Fitting the Pieces Together

 

When I started the course Learning Theories and Instruction, our first assignment was to explain how I learn. Unfortunately, most of what I wrote about referred to the controversial learning styles “theory”, which is not an actual theory.   I realized that I could not explain my best way of learning as it relates to a particular learning theory or strategy.  What I did know is that I assimilate information through doing.  I have always been the student who needs to see, hear, and touch; basically, I need to immerse myself in the learning activity.   However, during this course, I discovered that learning is more complicated than experiencing the world through my senses.  There are several learning theories that I can apply to my learning process. They each have attributes that can explain my personal learning preferences.

My Road Trip of Learning Theories

The first learning theory that I encountered on this journey was the Behaviorist Theory. The Behaviorism Theory believes that the external environment and reinforcements of either negative or positive consequences can affect learning.   As a person motivated by rewards and feedback, I can say that the Behaviorist Theory is relevant to how I learn. 

Next is the Cognitive Theory, which took me on the journey to discover the Learning Process.  The learning process explains how what we experience from our environment is processed between the short-term and long-term memories, determining if any new information will be stored in the long-term memory to be retrieved later.   This theory is also the basis for why people use metaphors and associations to explain new ideas. While I would not proclaim to have the best memory, I have experienced the concept of storage and retrieval when learning new things. A classic but simple example is when I notice a new model car for the first time, and soon after I become aware of it, I would see it everywhere.  As soon as I learned about the new car, I became aware of it in my environment.

As I continued my journey, I encountered a theory similar in its emphasis on the need for prior knowledge to learn - the Constructivist Theory. This theory states that learning happens when one builds upon what they already know when they experience new things. Thus, the learner has to be actively involved in the learning process.  When I examine how this theory applies to me, I think about the multiple ways I like to learn. For example, accessing information about a topic by conversation, reading, and completing a project strengthens my understanding of the topic, especially when this seemingly happens by circumstance.  

The last theory that I found that applies to my learning process is Connectivism.  All of the other learning theory concepts that I have mentioned apply when I use the theory of Connectivism.  Connectivism is the use of networking via technology to gain knowledge.  Any and everything that I want to know about, I use the Internet to look it up.  I use web browsers, search engines, my phone, computer, and tablets to look up movies, books, pictures, ideas, new vocabulary, and notions.  I keep in contact with friends, family, and coworkers via social media apps and email.   

The belief that I can find everything that I need on the Internet has been positively reinforced by the fact that I have.  The foundational knowledge that I have is often built upon by my exposure to other cultures and beliefs via the Internet.  Using technology to learn has become a way of life for many of us. Every day I use technology for home, work, and school; it has become necessary for all areas of my life.

Conclusion

When it comes to learning theories, some people may think that I should pick one and stick to it. However, I do not believe that using one learning theory to explain learning considers that people have multiple intelligences that are engaged based on the activities they are experiencing. So, when you look at the different learning theories, which ones do you think apply to how you learn?