CE406 - Module 12

 

Picture by: Levi James Young (age 3) 


This is a picture of him when he was too young to paint. (Look at those hands) 

I love these pictures for several different reasons, one because it was one of the first artist pictures that my son who now is 4 years old painted.  

I'm so fascinated and have always been interested in the process of human growth and development. I study science, mainly biology and human anatomy in high school and college. I majored in occupational therapy in my first degree and worked for almost 20 years as an occupational therapist in multiple different settings, but ironically never worked as a pediatric therapist. 

I desire to learn and continue to ask questions about learning has brought me to this now new step in my educational endeavors, learning design. So, when I am asked to reflect and review what I have enjoyed and learned over these short 16 weeks in this class it brings me to my appreciation for all the different types of learning, both young and adult. 

I thoroughly enjoyed all the types of learning theories from the modules in CE406, but I must say that I always return to my natural inclination to understand adults and what motivates them to learn. This is my current space as I work with young, middle, and some older adult learners in the community college academic space. I have the unique opportunity to impart my brief wisdom on healthcare into their hearts and minds as they continue to build and develop what they will do once they leave the walls of Central Piedmont Community College. It is my pleasure to guide them in whatever way I know-how as they seek to understand, but most importantly be understood in the vastly changing world of the 21-St century. 

This brings me to my top three favorite blogs for this course, and of course, all of them would have made the list if I had the time to expound on them all. 

1. Introduction of Learning Theories and Models. Theories of learning that provide "big-picture" ideas, based on empirical research or observation, about how learning occurs. Just the mere fact that learning is constant and a dynamic approach that is based on our understanding of what we know and what is still yet undiscovered. 

That we shouldn't be totally influenced by the learning theory or design, but by the learner's development. It truly has to be seen and measured from a holistic approach that requires a close examination of the learner, the task, and the resources available to them. Any absolute approach omits the ability for macro-observation and hypothesis. 

2. Andragogic principle of problem-centered learning. Andragogy Learning Theory and Motivation in Learning Theories. The basic premise of understanding the stark contrast between younger students and how adult learners learn. Differentiating those adult learners can be self-directed and more apt to be independent with their ability to learn. Adult learners have a much greater depth of knowledge and experiences stemming from their life experiences. Lastly, adult learners are ready to apply the information that they have learned directly to their current roles in their careers and life. 

3. Rapid Design - I greatly appreciated this approach as a shift from the more arduous and slow counterparts like ADDIE, as it is slim-lined and escalated the process for agile learners suited to their quick analysis and on-the-job challenges and changes. The four pillars are simple and easy to remember and apply to almost any design project. Providing a gap analysis to design thinking principles and adaptability to frequent and constant changes in work conditions. 

Overall, I was impacted in this course by the level and understanding of how students learn and grow. By what motivates students to achieve and teachers, designers, and instructors to teach. And lastly, how do we as designers assess students' learning and educational outcomes. 

Levi James (age 4) 

"We will never fully know the impact that we have on our learners, but we can impart a greater understanding of how they learn based on what we learn."
LeWayne Young  


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