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Group Members |
Roles |
Commented On |
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Cara Johnson |
Everything (Done Individually) |
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Script:
Hello everyone!
My name is Cara Johnson and this is my course reflection for EDAC 635.
So, in this course, I learned about various
theories that pertain to adult learning. In particular, I learned the most about
learning style theories, since our group syllabus was based on this. I learned
not just about the concepts of these theories but also how they can be applied
to the learning environment to enhance student learning.
I learned about
concepts such as the difference between adult and child learners, how learners
proceed through the learning cycle, various learning styles and how they can be
applied, how the environment can impact learning, how emotions and spirit
impact learning, how the brain learns and different ways the brain learns, the
physical learning process, and how relationships impact learning. I was able to
connect all the theories I learned to my personal experience. I feel that after
this course, I have a better understanding of how learning works and how I can
best facilitate it. I had never thought of learning from this many perspectives
before, so I found it quite interesting to view the learning environment from
all these various viewpoints.
Since learning
styles was the subject of my group project, I learned the most about that. I
never realized how many different ways students learn. Through the various
learning style theories our group covered, I feel that I now understand all the
different ways students learn and how I can best accommodate these learning
styles as a facilitator. This is something I will certainly be applying in the
future.
Regarding the
online discussions in this course, I liked how we had the option to answer two
more questions instead of doing two replies and how we were able to create our
own question. The questions some students came up with were quite interesting
and I liked having the choice of how I wanted to approach the discussions. I
didn’t like how some of the discussion felt forced but I think that is how online
discussions are in general.
Regarding the
group project, I liked how well we worked together as a group and the
cooperation I got from my group members. I didn’t like how it felt like we were
working in parts instead of all together sometimes but that is simply a
function of an asynchronous environment.
I thought this
course in general was well organized and all the assignments were clear. I like
how we could choose to do the final showcase individually. I don’t like group
work so I would have liked to not see any group work but I understand that it
was important to the course.
The project
showed me how the theories regarding learning styles could be applied in a
learning environment. I learned how the various learning styles can be
accommodated in the classroom so every student has a chance to productively
learn. Through the creation of the syllabus, I learned how I could create
activities that accommodate all types of learners. When we combined all our
work together, we discovered that there are many different ways that people
learn but they can all be accommodated fairly easily in a syllabus. For
example, some students prefer lecture, some students prefer videos or visuals, some
students prefer readings, and some prefer hands-on activities. We made sure we
accommodated every student in our syllabus. Although I have applied different
learning styles before with the students I teach, I feel like I have a much
stronger foundation in learning styles now than I did before.
The various
learning resources in the weekly discussions showed me the various theories and
how they could be applied in practice. Through these various resources, I feel that
I now have a good background on many aspects of adult learning and how they can
be applied in the classroom. The examples students gave in their discussion
posts really helped me to understand the real-life applications of the
concepts. There were some applications given that I never would have thought of
myself. Collaborating with others to create ideas really helped to shed light
on how these theories can be applied to so many different disciplines, even outside
of education.
For example, I
thought it was interesting to read about applications of Kolb’s model of learning
styles in practical work. Some students gave some interesting applications and
the examples given covered a wide variety of fields. I also thought the examples
my classmates gave on learning cycles really helped to put these concepts into
context.
I thought this class
was structured very well. Professor Bo Chang was always available by email for
questions and I had no confusion on what was due or the course materials. I thought
the professor’s videos on the assignments were also quite helpful. I have no
recommendations for how to better support my learning. I think this course was
quite effective for me and I learned a lot.
I would suggest
that future students make sure to create a plan for their work each week and
work ahead as they have the time to. It is important to start on the projects
early, especially the group work, in order to ensure it is done in plenty of
time. I found it helpful to start on the readings the weekend before the discussion
was due so that I didn’t have a lot to do during the week when I was working.
Time management is key in this class but the work is definitely manageable with
a good action plan. I also would recommend future students respond to their
group members as quickly as they can. This helps the group work flow smoothly
and makes for a more positive experience.
Please use the following link to see my implementation video:
https://youtu.be/G9c2YjtqXIc
The following is the link to our group syllabus for reference:
https://635group1spring2021.blogspot.com/2021/03/group-syllabus-learning-styles.html
Hey Cara!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the pro tip that I learned this semester is to complete the reading or at the very least start the readings the weekend before to ensure that I have plenty of time to write my discussion posts while working full time and not getting overwhelmed.
I enjoyed your videos!
Thank you!
Your videos were awesome! I too completely agree with starting the readings as early as possible, especially because the questions require lengthy responses.
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