What is learning? A change in behavior. A change in response to a stimulus. A change in perception. An ability to observe and internalize. Bumping up against the world, processing and
adapting. Reflection on the education
culture. A linear acquisition. A mosaic, networking acquisition. Plugging in to sources.
What is teaching?
Design.
Delivery. Facilitation. Providing reinforcements. Providing insights. Transferring knowledge. Providing scaffolding for knowledge
construction. Planning learning outcomes
and assessing their achievement. Modeling/nurturing
curiosity and passion for learning by
active interaction.
What is knowledge? Formal, school smarts. Informal, street smarts. An ability to recall facts. An ability to perform skills. An awareness.
Problem solving. Encounters – experiential or vicarious.
Social discourse content. Sensory
information. Peer and instructor
feedback. Ordered chaos.
With so many descriptors for the phenomenon of education, it
is no wonder there are many theories that try to explain the assimilation of
knowledge. No one theory is better than
the others are; they each improve our understanding of the complexities of
scholarship. These theories offer a
framework for educators to plan learning opportunities for their students. As example, a teacher may provide positive
reinforcements for students as a conditioning method. Likewise, the educator may use a LMS or
concept mapping as a way of helping students organize and construct
knowledge. Encouraging students to
explore and consult online sources helps them to connect with other experts and
learners. A meta-cognition activity such
as journaling provides students a chance to apply concepts in new ways. Theories of learning are more than just ethereal
concepts. The praxis they provide has practical
implications for educators and learners alike.
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| Retrieved from: http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism |
I love that chart, I'm totally bookmarking it!
ReplyDeleteCognitivism seems so outdated compared to connectivism.
I appreciate how you frame things with educational examples. I don't have much experience in education but I like the clear language you use.
Thank you for stating that no one theory is better than the other. Too often , I hear arguments in favor of one versus another without the recognization of the context or schema when admonishing other learning theories. Your "educators to plan learning opportunities for their students" position a great description of why it is important for us to be enrolled in the technology track as we prepare to meet the demands of students expecting competant digital literacies and ability from their educator.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Rhett...aligns with my attempt to have us look for aspects of each theory that might be brought to bear in elearning.
DeleteI second Mel's opinion - I love that chart! While reading it I found myself trying to think of examples that would best apply to each theory. This is what I came up with: Beh = time outs, Cog = riding a bike, Const = slang, Connect = wikipedia. It's amazing how one case see something of all the theories in (almost) all teaching situations... Thanks for the resource!
ReplyDeleteKatherine
I liked your examples of each topic. It really helped create a framework. Great blog post.
ReplyDelete