Reflection

Reflection Paper
The emergence of online education has come to challenge the traditional face-to-face classroom instruction and learning. The understanding of online classroom environments must take into account the characteristics of the environment as well as relevant theories and implementation of classroom design. Technology has become significantly valuable in education for teachers and students alike. The use of technology in the classroom over the years has served to be very useful in the development of learning communities and discussion boards. Online learning has provided an avenue for effective engaging opportunities and collaborative learning strategies and techniques.
One of the key attributes of computer-mediated environments is the explicit interaction between the learner and the course content, the learner and other course participants (including the teacher) and the learner and the computer interface (Moore, 1989; Wagner, 1994; Sims, 1997a, 1997b; 1999). Importance lies with the interaction between course designer and learner in conjunction with course content and computer-mediated environments. This course has provided many aspects in which to reflect upon in regards to learning theories, learning styles, educational technology, and career development in instructional design and technology.
This course has allowed me to have a better understanding of how people learn. People acquire new knowledge, understanding, and skills that they use within their daily lives. The importance of the learning process involves people’s intelligence, memory, and perception. We store new information and knowledge into our memories and use this information to adapt in our varied environments. The learning is a process of acquiring new knowledge, understanding and skills which can be used in our daily lives. Important aspects of learning involve our intellect, perception and memory. New knowledge may be stored in our memories and be used in experiences that involve us to adapt in our social and cultural environments. Observed behavior has contributed greatly to people’s learning process.
This course allowed me to reflect on my own personal learning process or style. I found that have a better understanding of how I learn best and can pass that information on to my instructors so that they can have a better understanding of what instructional design method would best suit my learning style. This will provide a safer assurance that effective learning will take place.
Learning Theories and Technology has taught me that there is a significant connection between learning theories, learning styles, educational technology, and motivation. All of these concepts of education are in some sense dependent on each other. In an effort to effectively design educational instruction, one must have knowledge of learning theories and student’s learning styles. Instructional designers must understand how to incorporate motivation in their design development. An understanding of all concepts and their connections to one another is important.
From this course, I will be able to decipher learning strategies for proper instructional design for my online classroom. Because I have an understanding of learning styles and theories, I feel confident that I will make sound decisions with my instructional design.


~Loretta Miller

From the beginning of this course up until now, I have found that I have a better understanding of learning theories and learning styles. Although I feel that I have I have gained knowledge of this subject matter, my view of how I learn hasn't really changed. Prior to this course, I hadn't really pondered on the idea of how I learned. How people learn doesn't seem like it would be on most people's mind. I believe that people in general know that they are always learning but don't always understand or think about how it is that they learn what they learn.
I believe that my most productive learning comes from unconventional methods and I feel that the behaviorism theory best describes the way in which I learn. The behaviorism theory is associated with the changes in either the form or frequency of observable performance. I can say that I learn most effectively when proper environmental stimulus and response is present. I feel that I tend to recur appropriate responses when proper reinforcement is used. I believe that the behavioral theory best describes me when we speak in terms of memory, in that, due to non-use of a response or retained information, over time, I tend to forget it. I also learn best when I am provided with illustrations of concepts or recalling facts. For the most part, I learn best with repetition and prior illustrations or examples.
I am a firm believer that it is important to understand your own learning process so that you can use your own strategies to help you learn material, as well as, being able to share that information with a teacher or educator. When you are able provide an educator with such information, it allows for effective development of instruction. It is also important to understand your learning style, since one person is not limited to only one, so that you will able to pinpoint the areas that serve to be most difficult for you and enable you to get any required help that you may need.
From this learning experience, I feel that I have been educated on several technology tools that i can use according to the purpose in which I intend. I have a greater appreciation for technology and what it has to offer in terms of learning. I use the web most times to obtain new information but found that there are various tools that would provide additional new information.
This course has been a great learning experience for me and opened my eyes to other valuable options that can used to promote effective learning.
-Loretta Miller