Adult Learning

In my current profession as a Computer Lab Instructor, I lead a class room learning environment and my students are adults. As an Instructor, I have faced the challenge of keeping the training interesting. This has resulted in always looking for new and creative ways of presenting content (software applications). I am always looking for activities that will keep students engaged and that will help them retain the information. I became very interested in this article because it explains step by step the experiences that Adult Learners may and can experience during learning or training experience and it provides resolutions for Instructors. These are a few of the topics that are discussed in this article: Reflection, authentic experiences, communication, dialog, discussion, self-assessment, correction, picture superiority effect and dual coding. As an Instructor, I have found that adult students learn best if dialogue is promoted in lessons, if students are able to reflect on task learned and completed, and when the student finds meaningfulness in the quality of education received.
Confucius (450BC) said” "Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand.”

http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt

What is Behaviorism?

As a group, we have read various resources that relate to learning theories. Melissa Standridge, in her article explains the factors that do define the theory. She explains that the theory has a focus on individual learning behavior that results from a stimulus-response association. This stimulus (the observable learning) is motivated by prior conditioning and psychological drives (cues) that will exist while the action of learning takes place. The individual behavior is viewed as one that has been learned and that it is interchangeable by new experiences of learning if the behavior is rewarded. This article also discusses the advocates of Behavorism who provide illustrations regarding the important factors that do support the theory. I invite you to review this straight forward article.

http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism#Classroom_Importance

What Can Blogging Do for Me?

Since a blog is like creating a newsletter, it is very informal and it is designed to be conversational by the creation of a platform where colleagues or fellow students can gather and read thoughts or information in a conversational manner. Its motivation is to draw more readers. I had heard about blogging, but had never had the need to create one (a blog) due to personal sensitive information. However, for coursework and learning purposes I found myself needing to understand its concepts in order to create a blog. Blogs should be easy to read because of their ability to connect with people who may share similar interests in the topics of interests that are introduced into the blogging experience. In creating a blog, there are plenty of tutorials available that can assist a “new user” how to get started. Blogger.com with diligence and proposed determination allowed me to create the one that you are reading.
http://www.cenago.com

What is Instructional Design?

It is the process used to create instruction and how to improve student learning by utilizing technology and multimedia tools to create an analysis of learning needs and to develop systematic materials for learning. This website also explains Instructional Design Models such as:
• ADDIE Model
• Rapid Prototyping
• Iterative Design
• Discovery Learning
• Cognitive Apprenticeship

I think that this is good information because it can support our learning processes and we will be ale to learn more about Instructional Design from three notable Instructional Designers. Instructional Designers do work in many settings which may include commercial businesses, government agencies, and academic environments. The areas of focus of instructional designers are varied due to the settings in which they may work in.

http://www.instructionaldesign.org

Career Training Grants by President Obama

This post discusses President Obama's 2011 educational budget proposal request to Congress. This will support the training of students who seek to advance skills through college educational experiences or through certification trainings. I think that this information is important because many students depend on financial aid or scholarship grant funds to assist them to pay for tuition and required educational supply expenses. Obama intends to request $1.35 Billion dollars from Congress in 2011.
http://www.obamaoneducation.com