Constructivism and Distance Education

How does learning happen? There are many ways/Theories of how learning occurs. This blog post will share some information regarding one of those theories, Constructivism, and how I think it can be beneficial for online learning. Constructivism views learning as an active process, with the student/learner being the one who is responsible for the learning/knowledge that may be gained through various experiences. Constructivists learning is not done or viewed in the same [traditional] way that it always has. Teachers who are Constructivists, can help their students learn to "construct" ideas in a collaborative learning environment. The personal view of how educators think learning occurs can affect how they instruct their students (Mayer, R. E.; Clark, R. C., 2008). The authors also stated [of Constructivism] that people are not passive receivers of information, but rather they are active sense makers. Likewise, Woolfolk (93) stated that learning is active mental work, not passive reception of teaching. Constructivists believe that it is important for educators to encourage their students to engage the curriculum/subject material in their environment. I think that having students engaged is one of the positive ways that Constructivist educators can help their students learn, especially in an online learning environment. On the other hand, this very strength could be seen as a weakness by students who are learning at a distance, but who are dependent upon the teacher for [instruction and ]learning. In Constructivism, one way that learning occurs is through research conducted by the student[s]. When designing an online course, I would consider some of the various factors included in Constructivism such as scaffolding; reciprocal teaching and guided instruction. What theory of learning do you prefer? References: Mayer, R. E.; Clark, R. C. (2008). E-learning and the science of instruction. 2nd ed. San Francisco: CA. Pfeiffer. Woolfolk, A. E. (1993). Educational psychology. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Social Media

Social Media is one of the forms of technology that is trending right now. Facebook and Twitter are being mentioned everywhere I go. I am hearing about Pinterest, which is an online pin-board where people can organize and share the things they love. Social media has provided a way for people to create or join with communities of people who have similar interests. Some people use social networking simply for [net]working, whereas other people use it simply to connect on a personal level with family and friends. Teachers can also use social media networks to help extend teaching and learning beyond the classroom. Businesses are using social media sites such as Facebook to create fan pages that help them with advertising and promoting their product(s) to their target market. Do you use any social media networks?