EDLD+5368+Instructional+Design

Instructional Design EDLD 5368 ET 8000

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In the class, Instructional Design EDLD 5368, we learned about different design theories. We learned about the different theories and their teaching focuses. I believe my learning theory is mostly Constructivism. In the readings, it stated that constructivist theorists believe that "Learners build personal interpretation of the world based on experiences and interactions”. I work with low-income students who do not have a lot of the background knowledge and experiences that upper class students do. I feel that students learn by experiencing and conversing with one another. They learn much of what they know from doing and seeing and having collaborative time to think and talk out concepts that they are learning. I feel that we often utilize the different theories for those students who may have other needs but for the most part, students learn best by experiencing and having interactions with others. I was not surprised when my learning style inventory proved that I prefer analysis to rote learning and that I focus on familiar applications. During my coursework for my undergraduate degree, they stressed that students learn best with collaborative environments. I was not surprised that this was the most effective learning environment. Our classrooms should be learner centered, knowledge centered, assessment centered and community centered" from what we read this week. After filling out the student inventory, I was a bit surprised at the results. It showed that my students learn best by auditory learning. I was a bit confused because we have been taught that students should not be in a "drill and kill" environment. Lectures do not make for effective learning environments. Now that I have looked at other students results, I have found that my results were about the same as most. I am guessing from this that students have been accustomed to learning in this manner from classrooms, parents and mostly television in this way for their entire lives. Now, close at a tie in 2nd place only by 4 points did tactile and visual come into play. So really, none of the choices just really stood out as a definite 100% sure way of learning. This refers back to the different learning styles for each student. All in all, I feel that my students learn in all three styles. Many are auditory, however some are visual and tactile. I am hopefully teaching with constructivist theory so that they are are getting what they need in order to learn as much and effectively as possible. We also learned how learning environments should look and what should be the priorities in our classrooms as we set up our learning environment. We learned that classes should be learner, knowledge, community and assessment centered. We learned about Backward Design and how we should think about our objective and goal before we set our activities and lessons. We learned new ideas about what understanding really is and the difference of knowing and understanding concepts. We tinkered and created a classroom environment with our professors and students in our classroom using Schoology. We also wrote simple activities for our students to “test drive” using Schoology as well. I have found through the coursework in EDLD that there are many benefits to online learning. Many teachers and students will benefit from the use of technology. Teaching online and learning online let the user work at their own pace (within reason) and in their own time. They can work on papers and assignments in their pajamas if they like and in the middle in the night if needed. Students do not lose any interaction with online learning like some may think. Technology today has allowed us to set up video chats, group assignments where groups can get together and meet on Wikis, and students can visit with their professors via online chats as well. However, in order for online teaching and learning to be successful, I feel that staff development is imperative for teachers that are preparing for teaching online. Professional development opportunities would have to be planned before the beginning of the courses. They should have a practice classroom that all teachers have to set up and actually get ready for real students to try out. Teachers should be well prepared for online learning. They should have basic computer skills and have lots of patience! I feel that teachers should have professional development that is meaningful and they should have to show their understanding through their "performance".So many new technologies allow for such online learning success. I will integrate my knowledge of designing and implementation of online learning by teaching my students with it. I will be helping other teachers learn about online learning and how to utilize it for many professional and personal benefits. Online learning gives teachers and students freedoms we never thought we would know. We should not be afraid to jump in with our digital learners and roll with the fabulous new technologies. The online class that I created will be tested by some of my students during my computer time. I am interested in how my students will react to online, self-paced learning. Some of the Standards that we learned about in EDLD 5368 are Standard II (plan, design and model effective learning environments and multiple experiences supported by technology), Standard III (apply and implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for utilizing technology to maximize student learning), Standard V (apply technology for enhance and improve personal productivity and professional practice), and Standard VII (contribute the shared vision for campus integration of technology and foster environment and culture conducive to the realization of the vision). We learned a great deal in alignment with the standards.

Bransford,J., Brown, A., & Cocking, R. (ED). (2000). How people learn. Pp 129-154 (Chapter 6) Washington DC: National Acadamy Press. Retrieved April 15, 2010, at http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9853&page=129

Dabbagh. N. (2006). The instructional design knowledge base. Retrieved on March 18, 2010, from http://classweb.gmu.edu/ndabbagh/Resources/IDKB/models_theories.htm

Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). Technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.