This is my first post on this blog – LearnViaTech. Although my intentions is to use it as a space for reflection, introspection, and assist with comprehension. I’ll still say hello to you, the world, as it is always easier to write when you feel that you have someone to write for.

Course of study

I’ve undertaken a course of study (PGCert in Education & Technology). I wanted to closely align with not only with my personal interests and academic aims, but also to those of my role as learning technologist at De Montfort University (DMU).  Indeed, one of my aims and key outcomes of this course of study is to develop a deep understanding of the theories and principles of Adult Learning, Training & Development, and TEL (Technology Enhanced Learning).  With this in mind I thought I’d kick start the study with writing an essay (5000 words) to examine and analyse how humans learn, particularly how adults learn effectively in a workplace environment.

Some reading and reflecting

I have started reading around the subject starting with a couple of books.  I’m hoping to use this blog to review my reading and critique the subjects covered.  Here are is a small attempt:

The theory & practice of learning / Peter Jarvis, John Holford & Colin Griff . – 2nd ed. . – London : Kogan Page, 2003;

The theory and practice of teaching / edited by Peter Jarvis . – 2nd ed. . – Abingdon : Routledge, 2006;

And some background reading around research in TEL and how the human brain works (need to read the full research paper relating to this article):

Inside Learning Technologies – November 2010 – Technology Enhanced Learning – The Good, the bad , and the ugly. Dr Itiel Dror. Page 35

In my initial reading of Jarvis et al (2003), I’m beginning to get a better picture of learning, education, the history of its formalisation, and it’s fundamental role.  Jarvis et al (2003), whilst introducing the book, quickly explain the language shift in how ‘education’ is now increasingly referred to as ‘learning’ – to me the shift of language infers a distribution of knowledge from a teacher-centric to a learner-centric paradigm.

Everyone knows that learning holds a very important role in human activity.  Just how important? “Learning, like breathing, is among the most basic of human activities.” Jarvis et al (2003) write, “It is a process integral to our survival, development and our understanding of the world”. This very profound statement struck me, and reminded me that learning like breathing can seem simple, but is delicate, and can very easily become stagnated.

Reading Dror’s (2010) article gave me a neat summary of technologies place in teaching and learning.  It reassured a long standing hunch that I’ve had but wish to prove by researching further.  Dror discusses that like all things, TEL has shortcomings as well as benefits, but suggests that regardless of what technology you use learning can be enhanced by understanding the ‘mechanisms and constraints of the [human] learning system’.  By acknowledging and understanding that every human has a cognitive load (a limited capacity for storing, accessing and processing information), developers can select appropriate tools and design learning materials that best suit a learner or group of learners.

Milestones ahead

Some of the short term milestones I need to achieve are in writing to with reflection for the PGCert and the subject area.  I would like to also gather some pace in my reading – in volume as well as speed.  I also need to trawl the web for research around Androgogy/Adult Learning.  I need to speak to a subject expert at the library to help me gain some techniques in using the resources in the library effectively.

This was my first blog posting, and start of a journey. I’m nervous, but excited and look forward to that final post where I’ll be able to say I’ve graduated today!