Blog Post 1
There are three learning theories we will discuss today about online learning. First, theory is defined as a set of statements, principles, or ideas that relate to a particular subject. Learning theory is meant to explain and help us understand how people learn, however the literature is complex and extensive enough to fill entire section of a library as stated. Three of the more popular learning theories are behaviorism, cognitivism, and social constructivism. The definition of this may also vary depending on upon certain things. The first theory is behaviorism, this focuses on how people behave. Action produces reaction. In education, behaviorism examines how students behave while learning. It also focuses on observing how students respond to certain stimuli that, when repeated, can be evaluated, quantified, and eventually controlled for everyone. This type of development is associated with Ivan Pavlov, famous for his experiments with dogs, food, and audible stimuli.
The second theory is cognitivism, it has been considered a reaction to the “ridged” emphasis by behaviorists on predictive stimulus and response. Cognitive theorists promoted the concept that the mind that the mind has an important role in learning and sought to focus on what happens in between the occurrence of environmental and stimulus and student response. The future of cognitivism is particularly interesting as more advances online software evolves into adaptive and personalized learning applications that seek to integrate artificial intelligence and learning analytics into instruction. Often, behaviorists would study learning activities to deconstruct and define the elements of learning. This all then led to the development of taxonomies of learning because it emphasized the study and evaluation of multiple steps in the learning process.
The third theory is social constructivism, to describe and explain teaching and learning as complex interactive social phenomena between teachers and students. Parallel to behaviorism and cognitivism was the work of several education theorists including Lev Vygotsky, John Dewey, and Jean Piaget. Vygotsky had stated that learning is problem solving and that the social construction of solutions to problems is the basis of the learning process. John Dewey saw learning as a series of practical social experiences in which learners learn by doing, collaborating, and reflecting with others. The use of reflective practice by both learner and teacher is pedagogical cornerstone for interactive discussions that replaces straight lecturing, whether in a face to face or online class. Jean Piaget, whose background was in psychology and biology, based his learning theory on four stages of cognitive development that began at birth and continue through one’s teen years and beyond.
Two terms that will come into play when learning online and learning about online theories will be synchronous and asynchronous. The difference between the two is that asynchronous learning is a student- centered teaching method widely used in online learning and synchronous learning refers to all types of learning in which learners and instructors are in the same place, at the same time, for learning to take place. This includes in person classes, live online meetings when the whole class or smaller groups get together. In synchronous learning, students usually go through the learning path together, accompanied by their instructor who can provide support while students are completing tasks and activities. Asynchronous learnings basic premise is that learning can occur in different spaces particular to each learner. Most online teaching happens asynchronously, with synchronous learning usually taking place only if there is a specific need for live discussion or interaction, or as a strategy to build community amount learners.
Learning on an online environment comes with many pros and cons. First, the advantages may be not needing to relocate, you can stay where you are and not move yourself or your work around. Another advantage may also be that it is easier to concentrate and participate, when choosing the space, you will be working in, it will be somewhere you are comfortable with and can focus. Often, when you are in a big space with a lot of people and noise it may be hard to focus on just one thing. Teaching yourself may also come as an advantage, nobody is holding you to certain expectations besides yourself, you can teach yourself new things at your own pace and hold yourself accountable. Although, there is many advantages to learning online it also may come with some disadvantages depending on the type of work person you are. If you are someone who needs to socialize and be around other people, online learning may not be for you, but that would be a given. Often, you may not receive direct feedback on an assignment and that may make it difficult when trying to finish things. Although you may not be a cheater, having that at the tip of your fingers for some people may be hard and may be a tease some people may need the strict order to not be able to cheat so easy. The biggest disadvantage for me would be communication and navigating it all on your own if you do not get a direct response. There is many advantages and disadvantages, but there are the main ones that always stick out to me.
