Learner Motivation Reflection

After eight weeks of reading resources, commenting on colleagues postings, submitting papers, creating a blog, and posting to it weekly, creating a mind map of learing theories and a learning theory matrix, I can honestly say that I have learned a substantial amount of information regarding Learning Theories and Learning Styles. When I first started I thought of myself as being able to learn only by way of visualization. I preferred being taught by a live teacher in a classroom setting as this was my first online course. After reading more about the different theories I have come to the conclusion that I am in fact learning many other ways. I found the many theories to be strikingly informative and have now placed my learning styles in more of the theories then I have in the past.

This class has deepened my understanding of my own personal learning process. I now know that I fall within the many learning theories (behaviorism, cognitive, constructivism, social learning theory, connectivism, and adult learning). I have learned how each theory’s learning occurs, what factors influence learning, what the role is of memory for each theory, how the information is transferred, and what types of learning there are for each theory.

There is a common ground for each theory and that is no matter what theory is being utilized as a teaching model, in order to learn effectively and to remember it effectively there has to be a need or want to learn. This is especially true for online learning where there is no real instructor teaching but a computer, technical tools, and a knowledgeable facilitator to guide you on a curriculum that is built on each other week after week.

The adult learner or self-learning style is important to master with this integrating emerging technology of instruction. Most people would say that online course work is definitely not for the individual with many outside distractions, however as I said earlier if there is a want to learn then anyone can do it regardless of the distractions. This I have learned is the motivation of a learner. Motivation is everything in continued learning. If a person is motivated by whatever means, they can succeed in what is being taught. The attention given, the relevance of the instruction, the confidence built, and the satisfaction that they will succeed is enough to motivate a learner no matter what theory is being utilized.

In my opinion the learning theories and styles are there as a basis for instructional designers to utilize. These theories along with motivation techniques, and technical tools will help to build a curriculum that anyone can learn from no matter what style or theory they crutch on more. This class has given me just that, the basis for making me an instructional designer that will be able to incorporate all that has been learned by first understanding each individually as a learner and secondly creating a curriculum that will benefit all learners as a whole.