Now
that I have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and
learning styles, my views of how I learn has not changed. I feel as though aspects
of several learning theories apply to me. Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism,
Social Learning, and Connectivism all have aspects that explain how I learn. However,
I found that the Adult Learning Theory describes my learning methodology best. Adult
learners are self-motivated. As adults mature, they become more independent in
their studies. Adults can draw from a reservoir of experiences to aid them in
learning. Adult learners are disciplined and prepared to learn (Smith, 2002). “Adult
learning is simply a situation where adults are pursuing education. This can be
done in a formal setting in higher education, trade school, or apprenticeship.
This can also be done for adults who simply want to learn a skill and pursue
education in order to learn that skill” (WGU, 2020).
Other
Learning Theories:
Behaviorism
“Behaviorism
assumes a learner is essentially passive, and will be shaped through positive
or negative reinforcement. Learning is therefore defined as a change in
behavior. Skinner (1974) believed that behavior is a function of its
consequences, i.e. learners will repeat the desired behavior if positive
reinforcement is given... Giving immediate feedback, whether positive or
negative, should enable your learners to behave in a certain way” (Gravell, 2014).
As an
adult learner I am actively pursuing my education. I only expect positive
reinforcements in the form of good grades and my degree.
“Cognitivism
focuses on what happens in the mind such as thinking and problem-solving. New
knowledge is built upon prior knowledge and learners need active participation
in order to learn…Cognitivism uses the metaphor of the mind as a computer:
information comes in, is processed, and learning takes place” (Gravell, 2014).
As
an adult learner, I rely heavily on prior knowledge.
“Constructivism
is about learning being an active, contextualized process of constructing
knowledge rather than acquiring it. The learner brings past experiences and
cultural factors to a current situation and each person has a different
interpretation and construction of the knowledge process” (Gravell, 2014).
Many
instances as an adult learner required me to bring past experiences and
cultural factors to a current learning experience.
Badura’s
social learning theory states that learners are motivated to learn from their
surroundings. They learn from their peers, teachers, family, co-workers, social
media, and celebrities. “Bandura's theory moves beyond behavioral theories,
which suggest that all behaviors are learned through conditioning, and
cognitive theories, which take into account psychological influences such as
attention and memory” (Cherry, 2021).
As
an adult learner, I find myself learning from teachers and other adults. Lately,
I find myself learning from the younger generation the benefits of social media.
Connectivism
“Connectivism
is driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering
foundations. New information is continually being acquired. The ability to draw
distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. The
ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on
decisions made yesterday is also critical” (Siemens, 2005).
As
an adult learner, I can connect various learning experiences together to formulate
a new foundation or concept.
Technology is vital to my learning. Online courses and other digital applications have provided reliable resources and educational tools. I can not imagine my life without technology. Due to the flexibility technology provides, adult learning is facilitated by utilizing the latest technology platforms. “Technology assisted education is often accomplished through problem-based learning models that differ from lecture-based classes and usually involve self-directed learning and collaboration” (Wang, 2021, p. 719).
References
Gravells,
A. and Simpson, S. (2014). Chapter 3- Delivering Education and Training. The
Certificate in Education and Training.
Siemens,
G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International
Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 2(1). Retrieved from
http://www.itdl.org/
Smith, M.
K. (2002) ‘Malcolm Knowles, informal adult education, self-direction and
andragogy’, the encyclopedia of informal education, www.infed.org/thinkers/et-knowl.htm
Wang, V.,
& Stelson, U. M. (2021). Adult Education with Technology for Transformative
Learning. In I. Management Association (Ed.), Research Anthology on Adult
Education and the Development of Lifelong Learners (pp. 718-734). IGI Global.
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-8598-6.ch036
Western
Governors University [WGU]. (2020). What is the behavioral learning theory?
https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-behavioral-learning-theory2005.html
