What new things have you learned or thought about as a result of the readings and discussions?
I have learned about the differences between theory, model, and framework. A theory is a belief based on research about how to predict outcomes. The framework is the inner structure of the theory, in which all of the elements work together to show the basis of the theory. A model is a realistic application or visualization of the theory, which can be concrete or abstract as long as it conveys the theory concept.
I also learned about the "big three" theory perspectives. Behaviorism is when there is a change in behavior that occurs as a result of learning, usually external signs. Cognitivism refers to information-processing and brain functions, therefore it concentrates more on the internal aspect of learning. Constructivism is the theory that I most relate to in that it refers to learning through experience, such as constructing one's own knowledge.
How might your knowledge and experiences influence your actions, and the actions of those around you?
Learning theory also plays a major role in instructional design and the integration of educational technology tools. Regarding instructional design, theory is extremely important because when designing instruction one must be familiar with educational strategies and research in order to know what will be the most effective design of instructional resources and planning. Educational technology tools must be used to enhance and have a positive effect on the learning experience. Therefore, one must be careful in selecting the right technology tools to benefit the given instructional strategy. I am looking forward to becoming more familiar with learning theories and how they relate to my content area. I chose to write about Dual-Coding Theory for my theory paper, so I look forward to learning about how I can apply that to my current instructional strategies.
What interactions have you had (with other students, with the text, or with other materials) that have been the most valuable?
As I was researching for a topic for the theory paper, I was surprised to find that a few theories even discussed foreign language learning. Sometimes I have difficulty finding topics and theories that I can easily relate to my subject area. I like to actually be able to apply my knowledge to my current content matter and see the relevancy. I was also interested to read everyone's different definitions for theory, model, and framework. Some people shared more academic definitions, and then some shared more simple definitions. I prefer the more simple definitions that I can relate to and be able to understand clearly.
Briefly discuss the resource or glossary item that you added to the wiki for the particular module.
I added a website to the class resources, http://www.innovativelearning.com/index.html. This website has extensive resources and explanations about learning theories and strategies and how they relate to instructional technology and other educational perspectives. It has links to several other websites that pertain to our course, and it also has several videos. I thought that it was extremely easy to navigate and it presents the information in an appealing way.
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