My belief is that everyone learns differently. So the way a person learns best is through their personal learning style. Learning styles have been categorized based on the methods students use to learn. By understanding personal learning styles, students can identify study methods to help achieve learning course content. For example, a student who is good at reading and comprehension will read the course material and retain the information for a test. Another student, however, who is not good at comprehension may need to summarize the material and make flash cards to study the course material for a test. Then there is the student who can attend the lectures and retain the information for a test without reading the book. These students learn differently; by seeing, hearing or reading.
There are various measurement instruments for determining learning styles. Unfortunately, there has not been enough research on all of them to make any one reliable. Creative Learning has a blog, http://yvonnewalus.blogspot.com/, that gives some insight to learning styles. The author is an educator as well, which is why I enjoy reading this blog.
Learning theories in educational technology are important especially due to the newness of the discipline and the need to understand it. Technology is incorporated in the classroom from K-12 to college level. Educators need to learn the proper techniques and methods for each level of learning to meet the learning needs of that age group. The use of technology in the classroom should be a smooth process and not overwhelm the student. The activities should be age appropriate and enhance the learning experience of the student.
Jonathan Woodward's blog, http://techpulsehe.wordpress.com/, talks about educational technology, future trends and theories in practice. He highlights information from several books referencing e-learning and Web 2.0 technologies. Woodward is also pursuing a Ph.D. and I find his blog to be helpful in obtaining resources for staying on top of changes in educational technology.
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteDo you have any examples of age appropriate lessons that include technology? What sort of proper techniques should educators learn? And how do we train veteran teachers of these new techniques?
Sara,
ReplyDeleteConsidering the newness of educational technology, do think it will help with education reform?
Sara,
ReplyDeleteLike you, I believe that people learn in different ways, and that each of us has a predominant learning style.
I also believe that educators can open up the learning opportunities for most learning styles through the use of educational technologies.
Thanks for sharing the blog link, there is some good information there.
Debra