Now that you have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, how has your view on how you learn changed?

Being in an educator for the last 25 years, this is not the first time I have met the gentlemen of the learning theory club.  However, my thoughts change every time I visit with them.  I suppose since we can be assured their views on learning are not changing, it must be mine.  What can we contribute that change to? Maturity...a nice way of saying I'm getting older and wiser, possibly. 

Being this course I declared that I was clearly in the constructivism category. I still believe , because of my strong connection to technology, I relate to this learning theory the best.  However, I can also see myself in the adult category simply because of the crazy demands of life.  

What have you learned about the various learning theories and learning styles over the past weeks that can further explain your own personal learning preferences?

The introduction of the "Adult learning Theory" has been the new learning experience for me.  I found it interesting that this is now considered a learning theory.  Honestly, I believe that many of our High School students are going to take on the "Adult Learner " characteristics. With the introduction of blended classrooms, where students are in class two days a week and on line three days a week, they will be thrusted into that category.  I am glad I had this opportunity to study this to get myself ready for this change.  

What role does technology play in your learning (i.e., as a way to search for information, to record information, to create, etc.)?

This is not a fair question for me.  If you will remember, my career choice is a technology integration specialist.  I am involved in technology every minute of every day.  In fact, I would go into shock if it was taken away.  Last week I sat through an important meeting, the first thing the presenter asked was for us to put our technology away.  Honestly, I thought I was going to go into withdrawal. I can not tell you how many times I caught myself reaching for my phone or my ipad to check my email.  Taking a look at my bedside I have my computer, my ipad, my mini ipad, my iphone, my kindle, my Acer, and Nexus 7. Not one of those electronic devises are for my personal use.  Each one has a use for one of the schools I work with. (Do I have a GREAT job?)  One Hundred percent of my job is new learning because I am helping teachers teach in new ways. One Hundred percent of my new learning is acquired from technology.

Connectivism

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Take a look into my mind.  I designed it in black for a purpose.  It's a secret and I am trying to remain stealth.  You see, I have most of my colleagues convinced that I am just "smart" in actuality, I have an amazing personal learning network.  Take a look at every all of the avenues I have to learn.  
  
  I really enjoyed this assignment because I really has no idea how connected to connectivism I am.  
  
  
  One of the blogs I read, Learning for Life, pointed about a that Connectivism is not  new idea, but new technology has given us ways to “connect” or “interact” faster and more easily. (Richard, 2012)  I am old enough to really understand that statement.  My "mind map" would of looked much different just 10 years ago.  There would of maybe been two stems, one for the professional development and one for the teachers lounge.  Amazing!  No wonder I love technology! 
  
  
  Twitter is my top tool.  I enjoy using it because of the 140 character restriction.  You need to get straight to the point and many times I am in the middle of a project and I need a quick answer.  
  
  
  Connectivism refers to the capacity to form connections between sources of information, and thereby create useful information patterns is required to learn in our knowledge economy. George Siemens (2004)  All of my learning about connectivism  tells me its' not about just the individual but about the broader environment, and all aspects of my learning network have some type of social dimension to them that encourage connections to my environment.
  
  
  
  
  Richard, J. (2012, may 18). [Web log message]. Retrieved from Connectivism and Global Collaboration in Education
  
  
  Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. ElearningSpace. Retrieved February 10, 2013 from Google Scholar.