Fitting the Pieces Together

Now that I have gained deeper understanding and insight into the different learning theories and styles my view on how I specifically learned has been confirmed and also has thrust forward my studying. I still see the most of myself in the Constructivist theory, especially in the way I consciously try to relate new information to knowledge I have already mastered. I have also come to see myself as an adult learner for the first time, this has led to my deeper understanding by applying what we have learned directly to my work. I have been able to gain the gist of some of topics via the reading, videos, discussion; however the information became cemented after I was able to use it myself, work it around and figure out what it actually means to me. I have been able to find a thread of connectivism in all of my learning, especially with an online program I am always connected to the online classroom, resources, and classmates.

Aside from just taking classes online, technology takes plays a huge role in my learning. I used to just search, retrieve and bookmark/print information I needed for coursework. Now I am able to used an RSS feed to organize sources I use, have used, and will continue to check in the future. I use Google docs as a way to work on assignments periodically from any computer up until the instant I decide to submit it to class. Fortunately the mind map assignment fell on the same week as a presentation I had given at a team meeting. I was able to use webspiration to create a more effective tool to educate colleagues. Most of all I have been introduced to blogs which have proven to be an abundant resource for information on Instructional Design from leaders in the field. It is refreshing to study a subject that is progressing with the times, as opposed to having to sprawl out among the library stacks to find reliable information.