Learning Style and Learning Theory

Week 7:  Learning Style and Learning Theory

                  

If you read my last blog you are aware of the difficulty I had in getting the mind map to embed in the blog.  I worked for almost two weeks, I viewed and listened to all the help videos that I could search out, I went to the technology store and asked the Geek Squad guy to help me so that I could see how they did it (they did not get it to work either), I even used my stubborn “can not be beaten style”, googled for the answer, and with trial and error I came up with the result I wanted.  This is an example of my cognitivism learning style and the theories having the greatest influence on my learning.

The cognitivism theory is the theory that best describes my method of learning. I believe that the student is responsible for his or her own learning. I have to be able to sort through, categorize, and think about what I am learning. I do well under pressure and if allowed to work through the mess my way I can usually be the most productive.  I made this statement six weeks ago and I have proven it correct several times

 

There is one style that I have not found in any research but I have seen in students and I myself. Perfectionism meets the criteria for a learning style it is an approach to learning that is unique to an individual that allows the individual to learn best (Wikipedia, n.d.). Perfectionism is very important for the learner as well as the instructors to be aware of, many times I have had to force myself to accept what I have completed and to be done with it. Perhaps if perfectionism was acknowledged to be a learning style more studies would be undertaken and perfectionism as a style would be recognized.

Technology plays a vital role in my learning. Since I am taking on-line classes I use technology almost 100 percent of the time.  I can use my favorite search engines or the universities library to research for assignments as well as going beyond when I want more information.  Word takes on a more important role as I learn to use it not only for writing papers as well as other functions, I use the calendar on my computer to keep track of due dates as well as little notes to myself.  I can easily make graphs and tables, and use paint to bring out my creativity.  I have not gotten any of the newer tools such as an iPad or a Kindle; when I learn all I can do with my computer and feel the need to move on I will go on to other technologies.  The satisfaction and pride in knowing that I have accomplished a task or even when I find just what I was looking for is so much more than I experienced in pre-technology learning.

Technology has taken on a much more important role in my learning which one might think is obvious since I have chosen to get my degree on-line.  I am always amazed that within this small notebook computer there is the world.  The new learning resources that I have found are blogs, wikis, Skype, downloads and software that I still have not gotten a chance to play with. Children are growing up with technology but we need to remember we are all different and while the next generation will be technology savvy there are individuals who will prefer not to use technology, and that is alright too.

References

Perfectionism. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfectionism