Learning Theory and Educational Technology

What are your beliefs about how people learn best? What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology?

The use of technology has transformed education and learning to a point that far exceeds the conventional classrooms of the past.  Driscoll (2005, p.9), said that learning theory consists of three parts; “the result, the means, and the inputs.”  I agree in part.  The transfer of knowledge can be shown in the results.  The means can be defined in the curriculum and the inputs can be based on the learning objectives.  Driscoll mentions experience in the input, but I think experience plays a bigger role in learning and touches on all aspects of the learning environment.   Experience can gauge the learning process in the non-traditional educational environments.  On-line learning gives students the opportunity to elaborate on their experiences like never before.  The sharing of the learning experience is abundant in our threaded discussions.  Social media is another example of this wealth of learning experiences.

 In the training environment, learning is a repetitious process where students are given opportunities to practice over and over until the learning experience becomes instinctive.  “Practice makes better “as they say in the performance arena.  I think the experience gained from practice improves the learning process as well.

Reference

Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson Education

Site to check out in Educational Technology

http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&blogid=1

http://www.edutopia.org/webinar-discussion-april-2009

http://www.RADTeach.com

http://www.k12blueprint.com/http://www.k12blueprint.com/

https://www.edx.org/