Reflection on the Learning Matrix

“Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. It is the first lesson that ought to be learned.” – Thomas H. Huxley---2009 (theteliosgroup.com, 2012).

The quote from above holds special meaning to me.  I have been in education (one form or another) since the age of 5.  It is true, that I left teaching for a short while, but my job was still some form of education.  Training a new employee or doing an educational outreach somewhere in the community was still part of my job.  As time passes, I find myself not enjoying learning as much as in the past, but this course and re-learning the different theories of educational psychology give me a renewed interest in my pursuit of education.  Learning is an item that everyone must or ought to do.  It is how most of us make it in the world today and strive to get a better job or rise in the ranks of our current employer.  Beginning in the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, we see the emphasis on educating the young as a major priority.  It began with the introduction of Behaviorism with Piaget and Skinner and continue throughout the remainder of the twentieth century into the modern world today (Ormrod, 2009).  I now see education and learning as an essential part of anyone's life.  It is the reason that the homo sapiens evolved beyond other mammals.  It is the ability to learn and educate ourselves and each other.  My renewal and new found energy in learning make the reason for pursuing my master's degree more important and exciting to me.

The study of different learning theories is not new to me, but the re-evaluation of my own learning style is a newly found interest for me once again.  This course and the learning matrix show me that my learning go beyond one or two learning styles. It shows that my learning extends across multiple styles.  Howard Gardner once said, "I align myself with almost all researchers in assuming that anything we do is a composite of whatever genetic limitations were given to us by our parents and whatever kinds of environmental opportunities are available (brainyquote.com, 2012)."  Learning is a combination of internal and external sources.  We do have limitations as humans from our genetic or environmental background, but in essence, we all the ability to learn new things on a daily basis.  I'm a mixture of all the learning theories on our matrix, and it just depends on what I'm studying that decides which style I am using.  

Technology is a vital and important tool in educating people today.  It is important that we see a whole new learning theory developing around it.  The definition of connectivism is, “being driven by the understanding that decisions are based on rapidly altering foundations. The acquiring of new information is a never ending process, and the ability to draw distinctions between important and unimportant information is vital. Also, the ability to recognize when new information alters the landscape based on decisions made yesterday” (Davis, Edmunds, & Kelly-Bateman, 2008).  No one can deny that technology is not going away anytime soon.  Technology lives in the children of today and is integral in their learning.  We see technology entering into the classrooms more each year. Does this replace good old fashioned teaching methods?  In my opinion, it does not replace.  Teachers are still the best way that someone learns.  This is not to say that a person cannot learn on their own, but for younger children a teacher there to instruct or guide is vitally important.  Technology should be an enhancement for the learning process.  It should fit comfortably into a classroom and lesson, and should feel natural and not a forced tool.  If it forces its way into a lesson and not used properly, then, all it will do is stick out like a sore thumb and could hinder a lesson.

References

Davis, C., Edmunds, E., & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism

Howard Gardner. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved February 15, 2012, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/howardgard194105.html 

Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York: Pearson.

Thomas H. Huxley (n.d.).  Quote of the Day.  Retrieved February 15, 2012 from theteliosgroup.com Web site:  http://www.theteliosgroup.com/quotes/category/lifelong-learning