Dear CALMet Participants,
Today we will begin the session, A Hitchhiker's Guide to Learning Theory. This session will explore many of the more influential learning theories, and also some newer theories still developing their influence. I will try to put learning theory into pragmatic perspective, so show how it is viable and critical for our work, particularly if we use it with flexibility. After looking at brief explanations, we will also look at some applications and limitations of each theory.
The session begins today with two things:
1. Below this forum link you will find the Introductory Conversation that provides an overview of learning theories and what will be covered in the session. This is provided, as will the rest of the session content, in the form of Voicethread discussion. Click on the link and the Voicethread presentation will open in a new page. You can interrupt the presentation at any point and add your own voice or text comments or questions, which will turn it into a slide-by-slide conversation rather than a lecture. You will have to create an account at Voicethread to do so, but this takes only a moment. If you are resistant to this, you can always post to this forum instead.
2. I have also provided an optional paper titled, On Two Metaphors for Learning, and the Dangers of Choosing Just One, by Anne Sfard, a professor of mathematics education. Unfortunately, this is available only in English as a PDF image, so it cannot be easily translated. If you have time to read it, I think you will find it interesting and enjoyable. It establishes some of the themes of the session and sets the tone that I hope to achieve.
By this evening, I hope to have posted the first core presentation, on Behaviorism, and will post additional ones periodically over the next 18 days.
I hope you will follow and contribute the session. Your input will help ensure it is more useful for everyone.
Regards,
Patrick Parrish, WMO
