Unit 7: Intelligence/Expertise/Creativity
Readings
Instructor notes
Learning activities
Web resources
Readings
Driscoll,
Optional: Gredler,
Instructor notes
Learning activities
7.2 Toward a Personal Theory of Instruction
One of the most important goals of this course is for you to come away with a personal sense of how these learning and instructional theories can be of use to you in your future "educational" practice, however broadly that may be defined. I would suggest that, at some point, you ask yourself a series of questions about each of the theories. Since the goal is to construct your own unique understanding of the theories, I can't tell you what those questions would be. I can suggest some possibilities, though, such as
- What aspects of learning are addressed by this theory?
- What are the main processes or mechanisms that are proposed to account for learning according to this theory?
- What, to you, is the single most important "big idea" from this theory?
- With what other theories is this theory most compatible?
- Does this theory resonate with your own experiences and beliefs?
- Does this theory seem to be a good match for the kinds of learners you're interested in?
- ... for the kinds of learning tasks you're interested in?
- ... for the kinds of educational settings you're interested in?
Well, you get the idea.
In Unit 1 you drafted a personal theory of instruction. You have now done a good deal of reading, discussion and reflection on theories of instruction from a variety of perspectives. As a final activity in this course, you have a chance to revise your original theory of instruction. Note: This is an individual activity only, as each of our theories of learning will be slightly different.
What changes to the theory will you make now that you have spent the last semester thinking deeply about learning theories?
7.3 Final Project
Details will be given out during the week of Dec 2-4. An in-class activity will be completed with reflection questions assigned afterwards. Each of the learning theories we have discussed will need to be included in your analysis.
Web resources
There are several web sites that you may find useful.
Comments: joalexan@indiana.edu
