Learning Journal, Assignment 4.2

Throughout the first part of this course I believe that my strongest learning experiences have been the debating and feedback from my peers.  It is one thing to hear what a teacher has to say, but when your peers comment on your work it really strikes a chord.  Positive or negative responses from my peers help me calibrate if I am communicating my message appropriately.  Some people don’t like to hear the truth but I would rather hear it straight from the source.  Debating or receiving feedback from our peers is one of the ways to learn about ourselves. 

One way I can improve my learning is by isolating my external distracters.  Online learning gives me the flexibility to do my assignments at two in the morning or eleven in the afternoon.  Sometimes my work schedule and family life compete with my class participation.  If I could narrow down the external activities maybe I could step up the quality of my assignments.  For example, I just bought a ’53 Dodge DeSoto.  Every time I walk into the garage it calls my name, but I can’t work on it because I know I have to complete my work.  This is just one example of an external distracter that I have to overcome. 

As I have said in my past learning journals, I still think that keeping a personal learning journal has been one of the best discoveries that I have had as a student.  Never before have had I found a more successful learning tool.  Keeping this journal has been a life saver.  I keep all the past activities and resources inside this journal.  It is easy to reference my past websites or postings by other students that I found beneficial.  Another thing included in the journal is short and long term goals.  These goals are personal, professional, and education related.  In one short week I will have accomplished my first short term goal, completing the first part of the AEDU program! 

3.3 On My Soapbox

If you have read Victor Hugo ROJAS B's blog, you will see what stance he has taken on learning styles.  If you haven't read his blog feel free to click and read,

 http://victorhugor.blogspot.com/2009/05/learning-styles-theory-at-controversy.html

Now I agree with some of his views but others I don't. I agree with his views on how learning styles are a bunch of bits and pieces. All the learning styles that I have researched leave something out that another reputable professor or philosopher has included. When reading about learning theories or learning styles it seems that the author is biased about his views and that is what he writes about.

I don't agree that learning styles and learning preferences are different. I believe our learning style would be our learning preference. We usually don't know what our learning styles are. Usually we just know that we like to learn by watching videos, so we watch videos. If that is our learning preference then it is most likely our learning style.

With all this said, would it be beneficial to have an all encompassing learning style? Do you think when an instructor is in front of a classroom observing his students, that he actually becomes the philosopher that labels his students with his own learning style or theories?

Assignment 2.2

Reading through all the different learning styles, I have come to the conclusion that everyone who studies this subject comes to the same conclusions, it depends on the learner.  Majority of the research shows that visual (V), auditory (A), and tactile/kinesthetic (T) are the foundations for learning.  From the other side of the podium, if you use these three characteristics when delivering the material to your students, then you will be successful. 

With all the research showing that VAT is the foundation of delivering and receiving information, is all the other research on learning styles just an over analysis of the basics? 

We could debate all day long about how the environment is a factor in learning or how introvert or extroverts learn differently, but it all boils down to how the material is presented.  I think as the human race we try to over analyze anything and everything.  If someone is different, we try to put them into a category so we can try to understand their actions or thought processes.  So are we just over analyzing others to try and meet our desire to understand them?  It seems that once we find a style that fits our need, then we try and push our views onto others so they will think like us. 

Before I step off my soap box I would also like to know your opinions on one more subject.  Online learning is here and now.  It is an active part of education from kindergarten to graduates degrees.  Not having face to face interaction throws out a lot of the learning style theories because they were based off of observational periods.  Without the face to face interaction and being able to see the student’s mannerisms or personality it is hard to apply a traditional teaching style/learning style.  So I would like to know your opinion on this matter.  Do you think the traditional learning/teaching styles are outdated because of advancements in technology?   

Thanks for hearing out my thoughts and I can’t wait to read your opinions!

Danny