I have developed a much broader perspective about the different learning theories and learning styles. My views of learning have changed and it has also enhanced the process on how to facilitate learning. I cannot dismiss the influence of the traditional theories, which serves as framework for research. Theories which I found well developed and interesting for the time and the era, in which they were introduced, by using their logic and reasoning, I still find them as being relevant today. The traditional theories of Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Constructivism can still help to implement different approaches to developing strategies, that can be effective as an Instructional Designer. Because such prior approaches and learning theories can serve as a guide for planning instructions.
However, my learning preference and approaches with new methods of instructions have taken a shift. One of the theory which I found interesting 10 years ago is Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory. His early studies of developmental and cognitive psychology, and how he was able to incorporate the Arts within academic psychology fascinates me, because those are two of my interests. Howard Gardner as a founder of Project Zero, which was based for a research group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1967, and how the organization is still thriving after 43 years, that alone can speak for itself. I also have become aware of Gardner's Neurological Research of Norman Geschwind, about what happens to someone who was once gifted, and have the misfortune of suffering from a stroke or some form of brain injury. When I was about to finish graduate school, I had a concussion from a car accident. I was teaching students with special needs, my injury caused some form of depression, which led me to retire from teaching and academia. Somehow, something has been missing, and I guess it is what I had set-up to accomplish for myself, which is why I have return to higher education, and have become interested in becoming a Instructional Designer. I have also learned in these few weeks about the inter connected nature of the brain, and how the affected area of abnormality of the brain can as affect the missing abilities that brain injury have caused. When I first studied the Multiple Intelligences of Howard Gardner, he had just included his eight intelligence, which is Naturalistic. I knew that I had to write and implement Individual Educational plans, for students with special needs or exceptionally, so I figure if I can tap into the intelligences that a individual student may possess then the I.E.P. would be more effective, and the student would perhaps be able to excel in the areas of his or her intelligences. In other words, tap into their strenghts. So what I have learned now about varies learning assimilating theories over the past weeks , which I had not learned before. My personal preferences in learning is about how the traditional learning paradigms of previous learning theories of Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Constructivism, and apply it along with the technological advancements that have evolved, since I was back in school ten years ago. Traditional theories, which I happen to find interesting. Behaviorism and Cognitive, has been taken into a different level in this 21st century, with Connectivism, which have been stated,
" learn how to know", in processing and applying information in a different pace, which is more rapidly then ever before. This new way of assimilating information, and reaching people globally, with a new view point of having to create networks between different connection of entities, is what defines Connectivism. And by incorporating emerging technology of Connectivism and Intergrated Studies, which combines from more then one discipline, where students can see a few ideas that can be connected, and can promote collaboration, critical thinking, and knowledge retention, in through a contextual form. And the Core Concept for Innovation and Reform in Learning, which are six Core Concepts of Integrated Studies, are Project Learning, Comprehensive Assessment, Teacher Development, Social and Emotional Learning, technology integration can be best utilized and implementation of a instructional setting.