"Connectivism"



These are my network comnections I find most helpful for advanced study.
Enjoy this colorful MindMap!



How the Brain Processes Information

Understanding How the Brain Processes Information

The resources gave pertinent information to help understand how the brain functions and the many different ways learners process information and recall it.  It also gives information for teachers and how to better serve learners so they can get the most out of their learning experience and make it an enjoyable experience.  The two blogs below have given some of the same information and some additional resources to better prepare us as instructional designers.  I hope these blogs will beneficial to all; they certainly have helped me.

anewspring

http://www.anewspring.com/news-blog/2012/4/4/brain-learning-learning-with-the-brain-in-mind.html

This blog has six different brain principals in relation to elearning.  However, the very first principal contradicts to some degree the information that was given in our textbook, Learning Theories and Technology.  The six principals in this blog are: repeating, emotion, sensory rich, focusing, building and creation.  The first principal that somewhat goes against what Dr. Ormrod said regarding repetition and retaining information in long-term memory in the video Information Processing and Problem Solving.  MemoTrainer is a tool used where the learner repeats information and it is stored it their long-term memory.  This blog gives information that is also in line with our readings this week in Learning and the Brain and Cognitive Information Processing Theory.  I think this site will be helpful in making learning exciting and give new ideas on how to teach to the whole person.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2006). Information processing and problem solving [DVD].  Dr. Jeanne Ormrod.

Ormond, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009).  Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York:  Pearson.

Teachers’ Pocketbook Blog

https://teacherspocketbooks.wordpress.com/tag/information-processing-theory/

The above blog gives a wealth of information regarding information processing theory and cognitive development in children.  It also has information on why teachers are frustrated with having to know about educational theories.  A teachers main concern should be to maintain their class and keep their learners engaged and on task.  Information processing, as explained in our textbook, begins when a stimulus input such as visual or auditory impinges on one or more senses such as hearing, touch or sight.  This process is involved in all cognitive activities.  Some of these activities include but are not limited to thinking, problem solving, remembering and forgetting (Farham-Diggory, 1992; Mayer, 1996; Shuell, 1986).  Although all of this information is important if as instructional designers we cannot capture the attention of our learners we have been defeated.  Attention is a requirement for learning.  In order for students to be successful they must learn to focus on the task at hand.  The age, learning disabilities, and intelligence are a few things that influence the ability to control a learner’s attention (Grabe, 1986).  Just as Dr. Ormrod discussed in Information Processing and the Brain, she concludes that what a learner remembers and how they solve problems is connected to what is going on in their brain and how they behave.  This blog gives valuable information to help better understand learning theories that will be beneficial not only to the teacher but the learner as well.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2006). Information processing and the brain [DVD].  Dr. Jeanne Ormrod.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2006). Information processing and problem solving [DVD].  Dr. Jeanne Ormrod.

Ormond, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009).  Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York:  Pearson.

Instructional Design Help Blogs

Well it was very interesting to hear what some Instructional Designers had to say about their experiences in learning and training.  The most interesting thing I read was in the blog from Corporate Elearning BlogSpot (http://elearndev.blogspot.com/) where a discussion is taking place that only 14% of employees’ value corporate training as being essential to their learning.  This leads me to believe that trainers will be better served if they go outside of their establishments to train other employees.  There was a blog entry from “Jane Hart” (Learning in the Social Workplace Blog - http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/) and what she said makes perfect sense to me. From the survey that showed that 14% of employees didn’t value corporate training she concluded that we can’t assume that we know how people like to learn in the workplace or how people should learn.  Learning should address more than just classes that may be deemed mandatory for employment or to sustain or gain a higher position in any organization.  As stated in the blog companies continue to pay for trainings that employees really don’t care to take but must to keep their jobs and there are companies that will provide the service whether it is really necessary or not.

In addition to the conversations regarding employee’s eagerness for trainings the fact that instructional designers need to have a good working relationship with their IT department was addressed.  As instructional designers we will need to rely on our IT department to make sure our software not only works properly for trainings but also that the content looks appealing to the learner.  This incorporates what has been discussed in our previous assignment when we were asked to explain what kind of learners we are.  Another source for delivering information through training to employees is through YouTube.  This is an unconventional way of learning that will be productive when thinking outside the box for training.  Jane Hart also had a blog (http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/2012/04/20/is-it-time-for-a-byol-bring-your-own-learning-strategy-in-your-organization-byol/) that I thought was very interesting called “Is it time for a BYOL (Bring Your Own Learning) strategy in your organization?”  In this blog it talks about how learning in the workplace needs to be more engaging to capture people’s interest.  However she felt that it is too late for this type of action.  It is evident that organizations are using their own strategies to solve their problems and sometimes it takes an outsider to bring ideas from within an organization to light.  I really enjoyed reading her blogs and you will too.

My last blog reading came from our additional resources.  In this particular blog (http://en.wordpress.com/tag/instructional-design/) several different discussions can be found on IDT and online instruction.  Although this was my last view at an IDT blog it gives me direction for my future postings in my own blog.  It gives me a different idea of how my next blogs will be organized and designed.  I thought this was a well designed blog with information that I could see and decide easily what I wanted to further inquire about.

Blogging has been a true learning experience for me but I feel that I can learn a lot from visiting other blogs to help me better understand the learning/teaching process through a different source.  I have really enjoyed this journey to a land that I have never gone to before.  All three blogs will be beneficial in being a productive Instructional Designer.