Learning Theories Continues.. the_isms

My post this week continues from a series of discussions between well seasoned bloggers and educators: Bill Kerr and Karl Kapp.

The topic simple put: The battle of the _isms: Constructivism, behaviorism, Cognitivism. Betting this is a never ending conversation of which of learning theory is superior over the other. As it is fair to pick a favorite over one, it is also advised to know that that not one of these theories defines the learning process. Kapp puts it best in his post:

Kapp wrote: “The issue many forget is that “learning” is not one thing…it is a multi-layered word that tends to get treated as if it were just one thing…and it’s not. It is multi-facetted and that is why developing new models for “learning” is so difficult…there are too many levels for one school of thought or one model to do it all”.
To blankly reject one over the other would not be a good way to effectively asses the strengths and weakens of the theories.

To summarize in my perspective:
Behaviorism: Observable, external factors, programmable
Cognitivism: The internal process, what mental activities occur for learning to take place?
Constructivism: Experiences, connections

Taking a step back at the above, it is easy to see that learning can occur in any one of these forms. It is fair to conclude not one of these theories is the ultimate best way to learning.

Original Blog posts:
Bill Kerr: Original blog post can be found:
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html
Karl Kapp: http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational.html

Additional References:
http://www.funderstanding.com/content/constructivism
http://www.learning-theories.com/cognitivism.html

Philosophy of Education: Famous Philosopher's Quotes on Educational Philosophy, Teaching Philosophy Truth Reality

Philosophy of Education: Famous Philosopher's Quotes on Educational Philosophy, Teaching Philosophy Truth Reality: "http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Education.htm"

How Do you Learn?

It is a lingerie question indeed. “How do people learn best?” For the purpose of this blog, I will focus on higher education and technology. I believe 90 percent of learning that occur in this area is by interests, guided instructions either in form a syllabus or course curriculum, and experience either own or shared. The reality however is people can learn in various ways.

A few learning styles I have stumbled across to categorized in general terms are:

1. Listening learners
2. Seeing learners
3. Touch or feel/ experience learners
I am a strong advocate for two and three of the learning styles however; I strongly believe that people learn through a combination of the styles.

Howard Gardner in 1983 introduced his Theory of Multiple Intelligences. The theory is: each person has the same learning ability; the difference is HOW the connection occurs; HOW do they connect to what they want to learn. He broke it down to eight different ways learning can occur

• Words (linguistic intelligence)
• Numbers or logic (logical-mathematical intelligence)
• Pictures (spatial intelligence)
• Music (musical intelligence)
• Self-reflection (intrapersonal intelligence)
• A physical experience (bodily-kinesthetic intelligence)
• A social experience (interpersonal intelligence), and/or
• An experience in the natural world. (Naturalist intelligence)

For more on Gardner please see: http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/multiple_intelligences.htm

In educational technology, learning theories are especially helpful. It is helpful to know learning is not about filling a container up with new “stuff” or imposing ones ideas on another without a good argument for doing so. Hence technology plays a part in that role for education to help mold, guide, aid, and visualize. It can help a learner draw the connection points to ideas, expand thought processes that forces questions to be asked, and can create an engaging conversation that drives a learner out of their usual mode of thinking to see a whole new world.

For additional reading on how people learn best please see: http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/01/crash_course_in.html

To you my readers I ask you the question - How do you learn best? What works for you?