Almost Halfway There!

Almost everything is starting to come together now. After the nooner on Wednesday, from the diagram Wayne made on the board, it makes sense what all goes into creating a "learning ecology". Any website should be able to use a "learning ecology" for its users. Where content is generated instead of consumed. Not limiting the ecology to just a class or website - the browser itself can be an ecology:

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,68823,00.html

With static [brochure] websites fading away - the need for a CMS is necessary. Knowing how to create valid XHTML with a flexible CSS layout is secondary to knowing how to manage, update, and organize all the information to minimize maintenance. This is kind of like how a learning object needs to have lots of planning and research with experts to develop something that can be used now and easily modified for future use or have its components be used on their own. Adding modules to your CMS is like incorporating more learning styles to your learning object. It's kind of crazy being in this burst of new technology while at the same time this learning transition is occuring.

Great Resource

I hope this is a good resource for people to use for researching any type of Learning Theory.

http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/idmodels.html

Sorry I can't make this a link right now. Copy & Paste for now.

Week 2 - Instructional Design Models

This week I learned that satisfying the client is not the most important thing. Make the user happy and the client will follow.

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/landwarinasia

I will try to improve my current designs in interactive media and courseware to involve the user in the early development process. In the class discussion, I suggested data mining as a way to figure out what the user wants/expects out of a lesson/product. I realize now that data mining is a PUSH method to generate user analysis. It can be a good method for suggesting products to buy like Amazon [http://blog.fastcompany.com/archives/2005/10/18/crack_cocaine_for_authors.html]
or Yahoo! do, but it is a kind of guessing game too. Instead it is more useful to have an actual user with high interests in the subject give suggestions with surveys, critiques, or make tools. These beta testers could be harvested from active members in forums about the subject. Using a PULL method allows people to pick the types of information they receive and customize the way it's delivered.

The ADDIE-M model isn't popular in this group but it suits me. Mainly just the way the process keeps the project on track. Having the checkpoints gives developers the Incubation period of the IIGE model to see where the project is heading and gives time to reflect and rest for a moment. Avoid having stuff in your design that is just for looks - don't let the marketing department get any control on your elearning presentation. Stay on target with your goals and objectives.
http://www.liftinternational.com/Goal_Map_templates.pdf

Much of the ideas and decisions can be made during storyboarding - here is a good template that can apply to many different types of projects.
http://static.flickr.com/28/37860279_bba66af914_b_d.jpg

End of Week 1

Wrap Up

From the reading this week, I learned that even though there is no valid research that proves the instruments [kaleidoscope, VARK, etc.] can acurately determine learning styles - knowing the theories and how to detect them is helpful. I recognize indications of my own learning styles from my responses in the forums and in daily life when I explain things or how I organize materials. Also I learned more about my personal learning style and multiple intelligences strengths and weaknesses. The VARK test seemed like it wasn't long enough to be accurate. What is the difference between e-learning courses and Computer Based Training? Is it just a new term for that?

The articles about the virtual classroom were especially interesting to me. One gave a great playbook on creating an e-learning course appealing to many different learning styles. Another ariticle talked about the possiblities of wireless devices in sync with the user's surroundings to help with things like directions. There are possibilities of misuse of that kind of technology are high. Most of the predictions in the article already exist in some form. I think knowing about different learning styles and using many different ones all at the same time will help me develop other kinds of projects like websites, posters, or even live presentations like tradeshows.

Week 1 - Learning Styles & Multiple Intelligences: Understanding Learner Differences/Needs

This Week

After answering the questions in the different checklists and surveys, most of the outcomes did not surprise me [it's like a tarrot card reading]. I scored high in Musical and Logical/Mathematical; lowest in Naturalist and Linguistic. The types of settings I can learn in are messy workshop/lab areas to experiment with or create examples of key points of a lesson [learning object]. Plenty of planning and monitoring before a project begins. Cleanup/organization is only neccessary before and after a project. I don't mind participating in a group project but prefer to work alone in most cases.

I think that is an accurate description of my dominant learning style. Sometimes I change the words to songs to burn into my brain what I'm learning. Organizing information in patterns or categories.

The Results are in . . .
Kaleidoscope Survey --
SENSORY STYLES
[2] 9 = visual
[3] 7 = auditory
[4] 6 = tactual
[1] 10 = kinesthetic
PERCEPTUAL & ORGANIZATIONAL STYLES
9 = global
9 = concrete
9 = abstract
4 = sequential
18 = abstract global
18 = concrete global
PERSONALITY STYLES
8 = sensing perceiving
6 = sensing judging
6 = intuitive feeling
11 = intuitive thinking
VARK --
I have a MULTIMODAL learning preference.
v = 6
a = 6
r = 5
k = 6
Multiple Intelligences Checklist --
[5] 8 = Interpersonal
[4] 10 = Intrapersonal
[2] 11 = Logical/ Methematical
[6] 5 = Linguistic
[7] 5 = Bodily/Kinesthetic
[3] 10 = Spaial
[1] 12 = Musical
[8] 4 = Naturalist

What does this all mean to me?

According to my answers, I learn best when in an informal group discussion centered around making decisions, planning for future issues, and experimenting with new ideas leaving room for spontaneity. Since my main learning style is musical, I learn best from interactive presentations or videos with visual/auditory cues emphasizing key points. Although I do not dislike learning in a naturalist or linguistic style, I think by creating an example of something and seeing the end result first helps me understand a subject best.

If I had to do research in a life or death situation [learning in-depth specifics of a subject], I would not use a musical style. No funny acronyms or role playing to figure something out.
Were your results similar to mine?