Colorado College Learning Theory Discussion
Please complete all assignments and label them as they're completed so I won't get confused. Part 1Which epistemological orientation (pragmatism, objectivism or interpretivism) is most closely aligned with your own experience? Explain how this bias may affect your understanding of learning theory.Of the three orientations, is one better than the others? No matter how you answer, explain your rationale.Part 2Describe a learning situation in which you or another person had difficulty in achieving a desired performance. Develop a plan to improve performance using the techniques discussed in this chapter.What are some possible objections you could raise to the radical behaviorist model of learning?Applying these objections to the plan you just developed, which part is the most likely to fail? What might you do to “fix” it?Part 3Based on what we have seen so far, which epistemological orientation does cognitive information processing most closely align with?How does this orientation differ from that of radical behaviorists? Explain your rationale.Part 4Within this learning environment (this course), how could you apply the principles of CIP to make the learning experience better?Of the recommendations you made, which would be the hardest to implement and whyPart 5In light of Ausubel’s assimilation theory, discuss what should be considered when designing instruction for a simple task like painting a wall. Explain your rationale.Select a skill or knowledge element involved in the task and describe what instruction would look like for that element.Explain how your proposed piece of instruction leverages Ausubel’s insights.Part 6Describe an instructional goal that requires the learner to activate prior knowledge.Explain how the activation of prior knowledge helps the learner understand the new material in your specific example.Describe what an advanced organizer would look like for your specific example.Part 7Discuss the impact of situated cognition on a K-12 course when taught face-to-face as opposed to online.Make two recommendations for improving the course in question (either face-to-face or online) by applying what you know about situated cognition.Describe which recommendation is more likely to result in measurable improvements. Explain your rationale.Part 8Based on your experience, what are some of the most common barriers to learning with communities of practice?Envision the ideal community of practice for your current (or expected) profession and describe its characteristics.Part 9Evaluate the merits of Piaget’s stage theory for explaining cognitive development.Discuss evidence that supports his theory as well as evidence that calls it into question.Discuss your personal opinions about stage theories in general. Who are some of the major detractors and how would you address them?Part 10Using information from Piaget’s learning theory, design a piece of instruction for five-year olds that teaches some aspect of any emerging technology and incorporates at least one of the components of the NETS for Students and / or the NETS for Teachers.Describe how the same piece of instruction would differ if designed for adults.Justify the differences in design strategy for the two groups.Part 11Describe a simple instructional activity using all three of Bruner’s modes of cognitive representation.Discuss why you included the elements you did. Explain your rationale.If you created the same bit of training for someone from a vastly different culture than your original audience, explain what you would need to modify, and why?Part 12Describe an instructional program (hypothetical or actual) that makes use of Vygotsky’s “zone of proximal development.”What is being taught and by whom?What instructional strategies are being utilized?How could the program be tweaked (leveraging Vygotsky’s theories) to make learning more impactful?Part 13Write a four to six (4-6) page paper based on the Radical Behaviorist Approach. For purposes of writing your scenario, your character is named Rad and you are the Instructor. The scenario should be based on the following steps outlined in your book:Step One – Set Behavioral Goals. Describe the desired behavior you would like Rad to achieve. Note: Consider what have you observed about Rad related to the desired behavior.Step Two – Determine Appropriate Reinforcers. Define reinforcers, and explain the reinforcers that you have selected for the desired behavioral outcome for Rad. Include the primary reasons why the selected reinforcers are appropriate for Rad, you (the Instructor), and the environment.Step Three – Select Procedures for Changing Behavior. Describe the procedures that you implemented to achieve the desired behavior in Rad, and specify the main reasons why you chose these procedures.Step Four – Implement Procedures and Record Results. Discuss the implementation of the procedures that you chose in Step 3, and create fictional results. Explain the method(s) that you used to observe the results.Step Five – Evaluate and Revise. Discuss the method(s) that you used to evaluate the effectiveness of your desired behavioral change in Rad, and determine the major revisions you may consider to your program in the future.Typed, double spaced, Times New Roman font (size 12), one inch margins on all sides, APA format.Use headers for each of the subjects being covered, followed by your response.In addition to the four to six (4-6) pages required, a title page is to be included. The title page is to contain the title of the assignment, your name, the instructor’s name, the course title, and the date.The format of the report is to be as follows:Note: You will be graded on the quality of your answers, the logic/organization of the report, your language skills, and your writing skills.Part 14Relying on at least two (2) outside references, write a three to five (3-5) page report that answers the following:Describe the behavioral goal you set for Rad in Assignment #1. Choose either Bruner’s or Vygotsky’s Theory of cognitive development, and explain the fundamental tenets of the chosen theory.Describe the key ways that the approach to the desired goal would change with the chosen theory. Explain the assumptions to the chosen theory and the manner in which they may impact Rad or you as the Instructor.The format of the report is to be as follows:Typed, double spaced, Times New Roman font (size 12), one inch margins on all sides, APA format.Use headers for each of the subjects being covered, followed by your response.Typed, double spaced, Times New Roman font (size 12), one inch margins on all sides, APA format.Use headers for each of the subjects being covered, followed by your response.In addition to the three to five (3-5) pages required, a title page is to be included. The title page is to contain the title of the assignment, your name, the instructor’s name, the course title, and the date.Format the PowerPoint presentation with headings on each slide and relevant graphics (photographs, graphs, clip art, etc.), ensuring that the presentation is visually appealing and readable from eighteen (18) feet away. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.In addition to the six to eight (6-8) slides required, include a title slide containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The title slide is not included in the required slide length.Part 15Relying on at least two (2) outside references, write a three to five (3-5) page report that reflects on how to incorporate self-regulated learning as a motivational approach and answers the following:Describe one (1) topic that you are currently attempting to learn. Explore your motivation for learning about the chosen topic. Describe each phase of the self-regulated learning (SRL) approach to learning. Describe two (2) benefits and two (2) challenges that may be associated with self-regulated learning.Apply self-regulated learning to the topic you want to learn. Outline a strategy to apply self-regulated learning to improve this learning situation.Include the main activities that you would use in each phase (i.e., forethought, performance, and self-reflection).The format of the report is to be as follows:Part 16Throughout the term, you have reviewed many different perspectives on learning.Scholars and researchers have been debating learning approaches for almost as long as we have been learning.For this final assignment, Achievement First is interviewing you to work as a consultant to improve student learning.Part of your interview involves making a presentation about your personal learning theory.Relying on at least two (2) outside references, create a six to eight (6-8) slide presentation describing your personal learning theory.You may choose presentation software you prefer. As you develop your presentation, include:Describe the target audience with which you expect to work (e.g., 8 years old, special education, all-male). Discuss the theories or element of theories you have learned in this course that apply to the target audience you have described.Prioritize the concepts that you must consider when formulating your personal learning theory. Next, explain your personal learning theory. Based upon your personal learning theory, describe the process by which you think people learn. Note: This is your personal theory that encompasses ideas or improves upon other theories studied throughout this course.Outline a strategy for using your personal learning theory to help your target population learn.Create a new and / or improved learning theory based on the theories or elements of theories that you identified in criterion #3. Create a new name for your learning theory. Describe the manner in which you would apply this new and / or improved theory to the target audience to help them learn.The format of the report is to be as follows:Note: You will be graded on the quality of your answers, the logic/organization of the report, your language skills, and your writing skills.