Fitting the Pieces Together

My view on learning has expanded through the various theories that I have learned about. I have been able to gain a new understanding of how media effects learning and how ones perspective through their environment can alter their understanding of material being taught to them. I've realized that adult learning effects everyone regardless of their age, computer or media experience or life experience. I used to think that because I grew up having the opportunity of experiencing the major changes in technology first hand that I would have the upper hand in being able to apply most of these techniques to my form of learning but in actuality, with all my experience, there are many means of media and technology that I have yet to have direct experience with. I have learned that one will never have the experience or knowledge with all the forms of media. For example, with social media theory and elaboration being my learning style, I found that this learning style would not be as effective without the different type of media provided for someone like me that learns through experiences and or examples. I am a person that learns through visual examples and with media forms like YouTube, I am able to share my perspective and yet learn of others through forms like these. In blogging I have been able to view the thoughts of others in a different viewpoint. Though they may not be considered as credible as a primary resource like a research article, it is important to take the ideas of others that have first hand accounts on different subjects and acknowledge their different experiences with it. To understand and provide education on subjects, one must be willing to be open to learning about all experiences regarding them. Even though before I felt that I was very open minded about people and their forms of learning, I feel more accepting in regards to how others may disregard my perspective or others and based on their reasoning for it. Even if I am not in agreement with them, I am able to take their perspective and reform it to something that I can learn from and teach other about while being respectful on the bias of it. 

Reflection of my Connections

I feel as though I am living through a time where there is the most drastic changes in gaining knowledge and expressing opinions. One part of my network that has changed the way I learn is the media through the form of the internet and its access through cell phones. There are times where I am outside and talking with friends and when they bring up something that I may not have a great understanding of I can just look it up on my phone or if I am working on a course project, it is easy to find examples on how to do the projects at hand. I feel as though this takes away from the creativity that one can provide in trying to make the project on their own. But it also helps provide a better example of how it should be done so I see pros and cons in how media can and does effect my learning. The best mediums that facilitate learning for me are through visual media such as clips, journal articles and discussion forums or boards. When I need to ask questions I try to ask through emailing or posting questions on discussion boards since i'm so shy, its hard for me to express what I want to ask sometimes in fear that I will not express or say ti correctly. I believe my form of learning completely supports the tenets of connectivism. Because I believe that knowledge is everywhere and depends on the experience of the individual and their ability to combine the two I feel that this is the essence of connectivism. Blogs provide personal and in some cases professional validation and information on certain subjects. Online education facilities use media and help push its uses to its extreme while allowing the students to learn its efficiency while learning from them as well. And Interacting with friends and family provides examples that can make the material more relative and personal which can help change or support the understanding of the material at hand. 

Connectivism

Izzi's (Isadora) Learning Connection Mindmap

Week 2 Blog Assignment

In researching articles and information regarding learning and the brain I found two articles that I felt were very relative to the aspect of learning and the internal and external aspects that effect the brain. The first article reflects learning through the eyes of the student and how various factors such as emotions, feedback and meaning effect their form of understanding and its impact on the brain. One part of the article that stuck out to me is how emotions during the time of learning a particular subject can impact whether one is able to completely grasp the understanding of the subject matter. Having a positive emotion and interest towards the subject can improve the chances of the students grasp of the material. 


The Brains behind Brain-Based Research: The Tale of Two Postsecondary Online Learners By: McGuckin, Dawn, Ladhani, Mubeen, College Quarterly, 11954353, 20100601, Vol. 13, Issue 3


Link: http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/detail?sid=b60564dd-ada2-4667-9583-8443a2773714%40sessionmgr111&vid=4&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=eric&AN=EJ930389


And the other article that I found effective in showing how the brain and learning coincide was in the article that showed these parts through the eyes of the instructor. It provides a variety of solutions and reasonings as to why teachers or instructors should take brain understanding or brain research courses in order to improve how to effectively instruct their students. By having a better understanding of how the brain as a physical and integral part of the body works, there can be better forms of instruction created around the different forms of learnings styles that students relate to. 


Brain-Compatible Teaching and Learning: Implications for Teacher Education 
Educational Horizons, v88 n1 p40-50 Fall 2009. 11 pp.


Link: http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ868337.pdf

Week 1 Blog Assignment

Instructional Design, as I see it, is a broad field. Maybe a bit too broad because of the various possibilities that people can create and apply to a variety of settings that require education or training. In a sense the more I learn about Instructional Design, the more intimidating it is for me. But ironically, I believe that everything we learn would be is intimidating at first, but with the correct instructional tools provided, one can accomplish everything.

Instructional Design and Development Blog of DePaul University - http://www.iddblog.org/

This blog provides information from the faculty staff of DePaul University located in Illinois.  It provides information and updates on the latest technology, it's drawbacks and contributions to the field of education and how through its application can effect both student and teacher. This blog allows me to view instructional design and its effect in the field of education, which is how I primarily view instructional design to be used for. This site will help me see various models, some old and new, that are used to help students receive information and apply it towards the educational curriculum of various countries. 

Instrucational Design Fusions - http://instructionaldesignfusions.wordpress.com/

This blog provides various degrees of information, examples and article references on the subject of instructional design through a different field.  The blogs moderator shows the effect of instructional design in a different aspect, through the medical field, legal services and other fields that are outside of the standard classroom setting. This will provide me with information on how ID can expand almost any field that I may take my degree to. 

 Williams Instructional Design, LLC - http://williamsinstructionaldesign.blogspot.com/

This blog belongs to Mary Williams who is a contract instructional designer. She focuses on the different effects of technology and design and its effect seen through the changes of technology which is happening everyday. This blog would be useful for me by influencing me to stay up to date with the changes that occur all the time and how it applies to instructional design not only in the field of education but in the field of training for companies as well.

First (nerve wracking) post! :)

I am up at 2:25am because of the excitement of this course. I did not think that I would ever have to apply blogging to any of my courses so this is a bit of an exciting adventure for me. I am used to using a different blog site but decided to try blogger since I know lots of other people who have used blogger and they made it seem simple. So far.... after three days of getting myself familiarized with the interface of the website, lol I am finally posting.