Reflection: Learning Theories and Learning Styles

Throughout this Instructional Design Course, I have been reflecting upon learning theories and learning styles.  I still believe that I learn most productively through group discussion (Social Learning Theory), reflection (Cognitivism), and debate (Social Learning Theory) as well as through hands on discovery learning (Constructivism).  Thus, I am a verbal and a kinesthetic learner.  I mentioned in my first reflection that learning often is a slow, digestive process for me.  Ideas, rather than details, are most important to me, so I have to be creative in the processes by which I learn specific facts and details, such as utilizing mnemonic devices.  In this manner, understanding my own learning processes is beneficial to me.  I can adapt my methods of learning when I get stuck on something, such as learning specific facts and details.  I can now give a name to the learning theory that describes my learning and teaching styles and preferences best: Connectivism.  “Connectivism is driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering foundations. New information is continually being acquired and the ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. Also critical is the ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday” (Siemens, 2005, N.p.).  My favorite learning activities in this course have been the mind web and the blog, which allowed me to gather and classify information in an organic manner and to present this information in a dynamic and flexible format.  I enjoyed exploring alternate methods of connecting my world, and I enjoyed evaluating the network by which I attempt to connect my world to itself.

 

Siemens, G. (2005, January). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning, Retrieved November 03, 2008, from http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm