Week #2 Application: 2 Additional Resources

I have found two additional resources this week that shed more light on the topic of the brain and learning.  The first article I found was written by Fara Green.  The very first statement of this article says it all.  "Teachers and administrators face enormous challenges to effectively prepare all students for a technological and global society" (Fara, 1999, p. 682).  Just stop and think for a moment about how much technology has changes the face of the entire globe.  Almost every facet of our lives has been altered by some for of technology.  The way that people learn has even taken a new shape within the past few decades.  "Each student processes and absorbs new information in a different way" (Fara, 1999, p. 684).  This article dances around the different aspects of learning styles.  For me, the information within this article has validated some of the information obtained from other classes at Walden University.

The second article was written by Robert Sylwester.  This article takes a look at the study of the brain and how technology has expedited some of the traditional brain tests. "Scientists who us brain imaging technology now need only a few hours to gather some types of data from a normal human brain that formerly took 20 years of inferential laboratory work with nonhuman primates" (Sylwester, 1993, p. 46).  In other words, scientists are able to provide educators and instructional designers with vital information quicker than ever before.  We are able to take the information and translate it into a more effective teaching method that has a greater impact on students.



References

Fara, R. G. (1999). Brain and learning research: Implications for meeting the needs of diverse learners. Education, 119(4), 682-687+. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/196424120?accountid=14872

Sylwester, R. (1993). What the biology of the brain tells us about learning. Educational Leadership, 51(4), 46-46. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/224850413?accountid=14872

Week 1 Application - Instructional Design Blogs

Instructional Design Blogs

Throughout the past ten years, I have visited blogs for many different reasons.  Sometimes I have just wanted a bit of entertainment and sometimes I have wanted to have a robust conversation on a current topic.  The cool aspect of blogs is that there are as many different blogs in existence as there are stars in the sky.  So no matter what field of study I find myself in, I know that I can find a blog that speaks to me.  For this week’s blog entry, I have found three different blogs that relate to the field of instructional design.  The three blogs I chose are the Rapid E-Learning Blog, Instructional Design Fusions, and Reflections on Learning Success.  Each of these blogs has something to give, allow me to explain what we can gain from them.

The Rapid E-Learning Blog is very user friendly.  The graphics and layout of the blog suits me very well.  I tend to like clear and consistent modes of design and communication and this blog delivers both of those components.  The more important of these two components is clear communication.  “Communication can be defined as the process of creating and sharing meaning through the use of symbols” (Dobkin and Pace, 2006, p. 7).  This blog clearly communicates the various topics related to e-learning.  E-learning is the wave of the future and staying up to date on the trends is paramount to any instructional designer.  I feel that this blog will help keep me in touch with current development in e-learning.  I would be able to visit this blog at any point and gain some bit of knowledge and that is very convenient!  This blog can be accessed at http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/instructional-design/

Instructional Design Fusions is a blog that concerns itself with the blending of new technologies with the realm of instructional design and e-learning.  I can state with authority that the field of instructional design may look totally different within the next ten years.  With the rate of advancing technology changing before our eyes, we will have to keep up or be left behind.  It is very important for any instructional designer to feel comfortable with all modes of technology and I believe that this blog will help me stay in touch with this important skillset.  This blog can be accessed at http://instructionaldesignfusions.wordpress.com

The last of the three blogs that I previewed this week is Reflections on Learning Success.  This blog is written by Dr. Joel Gardner, a Program Chair of the Instructional Design and Performance Technology Program at Franklin University.  Dr. Gardner has many years of experience as an instructional designer and I feel as if he has some great information to pass along.  Dr. Gardner has also written articles on effective instructional design.  I feel as if I can become a better instructional designer by tapping into his knowledge.  This blog can be accessed at http://joelleegardner.blogspot.com

In conclusion, I feel as if these three blogs will help add to my knowledge base and understanding of the field of instructional design.  As our course text states, “society cannot risk leaving the acquisition of learning to chance” (Ormrod, Schunk and Gredler, 2009, p. 2).  As humans, we owe it to our future to be the best learners we can be.  We cannot sit on the sidelines and hope we pick up some nugget of knowledge by chance.  We have to be an active teacher and student in the game of life.  As an instructional designer, I have the opportunity and responsibility to make the most of any learning opportunity.  This is a task that I take seriously and I will not accept failure.

References

Dobkin, B.A., and Pace, R.C. (2006) Communications in a Changing World (2^nd Ed).  Boston: McGraw-Hill

Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York: Pearson.