Learning Theories and Technology

     When I first began reading and analyzing how people learn a few weeks ago, I decided that I learn in many different ways depending on the material being processed. I came to the conclusion that it is important for me as a teacher to know how the brain works to the best of my ability, however, I will never fully know how each of my students learn best for each subject or project. Therefore, I must use many different teaching strategies and not only remember that students learn differently than each other, but each student has a different learning style when learning different things. "To teach effectively, you've got to know how students learn and you have to know, in particular, how they think and what's going on inside their heads" (Ormrod, J. 2011). I agree with Dr. Ormrod, however, this is generally. In order to teach effectively, you've got to know how students learn, in general. You have to know how they think generally. I attempted to understand how people learn by studying the different learning theories. Understanding how people learn is a generalized subject. Everyone learns differently at different times and when learning different subjects. If we want to know how each students learns each subject, we would have to study each student very carefully for a long period of time. As teachers, we don't have the time or resouces to do so. Therefore, we study generally how people learn and try to use different strategies to impact, engage, and assess each student. When I teach a concept using a certain strategy or method, I then assess the students learning. If some students don't seem to get it, I help them individually using a different strategy. Or, if my initial strategy didn't seem to work for most students, I'll revisit the concept using a different method. The dynamics of a class helps me decide which strategy will possibly work best for that group.

     On the website, http://www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/edtech/strategy.html, there is a list of different teaching and learning methods that are very popular and effective: collaborative learning, cooperative learning, discovery based learning, engaged learning, problem based learning, and whole language approach. There are many other strategies as well: whole group discussion and/or debate, small group discussion and/or debate, story telling, interactive media engagement, games, polling, socratic discussion, project based, and so on. I am learning about new strategies and how I can apply them to my teaching, including many new methods using technology. I have learning how big of a role technology plays in my teaching and learning. I use the websites, online articles and journals and blogs to research information, opinions and theories on instructional design and technology.

     Now that I have a better understanding of how students learn in general, I can now make better assumptions on how I can help individual students understand a concept better. I can also use the new teaching and learning tools relating to technology to understand my own learning and apply it in the classroom.

Ormrod, J. (2011) An Introduction to Learning Laureate Education, Inc. 2011

Teaching and Learning Methods and Strategies Retrieved from
http://www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/edtech/strategy.html in June 2011.