Educational TechnologyLearning Theory

Kim Peacock, M.Ed.

Learning Theory + Social theory Communication theory Media studies Technology theories Neuroscience Etc…

Epistimology (aka How Can We Know)

Empiricism (experience)› Knowledge comes from sensory input +

experiences that get meshed together into complex associations.

› Empirical truths (things are proven to be true).

› Learning comes in controlling the environment

Epistimology (aka How Can We Know)

Rationalism (reason)› Knowledge is already in the mind.

Learning and comes from reflection on what learners know combined + what they observe (aka reasoning).

› A priori truths (things are just true based on reason)

› Learning comes in making connections with prior knowledge.

Three Main Theoretical Perspectives

Behaviourism Cognitivism

› Cognitive Load Theory Constructivism

A Fourth Perspective ??? Connectivism ???

Others...

Behaviourism Key theorists: Pavlov, Watson,

Thorndike, Skinner The mind is a black box. Learning is an expected response to a

given stimulus; we can’t see what goes on in the black box.

The Motto of the Behaviourist

Practice Makes Perfect!

Behaviourism – Key Ideas Stimulus-response (repetition) Operant conditioning (reinforcement) Punishment Consequences Modelling Shaping Cuing Drill and practice

Behaviourism: Instructivism Aka – Direct instruction Aka - Teacher-directed

Primary mode: Lecture

Behaviourist Educational Practices

Learning objectives / curriculum Direct instruction Behaviour analysis Classroom management techniques Choice Rewards

Behaviourist Technologies Math Blaster

Behaviourist Technologies iClickers

Behaviourist Technologies Computer Assisted

Instruction (CAI) Computer Assisted

Assessment (CAA)

Behaviourist Technologies Online Tutorials

Behaviourist Technologies TED Talks / YouTube

Behaviourist Technologies Brainpop

Behaviourist Technologies Foursquare, Huffingtonpost

Behaviourist Technologies Microquest games (e.g., Robinson)

Behaviourist Technologies The Future? http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3ih-sm6hxA

Criticisms of Behaviourism Grossly oversimplifies learning Learning is not always tied to

behaviours Learning does not require rewards or

punishments The mind is not a black box People adapt

Drill Time! Tweet me another behaviourist

technology and tell me why you feel it is behaviourist. Don’t forget #edit202!

Cognitivism Emerged in the 1900s as a response to

behaviourism: got big in the 50s/60s. Key theorists: Piaget, Gagne, Vygotsky,

Bruner Beyond behaviour and into the “black

box” Memory systems are active, organized

processors of information Prior knowledge is key in learning

Cognitivist Motto The mind is a computer.

Cognitivism - Key Ideas Schema/scaffolding Atkinson-Shiffrin Memory Model

(Sensory/ST/LT Memory) Working memory Meaningful effect Motivation Seriality

Cognitivism - Key Ideas Practice for retention Organization Mneumonic devices Metaphor / Symbolism ”Memory palace” Mental maps Advance organizers

Cognitive Load Theory Processing information can over or

under load working memory. Things must run smoothly in order for

meaningful learning to occur. Key Theorists: Miller, Sweller Example: High falutin’ mumbo jumbo Example: Learning in another language Example: Overstimulation

Cognitive Load Key Ideas Chunking Learning structures Instructional design Means-ends analysis (inching closer) Intrinsic load (difficulty) Extraneous load (simplicity) Germane load (schemas/connections) Error / Fundamental Attribution Error

Working Memory Working memory is the system which

actively holds multiple pieces of transitory information in the mind when needed for verbal and nonverbal tasks such as reasoning and comprehension, and to make them available for further information processing.

Becker & Morris (1999) It has replaced Atkinson & Shiffrin’s

STM

Cognitive Load Implications for EdTech

What things look like matter› User Interface› HCI› General Aesthetic

How things are organized matter› Navigational structures› Layout of information

Cognitivist Technologies Scratch

Cognitivist Technologies Digital Concept Mapping

Cognitivist Technologies Prezi

Cognitivist Technologies Databases

Cognitivist Technologies Artificial Intelligence Learning theorists and

computer scientists often work together in this area.

Criticisms of Cognitivism Ignores the affective and psychomotor Too focused on knowledge; difficult to

measure understanding and HOTS The brain is not a computer

Drill Time! Tweet me an example of a web tool or

site that has high extraneous load. Label it #edit202 AND #extraneousload

Constructivsm Emerged in the early 1930s Key Theorists: Dewey, Kolb, Montessori,

Piaget, Bruner, Jonassen The mind is a rhizome (network) Teacher as facilitator

Constructivism Learning is building connections by

actively interacting with the environment

begin with complex problems and teach basic skills while solving these problems

learning involves constructing one's own knowledge from one's own experiences

Jonasson’s Definition “Learners construct their own reality or at

least interpret it based upon their perceptions of experiences, so an individual's knowledge is a function of one's prior experiences, mental structures, and beliefs that are used to interpret objects and events.... What someone knows is grounded in perception of the physical and social experiences which are comprehended by the mind."

Jonasson, 1991

David Jonasson Constructivism and Technology Computers in the Classroom: Mindtools

for Critical Thinking (1996) http://web.missouri.edu/jonassend/

Constructivism – Key Ideas Problem-based learning Project-based learning Authentic tasks Discovery learning Case-based learning Collaborative learning Active learning (responsibility on learners) Vygotsky’s Zone of proximal development

Seymour Papert Constructionism Learning is most effective when

learners create tangible, real-world objects.

“Learning by making” Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and

Powerful Ideas (1980) Father of Lego Robotics http://www.papert.org/

Merrill’s Assumptions of Constructivism

Knowledge is constructed from experience

Learning is a personal interpretation of the world

Learning is an active process in which meaning is developed on the basis of experience

Merrill’s Assumptions of Constructivism

Conceptual growth comes from the negotiation of meaning, the sharing of multiple perspectives and the changing of our internal representations through collaborative learning

Learning should be situated in realistic settings; testing should be integrated with the task and not a separate activity

(Merrill, 1991, in Smorgansbord, 1997)

Constructivist Technologies Many video games

Constructivist Technologies Lego Robotics (Constructionist)

Constructivist Technologies Technology as tool: A means to an end Google Sites Wikispaces PB Works Blogger Wordpress Etc...

Constructivist Tech Strategy Webquests

Bernie Dodgewebquest.org

Aside: Constructivist Schools

Quest 2 Learnhttp://q2l.org/

High Tech Highhttp://www.hightechhigh.org/

New Tech Highhttp://newtechhigh.org/

Edutopia Schools That Work http://www.edutopia.org/schools-that-work

Criticisms of Constructivism Time consuming Subjective learning Mature learners required Difficult assessment Impractical without prior knowledge Lack of research / empirical evidence

An Important Note Constructivism is COMPLEX! You can take entire courses on it. This is a very, very simplified version...

Drill Time! Tweet me an example of a good

constructivist learning activity you can do in your major/minor area. Tag it #edit202 AND #constructivism

Connectivism Theory that has emerged since 2006 Learning is the process of creating

connections and developing a network Key theorists: George Siemens (http://

www.connectivism.ca) and Stephen Downes

Key work: http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm

Connectivism Motto A learning theory for the digital age.

What is Connectivism? What is Learning to Me?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVwxDzCTEa8

What is Connectivism? “At its heart, connectivism is the thesis

that knowledge is distributed across a network of connections, and therefore that learning consists of the ability to construct and traverse those networks…

What is Connectivism? … It shares with some other theories a

core proposition, that knowledge is not acquired, as though it were a thing… Knowledge is, on this theory, literally the set of connections formed by actions and experience.”

Stephen Downes

Layperson Definition “Fast forward to today and connectivism is

all the rage. In this digital era, we recognise that there’s simply too much knowledge to take in – and it changes too quickly anyway. So forget about trying to ‘know’ everything; instead, build your network of knowledge sources, and access them whenever you need them.”

Ryan Traceyhttp://ryan2point0.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/

instructivism-constructivism-or-connectivism/

The Need for Connectivism A central tenet of most learning theories is that

learning occurs inside a person. Even social constructivist views, which hold that learning is a socially enacted process, promotes the principality of the individual (and her/his physical presence – i.e. brain-based) in learning. These theories do not address learning that occurs outside of people (i.e. learning that is stored and manipulated by technology). They also fail to describe how learning happens within organizations

George Siemenshttp://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm

Connectivism – Key Principles

Learning and knowledge rests 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.

Connectivism – Key Principles

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

Decision-making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision.

George Siemenshttp://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm

Networks and Nodes Networks are a set of connected notes. Nodes are anything that can be

connected to another node. Nodes can include: people, information,

data, feelings, images, etc... Learning can exist outside of people It is more important to “know-where”

to find things in your network than to “know-how” or “know-what”

The Network IS the Learning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpbkdeyFxZw

Practicing What They Preach…

MOOC! http://cck11.mooc.ca/index.html

Connectivist Technologies Twitter

Connectivist Technologies Social Networking

Connectivist Technologies RSS Feeds and Newsreaders

Connectivist Technologies Bookmarking Apps

Connectivist Technologies Search Engines

Connectivist Technologies Any communication

tool: Email Webcam Chat VC Discussion forums

Connectivist Technologies Anywhere we

can store data: Databases Intranets Drives WWW Servers

Criticisms of Connectivism Informal vs. formal learning Is it really a new theory?

http://jennymackness.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/attacks-on-connectivism/

http://stranack.ca/2012/08/16/critical-review-of-connectivism-a-learning-theory-for-the-digital-age/

Internal Criticism Downes: Socialization should not be a

goal of education. Siemens: Groups are networks.

Drill Time! Connectivism or Constructivism?

Which one do you connect with more? Why? Tag it #edit202 and #cvsc

Comparing The 4 Models http://ci484-learning-technologies.wikis

paces.com/Behaviorism,+Cognitivism,+Constructivism+%26+Connectivism

BCCC 1 Scenario: Learning Pythagorean

Theorem Behaviourist: Practice, practice,

practice Cognitivist: Connect to prior

knowledge. Show how it works. Constructivist: Give real life application

situations where the PT can be applied. Connectivist: Here are 5 links that show

how, why and applications of PT.

BCCC 2 Scenario: Learning grammar rules Behaviourist: Worksheets! Cognitivist: Use mneumonics to

remember rules. Practice in context. Constructivist: Write stories, essays,

etc... And correct grammar as you go. Connectivist: Bookmark 5 good

grammar sites and find a good grammar checking program.

Drill Time BCCC3: Tweet me a scenario to discuss.

Tag it #edit202 AND #bccc

Bloom’s Taxonomy (Cognitive)

Lorin Anderson

Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy

Andrew Churches

Mike Fisher’s Interpretation

Theories of Technology

Media Ecology Technology influences society Key theorists: Postman, McLuhan, We are currently in the digital era. The medium is the message. Hot (low involvement) and cool (high

involvement) media

What is Media Ecology? "the study of media environments, the

idea that technology and techniques, modes of information and codes of communication play a leading role in human affairs.”

The Media Ecology Association

SCOT Social Construction of Technology Society and human action influence

technology Key theorists: Bijker, Pinch Bicycle example Symmetry Closure