Rationale for Jean’s Learning Theory
Relationships take center stage in my learning theory for Online Learning. Creating and maintaining relationships within any learning community is the foundation for any course whether it is face to face, or in a virtual classroom. The Connectivist ‘s view emphasizes that nurturing and maintaining connections is needed and vital to facilitate continual learning. The social Constructivism’s view that all meaningful learning occurs when individuals are engaged in social activities also reinforces the need for relationships and networking. The number- one predictor for student success at Stanford and Harvard Universities was the creation of Study Groups. We learn better together and it is strong relationships between learners that set the stage for critical thinking and a transformation of ideas.
“We are all Learners” refers to everyone in the learning community cooperating, creating and reviewing learning resources together. A facilitator/teacher cannot be the expert in any subject, especially in our ever-changing world of new content and information. The emerging scene of MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) will change how “teaching professionals” are viewed and how open content will be used.
Learning will be enhanced by the encouragement of networking as opposed to digesting content all alone.
Inquiry- Based Learning promotes the formulation of questions that are personalized to each student. Working under a big idea or concept, learners can choose an interest point that guides their exploration. They are constructing their own understanding and knowledge of the world through exploration and a reflection on their experience (Constructionist Theory). Inquiry encourages group work, multiple interpretations of learning and collaborative learning. It requires a personal responsibility for ones’ own learning that is an invaluable mindset for online learning.
Assessment requires feedback to inform the learner. Feedback can be peer- or teacher/facilitator- generated. Authentic assessment uses formative assessment to inform the learner in process as opposed to summative assessment that evaluates the end product. Along with feedback, reflecting on the learning enables the student to integrate their learning and sets an awareness of where their learning is taking them.
Connectivism attempts to explain how learning will evolve in our digital age. Student engagement will center on social interactions, collaboration and networking. The pursuit of up- to- date knowledge can’t happen in isolation. The future of online learning will have all forms of communication and networking available. Connectivism is called the theory of chaos and when a new generation of information seekers are constantly in search of the latest technology, teachers will no longer have control over content. It will be the journey not the destination that affects the learner.
Gardner’s’ theory of multiple intelligences requires the use of visual, textual and verbal resources be provided to reach all different learning styles. The choices for multi-media content are abundant and should be utilized in an online learning environment. Paper- based courses should be a thing of the past. Having access to open- source online communities of learning like MOOC, are going to drastically change the learning environment online and in established face to face schools and universities.
In our new digital and informational age, I believe that Connectivism will be the primary learning model because it relates to real life and how real life works. Our learning will be not so much on what content we are learning but more about how to find information and determine its value at a given time. We are fluctuating and evolving and how we adjust to the changes will be most successful if as a group, we are connected, engaged in communication and reflective on how all of it integrates into real life.
Relationships take center stage in my learning theory for Online Learning. Creating and maintaining relationships within any learning community is the foundation for any course whether it is face to face, or in a virtual classroom. The Connectivist ‘s view emphasizes that nurturing and maintaining connections is needed and vital to facilitate continual learning. The social Constructivism’s view that all meaningful learning occurs when individuals are engaged in social activities also reinforces the need for relationships and networking. The number- one predictor for student success at Stanford and Harvard Universities was the creation of Study Groups. We learn better together and it is strong relationships between learners that set the stage for critical thinking and a transformation of ideas.
“We are all Learners” refers to everyone in the learning community cooperating, creating and reviewing learning resources together. A facilitator/teacher cannot be the expert in any subject, especially in our ever-changing world of new content and information. The emerging scene of MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) will change how “teaching professionals” are viewed and how open content will be used.
Learning will be enhanced by the encouragement of networking as opposed to digesting content all alone.
Inquiry- Based Learning promotes the formulation of questions that are personalized to each student. Working under a big idea or concept, learners can choose an interest point that guides their exploration. They are constructing their own understanding and knowledge of the world through exploration and a reflection on their experience (Constructionist Theory). Inquiry encourages group work, multiple interpretations of learning and collaborative learning. It requires a personal responsibility for ones’ own learning that is an invaluable mindset for online learning.
Assessment requires feedback to inform the learner. Feedback can be peer- or teacher/facilitator- generated. Authentic assessment uses formative assessment to inform the learner in process as opposed to summative assessment that evaluates the end product. Along with feedback, reflecting on the learning enables the student to integrate their learning and sets an awareness of where their learning is taking them.
Connectivism attempts to explain how learning will evolve in our digital age. Student engagement will center on social interactions, collaboration and networking. The pursuit of up- to- date knowledge can’t happen in isolation. The future of online learning will have all forms of communication and networking available. Connectivism is called the theory of chaos and when a new generation of information seekers are constantly in search of the latest technology, teachers will no longer have control over content. It will be the journey not the destination that affects the learner.
Gardner’s’ theory of multiple intelligences requires the use of visual, textual and verbal resources be provided to reach all different learning styles. The choices for multi-media content are abundant and should be utilized in an online learning environment. Paper- based courses should be a thing of the past. Having access to open- source online communities of learning like MOOC, are going to drastically change the learning environment online and in established face to face schools and universities.
In our new digital and informational age, I believe that Connectivism will be the primary learning model because it relates to real life and how real life works. Our learning will be not so much on what content we are learning but more about how to find information and determine its value at a given time. We are fluctuating and evolving and how we adjust to the changes will be most successful if as a group, we are connected, engaged in communication and reflective on how all of it integrates into real life.