All learning theories were developed in different educational contexts. Each offers a better option or explanation to the above by expressing the social, cultural and knowledge changes. All evolved at the time. As Kerr expressed in his blog, we need a new theory to bring the change necessary in our education system. Indeed, the increase in the amount of knowledge, easy access and distribution through the Internet as well as different forms of expression (Web 2.0, 3.0), I understand the need to rethink new theory or approach that substantiates the learning process. However, while this happens it is better to take the est of all and that which can fulfill the educational objectives. That's why I agree with Kapp Notes.
I agree with Kapp, learning is not a solo activity, is multicontextual. Occurs in context with particular stimuli and particular responses. Requires heredity and environment acting together . Each theory, behavioral, cognitive and constructivist response to a context and an educational need. So, explore the best of each in terms of content and learning is the best option.
Over time there has been debate about how people learn and what strategy, based on some theory of learning is better in the teaching process. I believe that people learn in different ways. I understand that most of the teaching strategies will depend on what type of learning you want and to what purpose focuses the process. As a teacher I believe that the range of possibilities becomes opportunity to achieve my educational goal rather than competing alternatives. Initially, education focused on the acquisition of skills in reading, writing and arithmetic. In general, it is not preparing students to think and read critically and to solve complex problems. Additionally, knowledge was limited and of poor access. In the world of work, the context did not require more skills. Today, the demands of job skills have increased, information, knowledge and access to it are growing at a much faster each day, requiring the educational process consider learning more of cognitive skills and competencies related to knowledge. According to Herbert Simon, the meaning of "knowing" has gone from being able to remember and repeat information to be able to find it and use it (Simon, 1966). However, learning is influenced by the context in which they occur and should take into consideration the backgrounds of students who must have extensive knowledge of facts (behavioral), understanding of these facts and ideas within its contextual framework (cognitive) and the option of organizing that knowledge to be able to access it and apply it in other situations (constructivism). New research on brain-based learning, connectivism including only extend the framework of possibilities for the teacher. Educational technology open the doors to new forms of learning in a technologically connected world with different forms of student learning. Asked how people learn best is to limit these options. The selection of the theory and teaching strategy will depend on the purpose, context and goal. However, to achieve a lifelong learner, it is imperative that students learn a wide repertoire of ways to learn. In my view, trying to teach thinking skills without a solid knowledge base of data do not stimulate the skills to solve problems or support the use of new knowledge to new situations. Education then should focus on the learner and the use and knowledge of multiple forms of learning and teaching. The problem is not what is best way to learn but how to reconcile the theoretical knowledge about learning for the benefit of it. The next book I find a good resource to have more light on the subject.
References:
Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf
In my experience in Distance Education I feel now I am moving in the middle of the continuum. When I started study I never worked or heard about wikis, skype digital words, I just wrote in my computer. I started to discover these tools and was amazing. I am in the middle because I don't have the expertize using them and I need more practice. Now, I am excited about and I really want to move toward the dynamics end. To achieve this I have to work hard in a trial and error process using these technologies fearless. The practice give me the experience need it to move to the dynamic end.
Swafford (2006) express that students’ levels of performance are higher and superior when online courses engage them in interactive actions. This engagement can be achieved too in blended and face to face courses integrating news technologies that allow work with the interactive components; content, collaboration, and communication. There are various ways to engage students in content, communication, and to collaborate in the online environment. The vast majority of students has computers at home and use much of their time to connect to social networks like facebook, twitter and other electronic games and sharing network. I think that the social networks are tools to work with collaborative projects as problem discussions, using photos to work with vocabulary or written skills. The wiki as the social network will be an easy tool to work with.As the student like to play digital games on line, it will be fun as educational, working with a history using virtual words. In these tools the student work communication, collaboration and can create content to express new constructed knowledge. They can use wikis or blogs to reflex about the process. They can create web quest to share their virtual words with others learning communities. I think that the possibilities are without borders.
References:
Durrington, V. A., Berryhill, A., & Swafford, J. (2006). Strategies for enhancing student interactivity in an online environment. College Teaching, 54(1), 190−193.
Dr. Siemens ask in his presentation about, how change an assessment model based on individual learning to a model of collaborative learning? I think that this question is asking in the face to face context too. The problem is in the evaluation and assessment process per se and that they have not relationship with the teaching process. That what Siemens expressed that assessment is not different from teaching. Therefore, the teaching process has to be collaborative and designed to use collaborative assessment.
As a face to face context, online class presents the same problem with students, different skills and learning styles. Lisa (2009) in her block addresses problem like, students not attending class, not reading the syllabus, not understanding when they ask a question and it is answered, not asking questions when they need to, missing tests, having low reading ability, being inexperienced at processing basic information, and not being aware of cues given to help them and that these problem not been magically solved online. The teachers have to be aware and work with Siemens call “Participate Pedagogy”.
Siemens suggested four ways to assess in learning communities; peers assessing peers, online communities as list serve, student contributions using wiki, learning management systems to metrics the post and general participation (Siemens, 2009).
Instructors need to keep the following things in mind about assessments: fair and direct, based on stated outcomes and equitable (Siemens, 2009). In one blog that I found suggests that to improve validity, In particular the process should not rely on a single assessment exercise and use a variety of different approaches. This way helps to overcome the different levels of skill and knowledge and be fair and equitable in the assessment process because providing an array of assessments the instructor is able to reach various types of learners with different learning styles and motivate them to participate in the collaborative process.
To develop a fair and equitable assessment, Palloff and Pratt (2007) suggest that students assess their own performance and receive feedback from each other throughout the course. They further state that having this type of feedback "is the only way students can learn to self-assess continually and then self-adjust their intellectual performance..." (Palloff, & Pratt, 2007)
To be effective in the collaborative process, all members of the group need to establish rules, roles, and consequences. If a student does not want to participate, the other group members will need approach him and to understand and help with the process. If the problem persists, the members of the collaborative group will need to talk the instructor and who will ultimately determine the consequences and the actions to following.
Lane, M.L (2009). Ramblings on assessments that work and assumptions that don’t. Retrieve from Lisa’s (Online) Teaching Blog http://lisahistory.net/wordpress/?p=392
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2007). Building online learning communities: Effective strategies for the virtual classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Siemens, G. (2008). Assessment of collaborative learning. [Vodcast]. Laureate Education Inc. Baltimore: Author.
In the Siemens vodcast we could understand how the increase in online communication, new tools develop and the growing comfort using this tools and in this way of communication are growing the acceptance of Distance Education. I agree with this position and I believe that are factors that are interrelated. We could see then in the collaborative interaction form. Siemens expressed that as the new technologies develop and because of the global diversity approach, the concept of interaction has change significantly. In Edutopia blog, Will Richardsonexpress that collaborative in this age comes with challenges that often cause concern and fear. The collaborative process is a new way of thinking about teaching and learning. This element has evolved thanks to develop of new tools like web 2.0. The using of facebook, wikis, blogs, google documents have open a possibility word that change the way student think and learn. They connect people to interact in a different, not just because of the tools but because of the feeling and mentality way. But the concern is how to use it in the way to be in line with this new world. Chris Jonesin his Talent Culture blog redefines the collaboration concept to be in line with. He define the concept as an “interactive dynamic of engaged people, who, when electing to work together, adopt shared behaviors and goals through conversation … with an objective of driving new, emergent, innovative insights and outcomes”. The collaboration is not an option is an election that the student accept to create his knowledge when share with others. When student decides to work with other, he starts to understand his thinking and change it or develop it in the process that knows others thinking. When decision is taken, tools like wiki and blog give the opportunities to work with others without frontiers.
References
George Siemens "The future of Distance Education"
Jones, C.. Collaboration is everywhere. Maybe we should define it? Retrieve from http://www.talentculture.com/culture/collaboration-is-everywhere-maybe-we-should-define-it/
Richardson, W. World without walls: Learning well with others. Retrieve from http://www.edutopia.org/collaboration-age-technology-will-richardson
