Every time a bell rings...
When I started this course, it was primarily out of an interest in technical writing so I hadn't allowed for the fact that the e-learning aspect comprised half the course material. However, as someone who did not come from a teaching background, I welcomed the opportunity to learn more about how e-learning can be applied to current practices in pedagogy - a word I had to Google as I'd never heard it before. While I found the theoretical content of the course a bit overwhelming at times - as I was introduced to so many new terms and theories - my perseverance paid off.
I soon became fascinated by how theorists and researchers working in the area of Instructional Design built upon previously published research to constantly refine and update models of learning. I made a point of reading as many of the prescribed texts and references as possible and my own independent research also helped to clarify some of the heavier academic aspects of the material. Just as well I had bought a jumbo pack of highlighter pens as they were put to very good use.
It's sometimes easy to forget that, what seems like common sense to us nowadays, had to be first proposed by somebody. When somebody asks the question: how does learning occur? - you really do have to stop and think as it's a difficult question to answer without any specialist knowledge in the area. However, that's exactly what the likes of Skinner, Bloom, Gagné et al. did when researching and refining their own theories about learning.
Academics love labels and Instructional Design is rich in terminology. From behaviourism to constructivism to cognitivism to connectivism, the evolution of learning theory has been a fascinating one. Overall, I found the module 'challenging but rewarding' and it's nice to know that somewhere in all those theories about learning I did, in fact, learn.
________________________________________________________________________
"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with
ardour and attended to with diligence." ~ Abigail Adams
I soon became fascinated by how theorists and researchers working in the area of Instructional Design built upon previously published research to constantly refine and update models of learning. I made a point of reading as many of the prescribed texts and references as possible and my own independent research also helped to clarify some of the heavier academic aspects of the material. Just as well I had bought a jumbo pack of highlighter pens as they were put to very good use.
Academics love labels and Instructional Design is rich in terminology. From behaviourism to constructivism to cognitivism to connectivism, the evolution of learning theory has been a fascinating one. Overall, I found the module 'challenging but rewarding' and it's nice to know that somewhere in all those theories about learning I did, in fact, learn.
________________________________________________________________________
"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with
ardour and attended to with diligence." ~ Abigail Adams
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