Final Reflection

At the beginning of this course I was familiar with different learning styles from previous classes in my life. However, this course made me take a closer look d at how those learning styles will accompany my work as an instructional designer. I was then forced to evaluate my own learning style which made me realize the positive effect it has on my learning. Knowing how I learn allows me to incorporate and enable my learning to my best abilities. This will also be the case when I am working with others. To understand how others work and what strategies better help

them learn I will be able to provide them with a modified and tailored instruction to benefit them.

Thinking about different learning theories, styles, and processes, it is important to understand that everyone has a unique learning style in some way however the process is relatively the same. Therefore, although we have our own styles of learning, rather it be memorizing, relating topics to real life situations, etc., the process in which we actually learn is relatively similar. Incorporating technology into learning creates a diverse learning experience for many. Realizing that I partake in an online learning environment I can say that the experience is different than face to face but still very rewarding. Through my experiences and observances I have also noticed an increase in motivation to learn when using technology.

My future career in instructional design will incorporate many of these ideas as I am creating learning programs for a group of people. I can use these theories and different learning styles and adjust my instruction based on them. In order to do this, I would first have to get to know my fellow students and understand what would best help and benefit them to be successful. This will too insure my success in instruction. 

Fitting the Pieces Together

Looking back at the beginning of this course I thought that I had to fit into a specific mold of how I learn. Now, I am able to say that there is not one particular learning style that describes exactly how I learn. I am a mixture of a lot of learning styles, this may be true for everyone. Although there are some that I still believe are better suited to my way of learning, such as the constructivism approach. This has remained the same from the beginning of the class. Although learning of other theories more in depth, these two still seem to gear more towards the process in which I learn. Although they are not complete to how I learn, they have many of the characteristics that are portrayed within me. I have always created a more lasting learning experience when I am taught in a way that is situational. I need to be provided with a real life situation along with the objective to my learning. In week one of the class I stated "I can memorize facts and number but that only stays with me for so long before I forget it. However, if I am able to apply what I am learning to a situation and create a real world context, it creates a different kind of impression on me. I would much rather, if possible, have a hands on interaction with what I am learning about. If this is not possible, even discussing or making a relation in my head creates a more lasting understanding of what I am learning." (Romanowski, 2014) I do not believe that my idea on the process in which I learn has changed, however I was provided with more information on the different theories and how others learn. This is important as an instructional design to better help my students. 

Learning about technology and the role it has in my learning has created a different outlook on the different opportunities I am provided with. Although the process of my learning remains the same, the new ways and experiences I am given in order to learn or find information has been altered. I did not always have the internet, mobile devices, or other technology to support my learning as I do now. Taking a closer look at my learning, I have realized the extent that I have broadened my learning horizon through technology. 

Laureate Education, Inc. [Producer]. (n.d.). An introduction to learning. Retrieved from Walden course EDUC 6115. 

Connectivism: Reflection

As I have aged my networks have expanded and in turn has allowed me more opportunities to learn. I am learning from people, experiences and different places. I am better able to find resources that I may need to learn about a specific topic and I now have them more readily available to me. The wide variety and range of learning resources I have through my networks allows me to expand my learning. I have different people to learn from who have had different experiences and knowledge. The digital tools that best suit my learning include news websites to find out what is happening in the world. I find myself using websites to facilitate my learning as a teacher. Some of these websites include Pinterest, Reading a-z, blogs, and Enchanted Learning. Google Scholar is a search engine that I often find myself using when I need scholarly articles to gain more information or support my claim. This is typically used in an academic setting. I am using the internet on my phone, on my computer as well as on my Ipad. 

The beauty of having all of these resources readily at hand is that I am able to answer questions within minutes. I can use my phone, the computer or any books that may help in the search of an answer. I also find that I am surrounded by many colleagues that have many experiences previous knowledge on topics that I may not. Using them as an aid to support my learning has benefited me. 

I do believe that my personal learning networks support the central tenets of connectivism. "We must create networks which, simply defined, are connections between entities. By using these networks - of people, of technology, of social structures, of systems, of power grids, etc. - learning communities can share their ideas with others, thereby “cross-pollinating” the learning environment," (Siemens, 2005, para. 21). I am better able to use these multiple sources of information to benefit my learning. The specific sources that I have chosen help me and my personal learning because they are geared to my life style. By "cross-pollinating" the learning environment we are able to share our networks with others and learn from each other. 

Connectivism

Evaluating and Identifying Online Resources

1.)  http://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/ 
This first blog is based around the brain and how we learn. This blog focuses on theories of learning and bases their information on resources that are cited. I feel that this blog expresses their opinions as well as backs up what they are saying by providing evidence. Different skills that are involved with learning are examined and discussed. There are methods to use along with the reasons why they should be used. As a teacher, this blog was useful in my everyday life now, and will be useful in the future as well. Another aspect of the blog that I appreciate is the emotional intelligence and part of learning. This is important to understand the effect it can have on our learners as well as myself. 


http://www.simplypsychology.org/information-processing.html
This website provided multiple resources. The link I provided was directly about information processing. However, there is a lot more information involved within the website itself. The website involved many visual images which allowed me to better connect what topic would be discussed and better gain an understanding of the topic as well. The website covers information on social psychology, cognitive psychology, perspectives of psychologists, and developmental psychology. Within each topic there are other sections that are included that support it. They give a background of each theory as well as references in order to cross check the information. I found this website to be more matter of fact rather than opinionated. Information given to like this allows me to analyze and critique it and then find counter arguments that will push my thinking. The pictures and diagrams also allow me to better lay out the information and visualize what the process of learning in a particular theory may look like. 

Useful Blogs

The first blog I bookmarked is www.learninggeneralist.com. This blog incorporated many aspects that would be useful in my profession as an instructional designer. There are manuals on ELearning, useful skills when conducting presentations, communication skills, webinars, and insightful posts about being an instructional designer.  I find this blog useful in the fact that there are opinions and experiences as well as extra sources linked within blog posts to further expand my resources within instructional design.

The second blog I bookmarked is http://bdld.blogspot.com/. The Big Dog, Little Dog blog discusses the role of leadership within instructional design and element of learning. Throughout the blog one will discover manuals to social leadership, diagrams, charts and facts on learning and models of design methodologies. This blog takes a look at learning and evaluates the many pieces such as informal and formal learning and how they can be controlled. As an instructional designer this piece can help to discover the many learning theories, processes and practices that others may use in order to create an effective learning environment. The leadership aspect is also important, as in order create a team effective leadership is in need.

The last blog I bookmarked is the www.blog.cathy-moore.com. I found this blog to be creative and inspiring. Cathy Moore tries to relay information on how to make training more “action-packed” for adults.  There are tips for webinars and virtual training and how to make it learning more interesting through this medium. There are also tips on how to create training goals and activities that make trainings interesting. This blog tries to make training fun for adults and give useful and helpful tips on what works. Through experience, Cathy posts on what is effective and what is not. Not only does she give tips on the training process, but also on Elearning and how to use it to its fullest potential.

These three blogs relay various information from using manuals, graphs and visuals for presentations, understanding successful leadership skills, to making learning fun. By keeping up on these blogs as well as posting in my own blog it will expand ones knowledge on the instructional design career and how to be as effective as possible.