Learning Theories and Instructional Design

Learning Theories and Instructional Design • By Christy Case • Walden University • EDUC 6115 • Prof. Dr. Shirley Weaver • April 16, 2011 Go to Learning Matrix

Learning Theories MatrixClick on the Theory to See More Detail References

Behaviorism - How Does Learning Occur? • Learners relate to physical/visible stimuli and responses (Ormrod, 2011) • Learned habits (Standridge, 2001)

Behaviorism - What Factors Influence Learning? • Sequencing • Feedback/Reinforcement (Standridge, 2001)

Behaviorism - What is the Role of Memory? • Mind remembers responses to stimuli which encourages or discourages behaviors until the habit is formed

Behaviorism - How Does Transfer Occur? • Through stimulus and response

Behaviorism - What Types of Learning are Best Explained? • Knowledge and application - forming habits allows for easy recall (remembering/knowledge) and for ease of application

Behaviorism - How is Technology Used for Learning in My Industry? • In design, focusing on objectives to start the design process is key to a strong program • Objectives are presented throughout materials but are reinforced through instructors through a virtual learning platform of live online meetings • Examples of live platforms that could be used are Adobe Connect Pro, Centra, Windows Live Meeting, Web Ex, Elluminate, Go To Training/Meeting Go to Learning Matrix

Cognitivism - How Does Learning Occur? • Connecting to what is already known • Mental organization • Transforming and rehearsing • Internal mental processes; the mental process between stimuli and response (Ormrod, 2009)

Cognitivism - What Factors Influence Learning? • Attention • Perception • Mental Processes

Cognitivism - What is the Role of Memory? • Many theories of how memory works within cognitivism exist: two-store, levels of processing, activation level, to name a few • All theories associated with cognitivism agree that rehearsal is the key to remembering starting with encoding, storage, and then retrieval

Cognitivism - How Does Transfer Occur? • Through repetition, knowledge transfers to long-term memory and the learner is able to recall those memories

Cognitivism - What Types of Learning are Best Explained? • Knowledge (remembering information) is very well explained by cognitivism - repetition increases learners ability to recall (remember)

Cognitivism - How is Technology Used for Learning in My Industry? • Various programs assist with development of learning games that help connect prior knowledge to current application • Examples: Quia (online learning game program), Hot Potato (creates flash games that can be loaded to various virtual learning platforms), Articulate (create flash presentations with learning games embedded) Go to Learning Matrix

Constructivism- How Does Learning Occur? • Learning is self-led • Learners construct theories of knowledge and know truths only by what they construct through their self-led instruction guided by their theories (Ormrod, 2009)

Constructivism - What Factors Influence Learning? • Exogenous - world influences - exposure to various experiences • Endogenous - previously acquired knowledge • Dialectical - interactions with environment

Constructivism - What is the Role of Memory? • Learners tend to remember more if they construct the knowledge themselves • Memory is produced by mixing prior knowledge with current context

Constructivism - How Does Transfer Occur? • The learner strives to acquire knowledge and through asking questions of their own knowledge, increases knowledge • Assisted with group and individual projects that are not necessarily instructor led

Constructivism - What Types of Learning are Best Explained? • Application, Analysis, and Synthesis can be explained by constructivism • Topics that are vague and social in nature are explained well with constructivist theories

Constructivism - How is Technology Used for Learning in My Industry? • Screensharing capabilities (allow learners to control screen to apply instruction) • Small groups (available in various virtual learning platforms) • Self-study via online courses (various LMS systems available for this - Facebook can be used as an LMS as well) Go to Learning Matrix

Social Learning - How Does Learning Occur? • Through interactions with other people, cultures, and individual experience per Vygotsky (Ormrod, 2009)

Social Learning - What Factors Influence Learning? • Language • Cultural institutions • Cultural objects

Social Learning - What is the Role of Memory? • Memories are more easily recalled if connected to a social interaction

Social Learning - How Does Transfer Occur? • Social interactions with tools, objects, people, adult/child, etc.

Social Learning - What Types of Learning are Best Explained? • Like Constructivism: Application, Analysis, and Synthesis • Topics that are vague and social in nature are explained well with constructivist theories

Social Learning - How is Technology Used for Learning in My Industry? • Social Networking (Ning, Facebook, Twitter) • Blogging • LMS forums • Company forums Go to Learning Matrix

Connectivism - How Does Learning Occur? • Via networking - receiving and sharing alike • Technology and visualization

Connectivism - What Factors Influence Learning? • Social networks and diversity of opinions without those networks • Technologies • Overall learning environment (Siemens, 2011)

Connectivism - What is the Role of Memory? • Memory is defined by connection of nodes - networking • Patterning • Memory may be non-human - stored in an appliance (Davis, 2008)

Connectivism - How Does Transfer Occur? • Connections to nodes within the learners network (Davis, 2008)

Connectivism - What Types of Learning are Best Explained? • Analysis and synthesis • More complex topics • Topics that are rapidly changing like the technology that defines the theory (Davis, 2008)

Connectivism - How is Technology Used for Learning in My Industry? • Social Networking (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) • LMS Forums • Company website Go to Learning Matrix

Adult Learning - How Does Learning Occur? • Self-directed • Through participation starting with determining topics through final results • (Lieb, 1991)

Adult Learning - What Factors Influence Learning? • Educational goals • Work goals • Life impact

Adult Learning - What is the Role of Memory? • Memories are developed using a variety of skills based on learners choices

Adult Learning - How Does Transfer Occur? • Via respect from instructors and designers regarding learners desire to learn

Adult Learning - What Types of Learning are Best Explained? • All types of learning can be associated with adult learning.

Adult Learning - How is Technology Used for Learning in My Industry? • Online LMS • Social Learning (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, forums) • Audiobooks • Videos • Print (offered online also as PDF) Go to Learning Matrix

References • Davis, C., Edmunds, E., & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved on April 16, 2011 from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism • Kerr, Bill. (2001). _isms a filter, not a blinker. Bill Kerr Blog. Retrieved on April 16, 2011 from http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html • Lieb, Stephen. (1991). Principles of Adult Learning. VISION. Retrieved on April 16, 2011 from http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/adults-2.htm. • Ormrod, Jeanne. (2011). Behaviorism and Instructional Design. Video for Walden University. • Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York: Pearson. • Siemens, George. (2011). Connectivism. Video for Walden University. • Standridge, M. (2001). Behaviorism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved on April 16, 2011 from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism

Learning Theories and Instructional Design