Module 1 - Historical and Theoretical Foundations
Entry #1
Since I don’t have an educational background, reading and learning about the history and foundations of learning theories was very valuable to me. Harasim’s book did an excellent job outlining the history, pedagogy, and the technology that had either originated or evolved with each learning theory. Also determining which technology is most appropriate with a learning theory. The learning theories brought back some memories from my childhood while learning in school. I remembered the whole reward and punishments in the classroom. For example, whoever was the first one to complete their assignment accurately was the teacher’s helper for the day, which demonstrates the strategies of the behavioral learning theory. Of course, at the time, I had no idea about the theory.
Entry #2
In OMDE 603 Technology in Distance Education and eLearning class, I remember watching Stephen Downes’ talk about George Siemen’s Connectivism theory. It never occurred to me that people are actually learning rapidly because of the access and the connections being made.
In one of our class discussions, I predicted that Constructivist and Connectivism learning theories will be the most influential learning theories in the 21st century. I justified my predictions based on the current trends that are occurring in education. Harasim (2012) states the 21st century is the Knowledge Age and the children are the Net generation. Mostly everyone has mobile or smart phones that can connect via various Web 2.0 applications to access an abundance of information. Teachers are using Web 2.0 platforms to teach in their classrooms.
Most US states are implementing the Common Core standards for English and Math for K-12 so that American children will be able to compete globally. As discussed on the online Scholastic’s Administrator Magazine, the Common Core standards were built on constructivist principles and have already been implemented (scholasticadministrator.typepad.com, 2013). Teachers are learning constructivist teaching methods to incorporate the key principles (i.e. active learning, learning-by-doing, etc., as indicated in Harasim (2012).
References:
Bruno, P. (2013, March 25). Bruno: Do The Common Core Standards Tell Teachers How To Teach?.Administrator Magazine. Retrieved from: http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/2013/03/bruno-do-the-common-core-standards-tell-teachers-how-to-teach.html#.UwlIzPldW1V
Harasim, L. (2012). Learning Theory and Online Technologies. New York, NY: Routledge.
Entry #1
Since I don’t have an educational background, reading and learning about the history and foundations of learning theories was very valuable to me. Harasim’s book did an excellent job outlining the history, pedagogy, and the technology that had either originated or evolved with each learning theory. Also determining which technology is most appropriate with a learning theory. The learning theories brought back some memories from my childhood while learning in school. I remembered the whole reward and punishments in the classroom. For example, whoever was the first one to complete their assignment accurately was the teacher’s helper for the day, which demonstrates the strategies of the behavioral learning theory. Of course, at the time, I had no idea about the theory.
Entry #2
In OMDE 603 Technology in Distance Education and eLearning class, I remember watching Stephen Downes’ talk about George Siemen’s Connectivism theory. It never occurred to me that people are actually learning rapidly because of the access and the connections being made.
In one of our class discussions, I predicted that Constructivist and Connectivism learning theories will be the most influential learning theories in the 21st century. I justified my predictions based on the current trends that are occurring in education. Harasim (2012) states the 21st century is the Knowledge Age and the children are the Net generation. Mostly everyone has mobile or smart phones that can connect via various Web 2.0 applications to access an abundance of information. Teachers are using Web 2.0 platforms to teach in their classrooms.
Most US states are implementing the Common Core standards for English and Math for K-12 so that American children will be able to compete globally. As discussed on the online Scholastic’s Administrator Magazine, the Common Core standards were built on constructivist principles and have already been implemented (scholasticadministrator.typepad.com, 2013). Teachers are learning constructivist teaching methods to incorporate the key principles (i.e. active learning, learning-by-doing, etc., as indicated in Harasim (2012).
References:
Bruno, P. (2013, March 25). Bruno: Do The Common Core Standards Tell Teachers How To Teach?.Administrator Magazine. Retrieved from: http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/2013/03/bruno-do-the-common-core-standards-tell-teachers-how-to-teach.html#.UwlIzPldW1V
Harasim, L. (2012). Learning Theory and Online Technologies. New York, NY: Routledge.