LT 712: Principles of Learning for Instructional Technology

Completed: Fall 2010

Course Description:
This course will review theories of learning as they relate to on-line and technology supported learning. Principal theories of learning with a foundation in instructional design, such as behavioral learning, cognitive information processing theory, and constructivist learning will focus class activities and discussion. Also studied are the factors affecting human learning, including implications for the design and management of instruction.
Completed Projects:
Patterning and the Search for Meaning: As humans, we are naturally curious and seek to make sense of experiences and things that we encounter in our environments. This curiosity is a survival skill and serves as a natural motivator for learning (Holistic Education: Teaching with Themes or "Thematic Teaching"). As the brain attempts to make meaning out of information, it perceives and creates connections or “patterns”. This is what scientists refer to as “patterning”. The ability to create patterns is crucial for learning and piecing together information. As teachers, we must find the line between helping students create their own patterns and actually giving them the patterns.

21st Century Assessments: Preparing our students for the 21st century is a multi-step process. A modern educator must be prepared to adapt her way of thinking about teaching, her perception of the students and how they learn, her curricula, and her assessments in order to successfully integrate 21st century learning principles into her classroom. Subject –level mastery is no longer adequate for today’s workforce. Students must be skilled problem-solvers, critical thinkers, communicators, and creators in order to meet the needs of both present-day and future jobs. We are at a crossroads as educators. The nation’s educational system has one foot in the past and one foot in future. Do we continue to do things as we always have because that is the way we have always done it? Or do we continue to push for a more future-friendly version of education? In order to prepare students for their futures and for the future of our nation as a global partner, educators should reassess the way they assess! Educators have a responsibility to see that their students are well prepared for life after they have graduated. This means embedding 21st century skills into the curriculum, using multiple and frequent assessments, providing prompt feedback, and embracing educational change. We are in the midst of a revolution and must not be left behind!

Patterning and the Search for Meaning
21st Century Assessments