Module 1 - Responses

I have responded to Ashley Odom and Tiffany Harrell

Learning Theory and Educational Technology

Module 1 - Assignment

What are your beliefs about how people learn best? What is the purpose of learning theory in educational techology?

There are many different theories about the process of learning some are relevant to my belief. In explaining my belief, I need to first understand and define learning. Driscoll (2005) defines learning "as occurring when learners are able to perform actions they could not perform before the learning occurred". Learning occurs through experiences. It is how the learner’s experiences interact and lead to learning which is expressed differently. People learn best when making connections to prior knowledge and are given ample time to process and reflect. When the learner is given opportunities to ask questions, inquiry and provided time to apply, practice their learning and then given positive reinforcement for success. Educators today are facing an uphill battle where they are required to teach the entire compulsory curriculum, prepare for high stake testing and not given opportunities to reteach or follow up on the learner’s mastery of new learning. Glenzer (2005) reflects on behavioral changes is evidence of learning, practice does make perfect in order to achieve the desired learned behavior.

 

Learning theory with regard to educational technology provides the needed background knowledge about how learners use technology as a teaching and learning tool. Learning is optimized, when educational technology is appropriate for the stage of the learning process. Educational technology is to target different learning styles.

Driscoll, M.P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3^rd.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Glenzer, H. (2005). Living learning theory through My Fair Lady.  Brisitsh Journal of Educational technology