Defining Distance Learning

             Encyclopedia Britannica defines distance learning as the “form of education in which the main elements include physical separation of teachers and students during instruction and the use of various technologies to facilitate student-teacher and student-student communication” (Berg, 2016). Distance learning provides a flexibility that conventional classrooms cannot. Flexibility seems to be the most common motivation for students and workers at a company.

“The emergence of distance learning and e-learning courses programs has provided the American population easy access to education. The flexibility and functionality of e-learning courses have to lead to the further evolution of the learning landscape in the US. Similarly, E-learning services are utilized across the United States corporate (SMBs and Large enterprises) sector for executing training and other cooperative activities like project work and assignments.” (United States eLearning Market, 2022).

Distance learning has been impactful in my education and work career. In the past, I considered distance learning as an opportunity to complete a course using the learning style I was most comfortable with. I was motivated by the lack of supervision and set schedule to follow. I thought I could redesign the curriculum of an online course to fit my needs. Clearly, I was not accustomed to the commitment, discipline and time management skills required to successfully complete a distance learning course.  

As a freshman at my University, I took advantage of the freedom from physically attending my class. I could complete my coursework from anywhere via the internet. More important to me at the time was the ability to work full-time, while taking online courses. Due to the lack of commitment, discipline, and time management, my grades suffered tremendously the first year if undergrad. By my sophomore year, I made drastic changes. I learned how to schedule time for my online courses, without interruptions. I cut back my work hours to part-time. Lastly, I participated in study groups held on campus.

                Post undergrad, I have worked for companies that are technology-driven. I have worked as an IT Analyst, Project Manager, Media Specialist, and Librarian. Each position required me to be tech savvy.  I created learning and training modules for employees in the corporate sector. Many of the employees were in other cities. They were required to complete the learning and training modules online. Also, I was responsible for conducting online meetings with partners in other countries. I created learning and training modules for teachers, students, and parents in the educational sector.

The recent pandemic has increased the demand for distance learning. Heng writes,

”COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on every aspect of society. It has caused profound disruption to the education system as governments around the world have temporarily closed educational institutions to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Face-to-face classes have been canceled and moved online, bringing about the rise of online learning that has allowed learners to continue their education.” (Heng, 2020)

Distance learning has proven to be impactful in the lives of students and workers across the globe. As an Instructional Designer, I plan to be an asset to the distance learning community by providing successful learning and training experiences.

 

 

References

Berg, G. and Simonson, M. (2016, November 7). distance learning. Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/distance-learning

Heng, Kimkong & Sol, Koemhong. (2020). Online learning during COVID-19: Key challenges and

suggestions to enhance effectiveness.

United States eLearning Market, Size, Share, Forecast 2022-2027, Industry Trends,

Growth, Outlook, Impact of COVID-19, Company Analysis. February 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-states-elearning-market-report-2022-2027-high-adoption-of-artificial-intelligence-ai-and-machine-learning-ml-solutions-by-various-non-academic-and-academic-institutions-driving-growth-301538169.html

Welcome All!

Instructional Designer Comments. Leave your comments below.

Which Learning Theory Best Describes How I Learn?

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

“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

“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.

 Social Learning

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

Reflection: Connectivism

 

My network has enhanced the way I learn. Internet resources like YouTube, Google Scholar, and other software resources have been essential to my learning experiences.

YouTube is a great resource for videos. Many people have bragged about attending the “YouTube university”. YouTube provides videos about any subject matter you could imagine. I have learned how to change a tire on my car, how to code, and how to understand differential equations. Throughout my undergraduate years, I depending tremendously on YouTube to help me understand difficult subjects.

When I have questions about new knowledge, I “Google” it. Google is my go-to resource when I have questions about new information. Google is not the end all be all, but it is a great resource to guide me to the information I seek. Google Scholar provides a more creditable platform for students to research. Although Wikipedia has become a more creditable source  in the past few years, I find it difficult to rely on it entirely. Google Scholar allows me to feel more confident in the source I use in my research assignments.

My personal learning network support the central tenets of connectivism.

Siemens posits the following principles of connectivism:

• Learning and knowledge rest in diversity of opinions.

• Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources.

• Learning may reside in non-human appliances.

• Capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known.

• Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning.

• Ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill.

• Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities

Source: http://textbookequity.org/Textbooks/Orey_Emergin_Perspectives_Learning.pdf

The tenet that stands out the most for me is the last, Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities. It is important as an Instructional Designer to make sure I remain innovative and current to maximize the potential success of learning experiences I design.

Mind Map: How Do I Obtain Knowledge

 My "Knowledge is Power" Mind Map

Do You Know How Memory Works?

        While searching for resource material related to the discussion this week, I discovered an intriguing article by Daniel T. Willingham, Why Do Students Remember Everything That’s on Television and Forget Everything I Say? Students seem to easily remember all the latest dance moves from TikTok or YouTube videos. However, learning how to multiply fractions can prove to be insurmountable. Students can recite the words of their favorite social media influencer, but can not remember a list of spelling words. Willingham’s article gives an insight into memory and how it works for students.

        Memory is the “residue of thought” (Willingham, p.34). According to scholars, the brain manages new data in a certain manner. The two main components of brain processing memory are long-term memory and working memory. Our working memory is considered the “gatekeeper to new learning” (Payne, p.51).  Firth describes our memory as ” desk space of the mind… In short, it is the part of your mind that deals with processing and problem solving”. Harvard University describe memory as “the ongoing process of information retention over time.” Harvard scholars gives great details about how memory works.

The American Psychological Association writes, “Learning and memory are closely related concepts. Learning is the acquisition of skill or knowledge, while memory is the expression of what you’ve acquired.” A major barrier of memory is “forgetting is a natural part of the learning process” (Turner). Educators are consistently trying to circumvent memory loss by students. Instructional designers (IDers) are expected to create learning experiences that successfully train the memory of students. It is vital that IDers learn how the memory system performs. University of Strathclyde posted a blog about understanding memory (Firth, n.d.) to enlighten educators. IDers must understand how memory works to create effective and innovative learning experiences comparable to other attention retainers like TikTok and YouTube. There are many articles that explain various learning theories, see references below.

 

References

American Psychological Association. Learning & memory. Adapted from the    Encyclopedia of Psychology. Retrieved from                  https://www.apa.org/topics/learning-memory

Çeliköz, N., Erisen, Y., & Sahin, M. (2019). Cognitive Learning Theories with Emphasis on Latent Learning, Gestalt and Information Processing Theories. Online Submission, 9(3), 18–33.

Firth, J. Understanding memory, and making it work for your students. Retrieved from 

https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/schoolofeducation/blog/understandingmemoryandmakingitworkforyourstudents/

Harvard University. HOW MEMORY WORKS. The Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. Retrieved from https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/how-memory-works

Nickerson, R. S.  and Adams, M. J.,  “Long-Term Memory for a Common Object,” Cognitive Psychology 11 (1979): 287–307.

Payne, C. (2021). Cognitive Load Theory revisited. English Teaching Professional, 137, 51–54.

Turner, S. What Every Teacher And Student Needs To Know About Memory. American Psychological Association’s Psych Learning Curve: Where Psychology and Education Connect. Retrieved from http://psychlearningcurve.org/

Willingham, D. T. (2021). Why Do Students Remember Everything That’s on Television and Forget Everything I Say? American Educator, 45(2), 34–38.

https://www.aft.org/ae/summer2021/willingham

Favorite Blogs

As I embark on my career as an Instructional Designer, I have found many blogs that inspire me to design creative, innovative, and successful learning experiences.  

Here are three blog sites I have added to my favorites list: 

ACTION@WORK - Cathy Moore

Ms. Moore blog has tips and tricks for instructional designers to create “lively” training. Her blog offer topics, links to other resources, and eBooks.

For instance:

·         Learning Objectives: Our frenemy

From past experiences, I have learned the importance of defining the learning objectives. Ms. Moore provides three questions that will help me define learning objectives in the future. Do people actually need to “learn” something? Are we writing useful objectives for the formal training bits? Who needs to see the objectives? Ms. Moore gives details and points for each question. I plan to use these questions in my future projects as an Instructional Designer.

·         5 ways to become an L&D hero

Ms. Moore states, “I vow to become a hero to my learners and clients. I’ll save them from boring information dumps and wasted money. I’ll help them enjoy their jobs and see real-world improvement. I’ll save the world from boring training!” This is a commitment I plan to keep as an Instructional Designer. I think it is a great motto for a company.

·         Action mapping book now available

Ms. Moore give readers an opportunity to read a large portion of her new book, Map It. Viewers are able to read the book for free on Amazon.

Ms. Moore has many more posts on her blog that I find interesting, inspiring, and motivating. Because of her witty and light-hearted posts, I will refer to this blog as I pursue my career as an Instructional Designer.

The eLearning Coach- Connie Malamed

Connie Malamed posts tricks, tips, podcasts, and links to other experts in the field of instructional design. I was intrigued by the conversations she posts on her blog with guests like Hadiya Nuriddin (Certified Professional in Learning and Performance) and Myra Roldan (senior technical program manager at Amazon Web Services). Both women share great technical, business, and adult learning tips and tricks in their conversation with Ms. Malamed. The give real-world scenarios providing expert resolutions.

Connie’s blog provides resources and tools that encourages instructional designers to be as creative and innovative as possible. Connie writes in her blog labeled Creativity In Instructional Design: A Creative Instructional Design Model, “The digital transformation of the workplace means we need new approaches to learning, training and education. Information changes rapidly. People have rapid access to the information they need. Teamwork and collaboration are high priority skills. This is the perfect time to turn on the creative juice to meet the needs of the 21at century workforce.”

SH!FT

SH!FT states that their blog site “provides the best practices, tips, and inspiration for corporate training, instructional design, eLearning and mLearning.” SH!FT has blog posts submitted by various authors that are meaningful, and I can use to leverage my value as an instructional designer. One of my favorite posts is labeled, How Do I Get My Company to Take Instructional Design Seriously? In the post, the writer gives 5 valuable reasons why an employer should take instructional design seriously. My goal is to make sure each employer that I meet understands and appreciates the value of an instructional designer.

Another post I find informative and enlightening is titled, 6 Things No One Tells You About Becoming an eLearning Designer. I love reading posts and articles that provide an insight into the working field, beyond the skills needed to become an instructional designer. What happens when I have a creativity block or if I am unable to please a client? This blog is a great resource to answers those questions.