Fitting the Pieces Together - Reflecting on Learning Theories

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 relying on students' ability to manage their time and complete assignments based on a drive to learn.  

Constructivist.  Closely linked with Adult Learning, this theory is based on creating meaning and connections from experiences based on people, behaviors, and environmental influences.  The relationships between these concepts and learning help trigger memory and recall of information.  I often find myself relating concepts to previously learned material to enable better recall of information, or I will be reminded of a piece of data based on a sound, image, or other like item.  I also teach my students to make these connections through movies, cultural references, etc.

Connectivism.  Learning occurs with this theory by combining technology and social networks to help learners recognize and interpret patterns.  I use this primarily for research and vetting information amongst my various networking platforms and while taking classes.  Being able to sound ideas and theories from multiple people in my network ensures I have the best product when working towards a solution or project.

Personal Learning Preferences

Having a foundational understanding of my learning theories allows me to focus my time and efforts on learning effectively.  All three (3) theories I mentioned above work great in an online learning management system (LMS), like those used in college courses.  Being able to independently complete projects and research helps me stay organized.  I also can use multiple learning methods to ensure I fully grasp concepts.  The three (3) main ways I learn are visual, audial, and kinesthetic.

Visual.  I learn best when I can read/write concepts.  For example, I will take notes during courses or lectures to review and retain information.  I have developed short-hand methods of writing so I can quickly transfer data.  I use an "L" inside a circle to denote the left when referencing directions.  This allows me to write swiftly down directions as I receive them.  Also, having pictures or movies helps me to create visual references in my memory for recall.

Audial.  I also learn through listening and speaking. Visual is stronger for me than this, and I can become distracted if I physically perform a task or view something.  I will often stop listening when that occurs.  While I read/write, I read words aloud to help reinforce what I am seeing.  This also helps me when proofing my work.  

Kinesthetic.  Finally, I learn by doing a task.  Creating muscle memory can help with recall and shorten response times when performing critical tasks.  

Role of Technology in Learning

The last item I will cover today is how technology plays a role in my learning.  I already mentioned it in the above sections, but I will break down three (3) main uses of technology.

Searching for Information.  I've mentioned in previous blogs that my #1 search tool is Google.  If you can figure out the correct search string, Google quickly finds what you need.  For school, I also use campus libraries and search for scholarly/peer-reviewed documents.  The most important part of searching for information is making sure that information is relevant to the times and subject.  I created a blog post to help with just that, and you can view it here.

Collaborating.  Working with and connecting to social networks is a critical part of the three (3) learning theories I identify with.  I utilize many different networks to gather information.  I broke down my top networks in this blog.  

Documenting.  The final technology item I will touch on is documentation.  I use a variety of office products to record my work and coursework:
  • Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook primarily)
  • Google Suite (Drive)
  • SmartSheet (Online Gantt chart and timeline tracker)
  • Blogs (Collaborative learning tool)
Learning about how I learn will help you identify and analyze your learning needs.  I'd love to hear about how you learn; leave a comment below!

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