Final Blog for INST 6325

Paul Cobb's picture

My final definition for learning is the same as it has been all semester. Learning is understanding ourselves and the world around us. What has changed as the semester has progressed has been my idea about how to facilitate learning. I always knew that everyone learns in different ways but what I have learned is some of the ways. Personally, I do not believe that we have even scratched the surface of how people learn. I think that in reality learning is as diverse as people themselves. This means that as educators we need to be as flexible as possible in our teaching styles and to teach and allow our students to learn in whatever style works for them.

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Submitted by Paul Cobb on Mon, 07/27/2009 - 1:00pm
Rhonda Adams's picture

Final Blog response

Submitted by Rhonda Adams on Tue, 07/28/2009 - 11:18am.

Being flexible.  That's the real trick isn't it?  I think that's why teaching has been so exciting for me and why I have stuck with it for so long (did you read my intro of how many jobs I've had?)  Anyway, it's our flexibility that enables us to adapt to whatever learning style the student may have.  I agree with you that we have not begun to scratch the surface of what learning really is, and by the time we do really trully start to understand the concept, they'll come up with a new way to approach it.  That is why I believe that it is not our knowledge of how people learn, but our flexibility that makes great teachers.  Nice work this semester.  Maybe we'll touch base in another course.

Brenda's picture

I haven't thought that

Submitted by Brenda (not verified) on Tue, 07/28/2009 - 11:55am.
I haven't thought that learning includes understanding ourselves. However, if we don't know us how are we suppose to understand the world around us? Your thought about having many different type of learners is overwhelming as an educator, but it also makes teaching fun because it is different in every class hour.
Ting Song's picture

Reply

Submitted by Ting Song on Thu, 07/30/2009 - 8:40pm.

Hi Paul,

I agree with your point. Flexiblity is very important to a teacher. Students are different from each other, and each of them has different personality, interest and knowledge structure, so single method in teaching couldn't fit all of students needs. I think for our teachers, we should find what students like and dislike, do everything we could to figure out styles in teaching to fit all the students. Maybe it would be difficult, but we have to.

Brian B.'s picture

definitely in 12 weeks we

Submitted by Brian B. (not verified) on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 7:00am.
definitely in 12 weeks we couldn't have done much more than scratched the surface, but hopefully this class will give you a head start and motivation to learn more about learning theories and try to apply them in your classroom. It was nice to have you in class and best of luck in your future classes!

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Any opinions expressed here, except as specifically noted, are those of the individual authors or commenters and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences, the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, or Utah State University.