Week 1 - Engagement Activity

 Reflection on Learning Theories

Today's learners I believe are the same as when I went to school (graduated at a NSW school in 1999). They are disinterested in what they consider irrelevant information and menial tasks that seem to 'waste their time'. For most students that I have had the privilege of discussing these topics with, they seem to think there is a lot of 'filler' in class lessons. I am considering high school students due to my experience in these schools as well as my interaction with adolescents from my personal life. I do believe ICT can provide an opening for students to engage in classroom activities with an 'active' voice as opposed to some predominant forms of teaching styles that I have personally observed inside of some of today's classrooms. My understanding of learning styles has been amplified in my personal teaching experience and has shaped the way I design and implement those lessons. So I do see there is a lot of 'truth' behind the different learning styles. I have seen students refuse to work on tasks because their 'needs' weren't adhered to. Whether or not those students would have worked if their 'needs' were considered remains to be seen, but there definitely is a cry for teachers to at least attempt to cater to the needs of the student cohort.

In response to Prensky's category's of digital natives and digital immigrants I'd say that does it really matter? This to me just exemplifies awareness and does not really shape or change the way in which I look at current students compared to myself and peers when I was at school. This statement should make most of us realise that we should (I'm speaking from a teachers point of view) at the very least, be competent using computers. We are getting this 'hammered' into us in every course as well as the 'real life' observation that the world is becoming more and more technological. What I did find interesting was the conectivism theory, although I understand the argument for a Learning Manager (teacher) to retain the position of significance, I cannot help but think that online programs can do the same. This I'd say is why there is more and more online and distance courses available. Will school become the same? Learning Managers are there to help students find the knowledge and filter out the irrelevant information as a type of 'mentor'. Although it would not have the human interaction, couldn't a computer program do that job? I don't believe current education is ready for this I'm just wondering if this will be the schooling of the future. These are some of my thoughts on this. I am sure there are arguments against what I have said (I don't necessarily know or agree with what I have written myself) I am just being reflective.