What was I Thinking: or How?

My mental understanding of the learning technique that I use has changed a little, but mostly expanded and become more deeply understood. Originally I gravitated to describing learning modalities that I identify with, like visual and tactile. I still believe that these are important qualities to the way that I learn, however at this time I think of them more as compartments of the theories that influence that manner in which I learn. As an adult and one that is interested in education and the process of learning I have recognized the traits of constructivism as familiar to how I see myself learn. I must say that I do not yet understand whether I am a person who is strong in spatial understanding and therefore find learning comfort with the elements of constructivist education or that as a person who learns within a constructivist realm become more spatially aware. At root, that is the major question with learning theories and I have even spent time in my life getting tripped up on the desire to have empirical knowledge of whether there is one theory or if there are the variety to suit us. Obviously, I find truth in many, if not all, the theories presented and therefore it highlights the only thing I can claim similar to Einstein - I would love a unifying theory because that would be so much easier. There are many elements of constructivist learning that works with me. I am much more interested in project based learning where I am able to discover the information needed and then put it together to into a final product or representation of the objective. Additionally I do benefit from sharing and “talking out” what I have learned to be able to form an opinion or understanding. The process of mental rehearsal brings clarity to my learning. So a part of my learning technique is rooted in the social learning theories. It also makes me somewhat of a cognitive learner as my rehearsal process with others is also a rehearsal for my own input process and the way that I need to coded what I am taking in. Metacognition plays a part as well and reflecting on what I am doing in the learning process shapes the conclusions I make.

This labyrinth of learning process or processes leads me into the world of technology. Technology and its components enhance my learning technique and provide added capacity. These elements of my learning require many sources of information and a reduced time frame from initiation of information and its availability, referred to as information’s “half-life” by C. Gonzalez (Davis, Edmunds, & Kelly-Bateman. 2008). I use the internet to find information or to find new directions in information. I utilize many visual sources from the computer that include the internet and those that I create myself. Technology allows me to keep track of the information that I use by saving it and then be able to transport it from home to work. I am able to have the sources to use in creating new projects. The time saving features of technology allow me to do more than I could if I didn’t have access to it.

My learning style or technique is a compilation of theories presented and further enhanced and enabled by technology.

References

Davis, C., Edmunds, E., & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008) Connectivism. In M. Orey (ED.) Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching, and Technology. Retrieved December, 10, 2009 from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/edltt/

The Influence of Connectivist Theory on My Learning

Many of the elements of connectivist theory resonate with me as I meta-cognate on how I learn many things. I don’t think it plays a big role in me learning that too many cookies at one time both make me sick and fat. I believe that behaviorism is at play there. Ultimately it will likely take the engagement and social/cultural participation on the effects of too many cookies to instill learning about changing that behavior. Connectivist theory is supposedly that learning mode which results from the networks I create that are either centered around the information I am ingesting or focusing on to achieve proficiency with. Within and among these networks and connections I alter, adapt, and assimilate my learning to keep up with a fast pace of acquisition within my world in general.

I very much agree that the pace of learning to keep up with new relevancies is swift. Quite honestly I do not keep up with the latest trends in tech tools and learn about their value as fast as I would like. I would generalize that of my surrounding geographic area and age group I tend to be toward the forward end of learning, but throw in the younger generations and I am overrun by their agile ability to absorb and integrate new information. For me, connectivism is the manner that I investigate and integrate new ideas and general information. The mechanism that I relate to as being connectivist learning theory is one I have utilized and has evolved into using technology.

When I am presented with the need to learn something new professionally or personally I tend to begin to explore the topic that relates to it. Before I go out to people I tend to go to recorded information. I love libraries and have enjoyed many hours “digging” for nuggets of information. As the article “Connectivism” by Davis, Edmunds, and Kelly-Bateman explains, Chaos theory is a component of connectivism. I see that when you gather information you tend to not move in a linear direction, but will come upon seemingly “unrelated events” that when put into a collection of events “studied together” can show relevance (Davis, Edmunds, & Kelly-Bateman. 2008). In this way what you come across in your search comes together in a new organized form of understanding. Networks that one applies to the search increase the learning. I have found that the wealth of knowledge the internet makes possible, and yes the there is the useless stuff, has changed the expectation of what an individual should know. An important element of my network when it comes to professional learning is that of my colleagues in education. I need to take what I am learning and say it, hear opinions of it, and combine all of that into the knowledge I need to test for reliability and validity. The same is true with my personal learning on the matter of interests for recreation or hobby. I like to discuss it so that I can put it into a useful form.

I think an area that I use Connectivist Theory the most is when I make an important purchase. The presentation “Connectivism via ’67 Mustang” (Lortz, Robinson, & Wals. 2009) within the web article “Connectivism” (Davis, Edmunds, & Kelly-Bateman. 2008) reminded me of the journey that I take if I decide to acquire an mp3 player, tool, or other purchase that involves many choices and dollars.

My next step that I have already begun is to incorporate more social technology into my world. Years ago I left newsnet in the dust and my many listserve worlds. It seems that it is time to rejoin the human race in a circuit board.