.Sc batch mates stimulated me to do a Masters degree. After completion of my postgraduate, I didn’t start any formal education but I needed to learn and update my knowledge because I started to work in my field of study.

I use my personal mobile phone very much for my learning. It facilitates me to access internet anytime and I use Google search engine. Whenever I come across new terms or forgotten facts I quickly access internet and find the meaning or information. Therefore it is an important digital tool for me. The next tool which best facilitates learning is my PC. I am used to go through AV materials for improving my knowledge.

During my learning, when certain things are not clear, I had to change and access another node in my network to get it clarified For example when I studied for my M.Sc Degree, if my lecturer didn’t elaborate some facts to the extent that I can clearly understand, then I got used to access another source of information, namely, library materials and Web resources. When questions arise I normally got used to contact special nodes in my learning network. For example, I remember when I did my survey, I wanted to analyze my data, but I didn’t know how to use software. Then I had access to internet tutorials and learn the statistical software “SPSS’ and also the nutrition assessment software “EPI-Info 6”. I got EPI-info 6 from WHO website and bought SPSS CD. I learned both of these software myself by following the tutorial from internet. I contacted a statistician from a university when I had a doubt. Therefore I interact with internet resources and professionals and these can be considered as nodes of my network.

One of the principles of connecitivism explains that learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources. I can identify such process in my network of learning. In my personal learning network, there are important specialized nodes with which I can connect. For example, recently when I wrote a lesson in the resource book for Grade 13 students, I wanted to include the RDA table (Recommended Dietary Allowance), I contacted specialists in the Medical Research Institute for confirmation, or to update the information available. There were certain changes and a new table which was constructed in 2007. I got all the information related to that. Not only that I contact them to learn some facts relevant to the field of nutrition.

Similarly I got used to contact the Institute of Technology to find some information related to food science and new research findings. I am used to access WHO and FDA web site to learn some new facts for example, new growth charts, new food based guidelines etc. Maintaining these connections is essential to me, otherwise I may not be able to train school teachers and upgrade their knowledge. Today school children are more active and competent in searching information specially using internet. Therefore teachers must be knowledgeable and updated. Not only that, I also will become a person with limited knowledge and not upgraded, if I fail to maintain these nodes and nurture. However the challenge for me is to use digital tools, the only digital tool I best use is my mobile phone. Therefore my learning also resides on such non-human appliance not only mobile phone but other resources such as books, journals and electronic materials. Normally there is a connection between the field of food and nutrition with the field of education. Ideas and concepts also are connected. Sometimes there are controversial points which disturb this connection. But this can be solved by connecting with special nodes such as professionals and organizations. Considering my learning network, I like to recall how Siemens has defined connectivism “Decision-making itself is a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision.” (Siemens, 2005, paragraph. 24).

CONNECTIVISM

Resources for Cognitive Information Processing Theory

Learners as Information Processors:

Richard E. Mayer. Legacies and. Limitations of Educational Psychology's Second Metaphor. . University of California, Santa ...

We can gain the knowledge on historical overview of information processing including three metaphors. The Literal interpretation and Constructivist interpretation are comparatively described and the limitation of information processing psychology is well explained. Finally it is useful us to have an idea about future paths (scientific and critical paths) as well.

The Information Processing Approach to Cognition. Huitt, W. (2003).

This site explains the information processing principles and models. Therefore it is useful to understand the relevant chapters in our reading material clearly. Another important feature is the list of examples given for the uses of information processing approach in the class room according to each principle.

Cognitive Information Process Theory (CIPT)

It explains the cognitive information processing theory more interactively. This is a blog which allows readers to leave comments and editing also possible after getting the membership Therefore this is a resource for us to discuss and share our knowledge.

Learning and Memory : The Brain in Action.Sprenger, Marilee.Alexandria, VA, USA: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, 1999. p 46.

This is an example for a research to find out how student’s brain work and how do it important for their learning.(Growth of new dendrites and new synapses). Also it stimulates us to do such a study to improve our student’s learning process. There fore this resource is useful us to sharpen our knowledge on information processing.

Resources for learning Instructional design

Many important blog sites are available in the area of Instructional Design. After studying blog sites I understood that these blog sites provide us a wide range of information including ideas of various professionals and instructional designers which are posted to the blog and their discussions which are useful to clear any doubts and explore their knowledge. Studying such information we also will be able to update and sharpen our knowledge. These blogs direct us to many resources and references.

Blogs of a particular field such as blogs relevant to Instructional Design (ID) can be considered as a conference room for discussions on that particular topic. The blog named Blogs about:Instructional Design  is an important resource because it provides information related to ID, such as present and future situation of ID and also useful facts regarding application of ID such as software , educational technology , e-learning etc. Therefore this blog also will be useful for us while studying this course. Another important resource sites I found is Learning-theories.com .This site is to provide the knowledge of Theories and Models of learning for educational research and practice. I think this resource site also will be useful to me as an additional resource because it provides details of many learning theories. It provides facilities to readers to send their comments and also to link with their blogs. Therefore worldwide community of scholars interactively refines these entries over time. So that we also can interact with them while gaining knowledge from our present online course.
Similarly there are important resource sites such as InstructionalDesign.org  which consists of various sections in the subject of instructional design. Although we are still beginners we are familiar only with learning theories and I could see that other areas such as instructional design models are well explained. It refers to another important site called http://www.innovativelearning.com for learning theories. This will be useful for me while continuing this ID course for exploration of my knowledge and share experience with others on learning theories. It provides effective resources supported by audio-video to make it more interactive. I hope we will be able to improve our knowledge gained from this course using the above site. It further provides the knowledge about the technology applied during designing instruction. Not only that this site also provides useful features such as Web quest and Materials including web quizzes, activities and worksheets etc. and other references. Therefore during our online course we will be able to practice our knowledge using these materials interactively.

Another blog named Improving performances through learning innovations  is also useful especially for instructional designers. There are thoughtful posts to be seen in the site and this blog also will be very useful even though some facts are still new to us. I wish I will be able to follow their discussions while studying our online course. As a curriculum developer and also a teacher trainer, most of the facts that are subjected to the discussion in that blog is useful to me; for example: facts regarding competency based classroom learning process and training programs. (For example, the comments posted by Prof Krishnamurthy Prabhakar, Niall and Jude)

The blog named Instructional Design for e’Learning approaches:IDEAS  will be also useful when we consider design of instructions for e-learning.

Therefore I linked the resources I referred to, on my blog so that my colleagues also will be able to access.