Learning Styles and the Three Bears

As I continue to work my way through the MSIT program at MGC, the recognition of my own metacognition of learning has been enlightening. At various points in my learning I have reflected on the teaching styles of my instructors and reflected on the impact each has had on my learning experience. I recalled what has worked for me, what presented challenges for me and the 'why' to both of those reflections.

Being in the MSIT program, my courses have been taught by instructors from each of the Masters degree programs. Each instructor has brought to the course their favored pedagogies. Methods they believe will efffectively deliver the content with which learners need to walk away from the course.

In the midst of my first MAT course, I am beginning to understand the distinctions between each of their styles of content delivery and how their delivery style impacts my response to, interaction with and retention of the content being delivered.

Not enough structure, too much structure and structure that was just right.... for me. And that's the critcal component to learning.... What is the structure that is just right for me ...the learner.

As an instructor what are the indicators that will help me to recognize if my students are experiencing real learning. Learning that leads to a shift in actions, thoughts and behaviors.

As I sort through and continue to reflect on the methods most effective for me as a learner, I will keep my personal journal of these experiences. It is these experiences that will shape the methodologies I implement as I move toward helping others like me, progress through their personal learning journey.

Learning to learn on line....

Think... talk... look... work... are the stages of an on line discussion in Jim Woodell's world. Woodell believes it is through these four components that on line interactions progress. Originally developed by Jim Woodell as a method to encourage a variety of forms of interaction between the instructor and the learner, M.O.D.E. Interaction provides a model through which information changes "brains".

Talk: Should we limit the application of Mode Interaction to simply on line learning? Could this model offer us insight on and a potential framework for communications within any organization using electronic means of communication i.e. email?

Work: After reading another email, I realized that if we as team members would apply the framework of MODE Interaction to our email communications, we could improve the level of communication and the health of our team. Could I be organized and aware enough, as well as removed enough, to implement the methodology to the email communications? I was beginning to see an applicable value to the methodology within our organization and our team.

(Self)Talk: What I was thinking made sense, so I shared my idea with my colleague who seemed to understand the direction I was heading.

Look: Next steps to improve our on line exchanges are to stick closely to the practice prescribed by Woodell. Use the MODE of interaction framework, Hold back to recognize to where the interaction has progressed and how to gently and respectfully move it along to complete the actions that need to be executed.

Cyborgoddess Collaborates: The nature of the beast

Cyborgoddess Collaborates: The nature of the beast

This is test of the referral linking function.

Check out the Why Learn on line? Web Resource

Why Learn on line is a web resource being designed to provide you with the tools you need to get the most out of your on line learning experience. Click on the link below to take a look.


http://www.gradcenter.marlboro.edu/~jhart/wlol.htm

Take the On line Learning Survey...

We're interested to hear about your on line learning experience. Click on the link below to complete a brief survey about your on line learning experience.

Click here to take the
Why Learn on line? Survey

Why Learn On line?

Are you thinking about enrolling in an on line course? Have you already completed on line coursework? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then we want to hear from you.

Share your on line learning experiences here in the Why Learn On line? Blog. What did you enjoy most about your on line learning experience? What would you change the next time you enrolled in on line learning? What was most challenging about your on line learning experience? Or, what questions do you have to answer before you decide to enroll?