Learning Theories

Behaviourism, Constructivism, Cognitivism, Humanism, Connectivism

Throughout my research into the various learning theories above, I learned that each theory argues for a different instructor and learner roles. The two that stood out to me where constructivism and connectivism. Constructivism argues that humans acquire knowledge from their experiences whereas connectivism argues that technology has created non-linear learning and that this learning can be used for the learners benefit (“Constructivism”; Siemens, 2005).

I feel that both are applicable for online learning. Constructivism encourages problem-solving, peer-to-peer group work, and instructor facilitation. In an online learning environment, all of these aspects are important for a successful course. As an instructor’s role in an online course is to mentor and facilitate learning and thus they are not always readily available the importance of peer work and problem solving is significant (textbook, 2017). Through the lens of constructivism learner’s can work with their peers through online discussions and group projects, share their experiences, and learn together.

I teach contemporary art and art history, so peer to peer discussion is crucial. This includes discussing and interpreting artwork, and critiquing one peers artwork. Right now, I am building visual art online courses and the majority of my students will Generation Y and Z. Most of them will be 1st year students and thus, feeling and building a sense of community online will be important to their learning experience. I feel the connectivism supports a peer-to-peer learning experience and I plan on incorporating tools such as the Mural Brainstorming tool and other collobarative resources to encourage peer learning.

Constructivism is also a useful theory for online learning because it incorporates the learners experience with technology and maximizes. The majority of my learners have used the internet to “self-teach” and connectisvism provides method for using their desire to use the internet to learn while encouraging them how to find accurate information and make multidisciplinary connections with it (Giesbrecht, 2017). Learning how to find and use information online can help them build both their technical art skills (drawing, painting, Photoshop etc) and their theoretical skills as research is a pivotal aspect of contemporary art.

Connectivism also focuses on creating networks including using social media etc. When learning of art and visual learning, social media plays a key role in today’s environment (Goldie, 2016). Learners are continually viewing images and taking information from and it is my role as the instructor to show them how to read and understand images. In addition, to know what they may be trying to communicate or how they may try to manipulate the viewer.

Connectivism encourages the instructor to curate and guide the learners through their knowledge and connection forming experience. As an instructor, I can use visual networks to create research activities and encourage students to use this research to communicate their own visual message. Learners can then put their creation back into a visual network and see how new connections may form. These visual networks could be youtube, instagram, VSCO, flickr etc.

Construcvism and Connectivism both support my learners online and provide different methods for expanding my learners knowledge and learning network. I feel that both are useful in different ways, and in some cases compliment each other.

References

Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2016). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Constructivism. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://sydney.edu.au/education_social_work/learning_teaching/ict/theory/constructivism.shtml

Giesbrecht, N. (2017, June). Connectivism: Teaching and Learning (E. Van Dusen & P. Pichette, Eds.). Retrieved from http://etec.ctlt.ubc.ca/510wiki/Connectivism:_Teaching_and_Learning

Goldie, J. (2016). Connectivism: A knowledge learning theory for the digital age? Medical Teacher,38(10), 1064-1069. Retrieved from http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/118043/9/118043.pdf

Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism:A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. Retrieved from http://itdl.org/journal/jan_05/article01.htm