Instructional Design and Learning

Over the past seven (7) weeks, I have analyzed and explored major learning theories as part of my Master's program.  Incorporating the approaches into my Instructional Design toolkit is a great way to keep up-to-date and reach the broadest audiences possible with any training I develop.  Given what I have learned over the past weeks, I have also reflected on how I learn and whether I can learn more efficiently.  Let's dive into my thoughts. How I Learn As a learner, I gravitate towards a blend of Adult Learning, Constructivist, and Connectivism learning theories.   Adult Learning.   This self-directed model utilizes a learner's life experiences to make connections to the material and is often employed for immediate application to problems.  As an intrinsically-motivated person, I drive to learn about subjects that interest me and help me further my goals.  Adult Learning theory is a significant cornerstone in the online learning environment, often...

       This week's blog will focus on the concepts of connectivism.  Connecting to resources and other members of the Instructional Designer community is an integral part of growing and improving our methodologies.  As a visual learner, I wanted to use a mind map to show the concepts of connectivisim.   How my Network has Changed the Way I Learn I wear many daily hats - mother, wife, housekeeper, curriculum developer, and student.  Finding a work/life balance can be challenging; each day is unique and often requires putting one hat on over another.  Finding time to attend learning functions in person is impossible at this stage of my life.  As learning never stops, I had to branch out and find alternative methods to keep my skills sharp and gain new knowledge.  Reaching out to my network via social media or other sites has allowed me a breadth of opportunity to connect with my peers and stay on top of recent developments in Ins...