Fitting The Pieces Together

After I reviewed my response from my week 1 discussion on how I thought I learned best, I am now exploring these following three questions as I reflect on my learning experience throughout this course.

•Now that you have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, how has your view on how you learn changed?

Since I have gone through this learning experience, my view of how I learn has changed a great deal. Before I thought I learn by auditory, visual, hand on learning only. I still believe I use this skills quiet often. However, I know these aren’t the only strategies I use to have a deeper understanding. I am now more aware of the variety of resources I can use to build on my prior knowledge to make a meaningful connection. Through a recent class assignment, I discovered how I rely so heavily on my learning network to support my level of understanding of the skill or concepts that are being taught.  As an adult learner, I know it is very important to be motivated and to be a self directed learner. Learner must understand the importance of being engage in the learning process in order to get anything out of it.

 •What have you learned about the various learning theories and learning styles over the past weeks that can further explain your own personal learning preferences?

Although I am an adult learner and educator, I now know a learner’s learning style can fluctuate due to the task the learner will be completing. Dr. Ormrod stated, as instructional designers, we should not use learning styles, but we should use learning strategies. Learning strategies are effective techniques a learner can use to be more in control of their understanding of new information about a concept or skill. The learner could use elaboration, mnemonics and my favorite I use more of is comprehension monitoring. As you are reading required course material or for entertainment, learning can ask themselves questions to see how well they are understanding the text and not just reading words on the page or screen.

 •What role does technology play in your learning (i.e., as a way to search for information, to record information, to create, etc.)?

Technology plays major role in my learning experience. I use my computer or my mobile device to research information using different search engines and my school online library all the time. I use YouTube to watch instructional videos on various topics I am studying. When I use visual images and combined it with audio and/or textual components, I tend to understand things much better. I am also discovering how blogs and wikis can effectively support my learning experience.