I believe that people learn best when they are fully engaged.This would include cognitive skills, behavioral skills, and sensory skills and so on…Each person is different and each persons needs are different. So in the words of George Siemens, “How do we design learning when learners may adopt multiple paths and approaches to content and curriculum” (Siemens, 2008, p. 1). I believe that you need- not just one learning theory- but an array of learning theories.People learn best by, what I like to call, the melting pot learning theory.This learning theory incorporates the best of them all.Depending upon the student or what it is you want them to learn you may need to utilize more of a behaviorist approach and other times you may need to go with a more cognitive approach to their learning.I believe in being flexible and I think that the more flexible you are as an educator the better you will be.Being able to go with the flow and changing your approach to learning is better than going against it and sticking with your chosen learning theory that may not necessarily work with the chosen student.
The purpose of learning theory in educational technology is to help determine the needs of the learner and what application or technology would most benefit the learner. For example, if you have a student who is more of a visual learner and really responds well to positive reinforcement then a learning game on the computer where graphics come into play and positive reinforcement is given would be great! This technology would inform the student of a job well done or could correct them when they have gotten the wrong answer. This would be a great way to integrate educational technology based upon the way they learn best or in essence learning theories.
Reference:
Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf
