Developing A Learning Community

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Developing A Learning Community

• William G. Huitt
• Valdosta State University

Last revised March 2006
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Definitions

• Relatively permanent change in behavior (or
  behavior potential) as a result of experience or
  practice

Learning
A unified group of people having common interests
interacting together
Community
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Learning Theories
Observable behavior
Environment

• Behavioral

Operant Conditioning

• Target Behavior
• Consequences
• Shaping

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Learning Theories
Mental processes
Memory and Reasoning

• Cognitive

Stage Theory

• Attention
• Organization
• Repetition
• Elaboration

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Learning Theories
Mental processes
Interaction with environment

• Constructivism

Cognitive Constructivism

• Maturation
• Schemata
• Disequilibrium
• Abstract symbolic thought

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Learning Theories
Mental processes
Interaction with environment

• Constructivism

Social Constructivism

• Zone of proximal development
• Scaffolding
• Mediated learning through social interaction

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Learning Theories
Mental processes
Interaction with environment

• Constructivism

Both cognitive and social

• Complex tasks
• Discovery learning
• Problem solving and decision making

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Learning Theories
Affect, emotions, self
Personal autonomy, integrity

• Humanistic

Open education

• Feelings vs. facts
• Personal interest
• Learning processes
• Student evaluation

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Learning Theories
Affect, emotions, self
Personal autonomy, integrity

• Humanistic

Facilitative teaching

• Respond to feelings
• Discussions
• Use student ideas
• Smile

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Learning Theories
Social interaction cognitive processes
Reciprocal determinism

• Social
• Cognitive

Personal social interactions

• Self-efficacy
• Self-regulation
• Aspirations
• Goals

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Course Applications
Course objectives
Study questions

• Behavioral

Power Point presentations

• With audio

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Course Applications
Course organization
Repetition elaboration

• Cognitive

Blooms taxonomy
SQ4R
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Course Applications
Multiple sources of information
Disequilibrium

• Constructivism

WebCT discussion board
Audio conferencing
Exams
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Course Applications
Personal selection of topics, exam questions, etc.
IM - Yahoo Messenger

• Humanistic

Personal feedback on exams

• Telephone
• Yahoo Messenger

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Course Applications
WebCT discussion board

• Two original
• One response

• Social
• Cognitive

Audio conferencing
Self-regulation required
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Summary
Multiple learning theories used
Community developed

• Responding to other students
• Audio conferencing
• Group projects

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Recommendations
MCU with Mac-compatible program like Netmeeting
New technology

• Podcasts
• Blogs

Specific times for online classes