Fitting the Pieces Together

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

 After acquiring knowledge of different learning theories and learning styles, I now can attach a concrete term to the way that I learn (or strategies that I use).

Dr. Jeanne Ormrod (2010) suggest "teaching strategies for learning effectively rather than cater to preferences" of learning styles.  These have been the cornerstone strategies that I’ve used to learn.

Ormrod outlined three learning strategies that are effective:
1. Elaboration: the learner takes in new information about a topic and adds to it. You add to it based on what you about it (from direct of indirect knowledge).
2. Comprehension monitoring: the learner stops and ask questions about what was read or presented. Did I understand that? What can I do with this?
3. Mnemonics: the learner uses a sequence of letters and/or letters to recall information.

For example, if I wanted to remember the sections and number of vertebrae of the spine I would create the following mnemonic (C7, T12, L5, S5 = Cervical 7 vertebrae, Thoracic 12 vertebrae, Lumbar 5 vertebrae and Sacrum 5 vertebrae).

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?

 As a visual, audio and text learner, I process and retain information/knowledge differently based on format. My learning style fluctuates. Making personal application is key to memory retention. My experience plays a key role is in this process. According to Beaumie Kim (2001), social constructivism is based on specific assumptions about reality, knowledge, and learning. The following are foundational structures that uphold the theory.

1. Reality: For the social constructivist, reality cannot be discovered: it does not exist prior to its social invention.
2. Knowledge: create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment they live in.
3. Learning: Meaningful learning occurs when individuals are engaged in social activities.
Also, I believe that culture and customs need to be accounted for in instruction. According to Lev Vygotzy theory, the cultural-historical is relevant to all forms of learning because learning does not occur in isolation (Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M., 2009).

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 a vital in the way that I learn. As a visual journalist for the past 13 years, I used computer-aided research (CAR) to find data, information and diagrams that helped me to create compelling and effective informational graphics.

Here are a few that I have used consistently:

Politics

Roll call votes
Senate: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htm

House: http://clerk.house.gov/legislative/legvotes.html

Biographical Directory: http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp

Visual training

Video tutorials (Video Copilot, Lynda.com, Creative Cow, Stratacafe), online portfolios (carbonmade.com)

Kim, B. (2001). Social Constructivism.. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Social_Constructivism on February 18, 2011.

Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York, NY: Pearson.

Ormrod, J. (2010). Video: Learning Styles and Strategies. (Laureate Education).