Blog 5

BLOG 5, WEEK 9
Julie

What is the role of learning theories and instructional designing principles?
Learning theories provide a method of presenting material that is to be learned by the learner. A variety of learning theories are available to address the variety of learning styles individuals possess. Each learning theory possesses a different viewpoint or method of presenting information. According to Ally in our reading assignment, “one can use a combination of theories to develop online learning materials”. Instructional design principles are the vehicle by which the instructor utilizes learning theories to develop the online learning environment and promote learning. Individuals possess varying learning abilities. Designers should utilize a variety of methods to address the various learning styles. Each style of learning has a different focus. According to Ally “Behaviorists strategies can be used to teach facts (what)”, cognitive strategies to teach the principles and processes (how) and constructivist strategies to teach the real-life and personal applications and contextual learning” (Ally, Chapter 1).
What is the role of technology in online learning? Technology is the tool or vehicle that delivers the learning process between instructor and learner. Access to content or learning environment is done via the web access between teacher-learner, learner-teacher, and learner-learner.
What are the interrelationships of learning theories, instructional design and technology? The content or material being taught provides the relationship between theories, design and technology. There is the style of learning, the method of teaching and the medium of teaching. Learners access the content via the technology that the teacher has designed and then processes the information and applies the information learned in the environment.
Discuss the role of interaction in online learning from the perspective of learning communities and constructivist paradigm. Use Bransford et al.’s (1999) framework How People Learn (Chapter 2) to support your argument. Also refer to and cite the texts Virtual Learning Community and Managing Learning in Virtual Settings as well as any other relevant literature when discussing this question.

Bransford et al (1999) discuss that learning environments are framed within the overlapping of 4 lenses of learning. The first is: effective learning is learner centered, 2. knowledge centered, 3 assessment centered and 4. community centered. Bransford et al define learner-centered learning as the cognitive structures and the understanding that learners bring to the learning context. It is the role of the teacher to understand what learners bring to the course. Members of an online learning community generally are supportive of each other. There is interaction between the teacher and learner, learner and teacher, learner and learner which provides for the social interaction in the learning community. Interaction serves a variety of functions in the education environment and is fundamental to the creation of learning communities. John Dewey referred to interaction as the defining component of the educational process. Interaction is possible on the web and provides for an essential aspect of learning. Interaction also occurs between student and content and teacher and content.