Week 1 Assignment

I have never had a blog account and before now have never seen the need to use one.  However, upon being exposed to this course, ‘Learning Theories and Instruction’ and given the resources for the first week’s assignment; one of its requirements was to set up a blog account and start blogging.  Now I am addicted.  I have set up my RSS feeds and have been receiving blogs on various topics, it is amazing.  A part of our job description as Instructional Designers is to be equipped with the skills to analyze a learning situation and thereby outlining, to be implemented, strategies and instructions to effect positive learning.

Through my blogging I came across an article, ‘Blending information and instruction’ first published July 09, 2001 by Maish Nichani.  I was amazed by the content of this article.  As the title states, it vividly explains the difference between information and instruction and also outlined situations in which a blend of both is necessary to enhance learning.  The author of the article makes reference to the book entitled E-Learning: Strategies for Delivering Knowledge in the Digital Age by Marc Rosenberg.  In this article, the author expressed that Rosenberg outlined in his book the need to recognize that both information and instruction help in learning.  The characteristics of both information and instruction as they relate to learning are also outlined in this article.  To view the entire article click on this link http://www.elearningpost.com/articles/archives/blending_information_and_instruction

In the first week’s resources in the course ‘Learning Theories and Instruction’ I was exposed to the different learning theories and was asked to assign my learning styles to one of the theories. I stated however, that based on what I have read and understood my learning style has overlap in all three major areas of theories identified.  Through my blogging I also came across an article written by Tavio Lints created on Saturday 4^th September 2010 on a book titled, “An Introduction to Theories of learning” 7th edition (2005), by B. R. Hergenhahn and Matthew H. Olson.  At first my attention was captured by the presentation of the cover of the book and upon reading the content I was impressed by the way the author summarized each theory of learning citing several examples especially with regards to the assigned theorists for each theory.

The book started by giving a general overview of the concept of learning and the use of scientific method. Then the early approaches are briefly described, starting from Plato and Aristotle and going through the various philosophers (Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, etc.) up to the early schools of psychology (voluntarism, structuralism, functionalism, early behaviorism). And after that the more detailed overviews of the major theories of learning are presented, which takes up the most of the book.   To view this blog entry click on this link http://blog.taivo.net/post/2010/09/04/Book%3A-An-Introduction-to-Theories-of-Learning

Currently, I am pursuing an online Masters course in Instructional Design and Technology with the aim of specializing in e-learning.  In my reading I came across this article entitled ‘Teaching an online course’ by Dr Ashram. It was first published June 21, 2001.  It may sound outdated but after reading its content I realized that it contain value information that not only put confidence in me but provide me with much needed information on how to tackle the problems faced through online learning and how to adequate foster students learning as a tutor online.  I see this article as relevant to my current and future course in Instructional design and Technology as it is in sync with exactly what this course demands.  This article is in the form of an interview.  Anyone who plans or is involved in online learning should read this article.  Click on the link http://www.elearningpost.com/articles/archives/debriefing_dr_arsham